Thanks to a generous grant from the Boedecker Foundation, Niños de Guadalupe inaugurated the Boedecker Computer and English Camp for orphans. During its two, two week sessions, the Boedecker Camp, located on the Niños de Guadalupe Campus, provided homeless boys from Guadalajara, Puebla, Mexico City, Morelia and Patzcuaro a residential learning experience including 7 hours each day of computer and English classes.

Each week, Monday through Friday, campers participated in computer and English classes, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm, while in the evenings and on weekends experiencing activities in art, music, martial arts and sports. During the Boedecker Camps (July 19 to August 1; August 2 to August 15) 40 campers lived in one of the Niños de Guadalupe cottages supervised by qualified adult staff and instructed by university level professors. Thanks to all that made this happen!

After two years of planning and over a year of construction, World Spark’s Niños de Guadalupe village for orphan boys in Las Trojes, Michoacán is operational. At the present time, Niños de Guadalupe cares for boys between the ages of 4 and 8 in two residential cottages. The cottages, as well as Multipurpose and Educational buildings, a Village Chapel, Playgrounds/Soccer field, and several support facilities, create a warm family environment with significant individual attention.

Niños de Guadalupe aims at the healing and formation of children who have been physically and/or emotionally abused and neglected. The Niños program, particularly its intense focus on counseling, mentoring, arts and sports therapy, seeks to heal the whole child, psychologically, physically, educationally and spiritually. At Niños de Guadalupe, the cognitive and emotional needs of boys are addressed both individually and collectively.

The Niños program, both in terms of program and quality, is unique in Mexico. Thanks to the generous support of numerous individuals and foundations, especially the Anthony H. Kruse Foundation, this program with its quality campus and qualified staff facilitates the significant healing and development of its children.

On October 1, 2008 Niños de Guadalupe opened its doors to its first children who are pictured below.

They are:  Armando  (Age 8); Ismael (Age 7); Juan Jose (age 6); Marco Antonio (age 4).
They are wonderful children who have brought this beautiful place to life.
On behalf of them I thank each of you for your generosity, support, and prayers.

In response to the needs of orphans in Mexico, World Spark is collaborating with
child advocates, social workers, community and religious leaders to develop a
new approach to caring for orphaned children.

Focusing on Michoacán, one of Mexico’s poorest states, World Spark completed construction in July of 2008 of Niños de Guadalupe, a three-phase village located in Las Trojes, Michoacán.

Niños de Guadalupe will offer 10 residential cottages, housing 10 - 12 boys, creating a warm family environment in contrast to the institutional atmosphere common to many orphanages.

Ultimately Niños de Guadalupe will be home to more than 100 boys between the ages of 3 to 17. The Niños goal is to nurture the whole child –physically, educationally, and spiritually – fostering in each one a healthy sense of identity and belonging.

Phase I saw the construction of World Spark’s Junior Campus with cottages caring for 20 - 24 boys. In addition, Phase I included a multipurpose dining/activities building, preschool/kindergarten, chapel, houses for student and family volunteers, bodega/well/workshop, playground and soccer field. The Niños campus is situated on 15-acres and includes 9 building.

Phase II will expand Niños Junior Campus by adding four more casas (40 - 48 boys) as well as an elementary school, grades 1 through 6.  Phase II will also include a garden and orchard as well as facilities for raising domestic animals.

In Phase III, Niños de Guadalupe’s final phase, a Senior Campus and secondary education complex will be built. The Senior Campus would house adolescent boys, ages 12 to 17, in four new casas. It would also include an additional multipurpose facility, activities building and a recreation field.