This Sunday, April 30th is a special day in Mexico. This is El Dia del Niño (Children’s Day), the day we celebrate and all attention is given to our little ones who will one day grow up and become young adults. Children are our future and it is well worth the effort in spending some extra time with them. Let them see how important of a role they plan in the world.
This day is to pay homage to our children, and the ways to celebrate vary. Some schools will be having parties with extra special treats, presents and fun activities. Malls, shops and restaurants usually have treats, clowns and special performances geared towards our youth.
Local Parks will be celebrating with balloons and delicious treats and events, such as Mayakoba’s Kids Farmers Market.  Zoos and museums will also be offering specials to the children and their families.
El Dia del Niño is such an important day for everyone and their families. Creating a positive environment for our children can bestow onto them family values, setting good examples and most of all, teaching them to take care of their own children one day. We need to protect, nurture and take care of our youth.
If your kids are too grown up to celebrate with, here’s an option for you:  approach the local charities and organizations working towards children’s wellbeing and support their efforts. There are different organizations in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya with whom you can get in touch and participate. Here we’re sharing with you three of them and what type of work they do… They will be happy to hear from you!
Keeping Kids in School
This organization is led by a group of expats living in Playa del Carmen, who work tirelessly to support local children’s education. There are a lot of children in need, and sometimes working is a priority over school. The mission of this organization is to help families and students, supporting them with school supplies and scholarships. They also organize a volunteer program to teach English to these students, increasing their chances of getting a better job and a better income.
KKIS relies on an annual fundraising auction to get funds, but you can also donate directly on their website.
Fundación TAO
Located at Akumal, this foundation has several programs to support the Mayan communities and their children. Most of the volunteers in this organization are expats living in the community of Bahia PrÃncipe, in Akumal, but they’re happy to receive the help from anyone interested in sharing their time and abilities. You can learn more about this foundation and the work that they do in this interview with Claudia Muñoz, president of Fundación TAO.
Seaside Rotary Club
This organization is based on Playa del Carmen and their core mission is to help improve the lives and prospects of the children within the community of Solidaridad. They run different programs to support the local children, their education and health. You can see more information about them and get in touch on their website.
Dreams for Mayan Children
This organization supports small Mayan communities and provides their schools with basic school materials. They also work on improving the educational level of these schools and their infrastructure, ensuring adequate sanitary conditions for the children. Check out their projects and also a list of school supplies that you can donate to support their efforts
If you speak a little Spanish, you can also contact DIF, a government program oriented to improve the daily life of Mexican families. They have more than 10 programs, including children’s diet, protection to homeless children and a shelter for abandoned children or whose parents are in jail.
There’s no doubt that charitable groups like these make the world a much better place! And you can help them continue their efforts supporting them, either making donations or volunteering.
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