Hope on the horizon for Mexico street kids
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IN the wake of the UK Pro Surf Tour hitting the Caithness coastline last month a newly established British branch of a charity helping street kids over 5000 miles away in Mexico is looking for support in the far north.
For Misión México UK chairwoman Deborah Grossman the cold, wet spray of Thurso Bay on a Saturday afternoon in October could not be further away from her memories of helping Australian couple Pam and Alan Skuse at their refuge for disadvantaged kids in Tapachula in the south of Mexico.
But, as she explained to the John O’Groat Journal, the common link was lying not so far away as the chilly north waves lapped at a lone surfboard on Thurso beach.
Over the past 12 years, Pam and Alan have found that by taking these children off the streets of Tapachula and giving them an outlet from their troubles – gangs, drugs and the sex trade amongst other problems – by putting a surfboard beneath their feet, gives them belief there is hope on the horizon.
Deborah, who used to live Down Under, and her team of volunteers are now striving to get support for the British branch of the charity after she brought the inspirational story back to UK shores to anyone who would listen.
“I bought a magazine in Australia looking for cheesecake recipes and noticed an article on the refuge while flicking through it,” she said. “Basically I was blown away by what this couple are doing.”
Pam and Alan left their home in Australia in November 2000 to spend a year volunteering at an orphanage in Tapachula, not far from the Mexican border with Guatemala.
But after just six months the orphanage closed which left the couple with the dilemma of calling it a day or taking in the remaining seven children and going it alone.
With the vast majority of the local population living below the poverty line and drug abuse and crime rife on the streets, Pam and Alan couldn’t bring themselves to leave the orphans and instead set up a non-religious refuge.
Since 2001 the couple have helped over 250 children find a new life. And one of the unique aspects of this turn of events is Aussie Alan’s love for the waves.
He regularly takes the many children the refuge caters for out surfing – giving them time away from their troubled past to enjoy the dream of a better future.
“Pam and Alan are the most inspiring people I have ever come across,” said Deborah.
“They left their own grown up-children in Australia to start up the refuge.”
After reading the article, Deborah phoned Pam and Alan and asked what she could do to make a difference.
This was October 2006.
By April 2007 she had helped raise 25,000 Aussie dollars for Misión México and three months later she headed out to volunteer at the centre for five months.
One of the key initiatives that cemented Deborah’s support for the group was helping to get the younger children at the refuge the money needed to get into kindergarten.
When she went back to Australia she remained heavily involved and when Deborah later returned to Glasgow it became her own mission to help as much as possible – having been truly inspired by what she had seen.
Since then Deborah and other fundraisers around the world have been networking to give support to the refuge’s children.
The UK branch of Misión México was set up in January and much of the work so far has been about raising awareness.
To that end they have a decided advantage in the form of a beautifully shot and inspiring documentary Somewhere Near Tapachula by surf film-makers Stefan Hunt and Jonno Durrant.
“It’s a very unique story,” said Deborah. “But don’t get me wrong there are hundreds of great organisations out there helping people.
“The difference with this one is that it’s family orientated. These kids are brought up to be brother and sisters to one another and they learn about trust and faith and hope.”
Around 30 people were warmed by the film’s message in Thurso’s Caithness Horizons last month during the Wave North festival.
Now the charity needs more help in securing financial sponsors – from international companies to start-up businesses, groups and associations to individuals with just a few pennies to spare.
“The money raised in the UK goes to the day-to-day costs of running the refuge as well as providing for a better future by way of education for the children,” said Deborah.
“We will make the refuge sustainable. It’s not going to happen tomorrow but in a few years, if we all work together, then it’s possible.”
For those who think they could do more, Pam and Alan welcome volunteers at the Misión all year round with open arms.
In the past many professional surfers have heard about the story through their connections and have spent time with the young children that Pam and Alan have rescued from a life of desperation but people from all walks of life are encouraged to volunteer.
As well as the refuge, Misión México hopes to soon have a surf school set up by one of its success stories – former drug addict Jose, who was rescued by Pam and Alan and went on to study at university.
It is hoped the surf school will also build bridges for a better future for children in the local community using surfing and the charity’s strong family values – love, life and hope.
More information can be found on the charity’s website at www.lovelifehope.com
It can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MisionMexicoChildren/ and Twitter @Mision_Mexico
