I.Name of  Program:  Helping Hands 

 

II.The Helping Hands Mission:

St. Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Youth seeks to develop future leaders by inspiring a spirit of compassion and promoting a broader sense of community service in our lives as well as in the lives of others.
•We are proposing to send 9 young adults with an objective to help and serve the community in Jalisco, Mexico.
•History of the Community:
oThe community of 15,500 living in Mazamitla is the poorest of the poor in the state of Jalisco.  They live on the mountain side and daily walk 4 miles up and down the mountain to access their only source of water from the nearest river.  The townspeople depend on tomato crop as their sole source of food and income.  Those still living in this town earn an average of $.50 a day. 

oDue to the mere wages, 80% of the men in the town have left their families to work in the United States, where they barely receive minimum wages.  The remaining majority of the population consists of elderly women, young adult females, and children.  These children begin to work the fields at the tender age of six.  Once boys become 13, they leave Mazamitla to work as men in the U.S.
oOf the inhabitants of Mazamitla, 70% have had no formal education, 20% are at a 2nd grade educational level, and the remaining 10% are at a 3rd grade educational level. 

•The town is in dire need of aid from capable and compassionate helpers, like you and me.  Your assistance will help St. Mary’s Youth to better serve this community.

•Mission Objectives:
oProvide clothing, shoes, books, and toys for the children

oProvide household items to the residents
oAid in putting up roofs and concrete floors before the monsoon season
oBring running water to the town from nearest river
oDig holes to set pipes for running water
oConduct English lessons to children

III.Financial Obligations:

Our Youth will incur all personal travel and daily expenses.  We are looking for sponsors to provide monetary assistance in purchasing the following items:
•Children’s Books and Toys: $1000
•Children’s Clothing and Shoes: $2000
•Household Items:  $100

IV.St. Mary’s Youth League:

St. Mary’s Youth league was founded in January of 2000.  The group originally consisted of 15 members with the minimum age of 13.  Today our group has grown to over 50 members. 
•Mission Statement:
We, the youth of St. Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Church of Carrollton, TX
will seek the Lord, our God, and exalt his name in our service to
our community, to our church, and, most of all, to each other.  We
will strive to live the life that Christ intended for us by
upholding the beliefs of the Syrian Orthodox faith while growing in
Him together.

 

•Past Accomplishments:

         Habitat for Humanity

         Angel Tree

         Christmas Caroling at local hospitals and retirement centers

         Dallas Stew Pot: serving Thanksgiving meals for the homeless

         Fundraisers:  i.e. Tsunami, Katrina

         International clothing and local can food drives

 

After faithfully serving the Dallas community for the past five years, we, the St. Mary’s Youth, wish to extend our Helping Hands to the community in Jalisco, Mexico.