CASA on the Move Transformed youth changing the worId
Serving the most vuInerabIe ruraI communities since 1981
The Ten Programs CASA's programs offer education and health services to the most vulnerable rural communities in Mexico. CASA's interdisciplinary and holistic approach seeks to promote the wellbeing of youth, women and their families. SchooI of ProfessionaI Midwifery
In 1996, CASA opened Mexico´s first government-accredited school to prepare professional midwives at a technical level. To date, the midwifery school has produced 79 professional midwives who are skilled and dedicated health providers that offer culturally-appropriate services. This educational model and its graduates have been evaluated by external sources with impressive results. CASA continues its midwifery advocacy work with government officials and other partners with diligence and commitment and is dedicated to scaling up midwifery nationally.
Maternity Hospital and Wellbeing Center
Helping women and families since 1994, CASA´s Maternity Hospital is the country´s only hospital that has an interdisciplinary team of midwives, doctors and others working together to serve the public. To date, more than 8,000 babies have been born in the CASA Hospital. In 2013, CASA´s doctors, midwives and hospital staff attended 261 births, conducted 1,201 prenatal consultations and provided 7,233 general consultations. Hospital personnel also distributed free contraceptives- condoms, pills and other forms of birth control- to 4,312 committed participants.
PSC ( Community Peer Health Counselors)
Started in 1981, the underlying philosophy for this long-standing CASA program is that through individual empowerment and education, young people, especially young women, will take pride in their human and reproductive rights. Thousands of children, adolescents and adults have participated in activities held by the CASA counselors during the 33 years of the program. The community-based program has evolved to focus on four main areas: nutrition, environmental awareness, sexual and reproductive health, and human rights advocacy. In 2013, CASA's health counselors worked in 13 rural communities throughout the year, offering nutrition, sexual health and ecology classes that were attended by 707 people, and 180 community gardens were created this past year.
ELEGIR (Education for Liberty and Gender Equity through United Networks)
Violence prevention has always been a part of CASA's work, but in 2005 a separate program was formed. The program has two objectives: to prevent domestic violence through educational programs in rural communities, schools and churches, and to provide assistance to victims of domestic violence. The psychologists, lawyer and medical team provide free counseling, legal and medical attention, as well as an emergency shelter. They are also available through a 24-hour emergency hotline. In 2013, CASA's in-house psychologists led 40 violence prevention workshops for 1,704 people. The program also gave 549 psychological consultations to 153 patients and received 59 cases of domestic violence.
Teatro (Youth Theater Program)
Since 1996, a team of young actors has engaged in innovative and energetic street theater that tackles social issues such as alcoholism, sexual abuse and more. The all-youth team writes the scripts, then produces and performs their work in a variety of settings from rural villages to marginal city neighborhoods. In 2013, CASA's theater group performed 60 plays, reaching 5,231 people.
Public Library and Outreach Reading Programs
CASA established its first library in 1990 and now has a collection of 11,471 in its main public library located in a working-class neighborhood of San Miguel de Allende. The children from CASA's Early Childhood Development Center use the library for reading classes on a daily basis and it is also frequented by other children from the surrounding neighborhoods, their families and the general public. In 2010 CASA began the exciting rural library project as a means to reach children that have little to no access to books. There are currently 13 rural communities with libraries reaching 770 children. In 2013, the main CASA library and 13 rural libraries lent a total of 21,882 books.
CDI (Early Childhood Development Center)
Since 1985, CASA has provided care to the youngest children of the most vulnerable families- those headed by women. The first five years of life are critical for a child's physical, cognitive and emotional development. A growing body of research suggests that early experiences have substantial influence on a child's future cognitive, behavioral, educational and economic outcomes. CASA's educational model promotes a holistic approach to offer our children the best opportunities for a successful development. Annually, some 200 families receive CASA´s daycare service.
PESSANE (Sexual Education and Advocacy Work in Schools) PESSANE was founded in 1992 with the goal of providing essential, age-appropriate, sexual and reproductive health education and family planning to teachers, parents and students through interactive workshops in the Guanajuato state school system. The team also provides classes on self-esteem, depression, substance abuse and violence, and runs a popular annual summer program for students. In 2013, the peer counselors gave 113 sex education workshops to 2,407 people and hosted a successful summer program for 26 students, some from as far away as Veracruz, Puebla and Yucatan.
REDeSS (Radio Education on Sexual and Human Rights)
Since 2004, this all-youth team has produced and transmitted live, weekly radio programs covering various social issues such as sexual health, human rights, migration and nutrition among others, with a potential listening audience of 45,000 people in three states. In 2013, the team broadcast 50 radio programs, featuring 38 guest speakers and answering 160 live calls throughout the year. The program seeks to build an empowered and motivated public involved in strengthening a democracy by providing factual information, diverse opinions, and the opportunity for respectful debate.
Colectivo 41 (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth project)
Founded in 2012, Colectivo 41 is San Miguel´s first and only LGBT resource by and for youth (ages 15-30). With the objective of creating visibility, a safe space, and a renewed commitment to human rights in San Miguel, Colectivo 41 has used a youth organizing model to build its member base to include over 35 active young leaders and 50 volunteers in the first year.
Our Mission
“To contribute, with quaIity and warmth, to improving the Iiving conditions of the most vuInerabIe popuIations, through heaIth, education and cuIturaI actions, promotion of sustainabIe deveIopment and respect for human rights with a gender perspective”
Who we are
CASA is a nonprofit organization that has been serving the most vuInerabIe, particuIarIy adoIescents, ruraI women and their famiIies, through heaIth, sociaI service, education and environmentaI outreach programs since 1981. It created Mexico’s first government approved Midiwifery SchooI, which has been cited as meeting internationaI criteria for effective repIication in countries worIdwide. EstabIished in San MigueI de AIIende, in the centraI Mexican state of Guanajuato, CASA reaches beyond the borders of the state, impacting poIicy at the nationaI IeveI. “Teaching others to teach” is a pedadgogy that has enabIed hundreds to change the Iives of thousands. Its innovative programs benefit, inspire and empower peopIe throughout Mexico and aII over the worId.
How you can move CASA All donations are tax deductible Donate annually to CASA online at: www.empowercasa.org Fund a scholarship for a midwifery student or a peer health counselor Become part of our volunteer program Organize a fundraiser for CASA Give an in-kind donation such as Spanish children’s books, educationaI materiaIs, etc. Send a check payable to SAN MIGUEL-CASA INC., and mail to: San Miguel CASA Inc., C/O PMB 264, 220 N. Zapata Hwy #11 Laredo, Texas 78043-4464
Contact Development Coordinator Antonina Weber, at: development@casa.org.mx,USA : 1 (718) 360-5645, Mexico: 01 (415) 154-6060 to find out about other ways of donating, incIuding deferred giving.
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