Granja Hogar de Los Ninos
Encouraging self esteem and the importance of education, the Granja Hogar boarding school was opened in 1956 to support abandoned children from poor or orphaned families. With a staff of 44 teachers and volunteers the Granja Hogar currently is home to 150 students. Teaching the pillars of becoming a strong individual who can make a positive impact in the world, the school also focuses on life skills.
Students are involved in many activities outside of academics. Granja Hogar has a full greenhouse with hydroponics, walnut trees and olive groves for processing, a livestock farm and a dehydration and canning room for their olives and tomatoes.
The vast majority of the students at the Granja Hogar are Raramuri, or Tarahumara, the indigenous people of Northern Mexico. The Tarahumara people are declining in population with less than 70,000 remaining. Cultural preservation is a pillar of education at the Granja Hogar.
Granja Hogar is a great place of hope preparing the children for success in their futures.
April 2008: The Mexico Task Force is working to organize their upcoming visit to the Granja Hogar in May! In partnership with Hasbro games and educational tools will be collected and brought to Granja Hogar. Some of the members of the task force, along with others will spend an afternoon at the school working on painting and other improvements to the boarding school.
December 2007: Through a wonderful donation from some supporters the Granja Hogar was able to purchase a large flat screen TV for the school!
November 2007: The children at the Granja Hogar received new uniforms! Once the kids reach middle school they attend public school in the community. The Collette Foundation had new uniforms delivered for all of these students.
August 2007: Funding was provided by the Mexico Task Force for the teachers of the Granja Hogar to attend a mathematics workshop. The teachers had identified that the students were testing well in reading, but below average in math. This workshop will allow the teachers to better prepare the students in math.
