Tucked away in a pastoral setting on the south shore of Lake Chapala, Villa Infantil is a place of safe refuge for 23 orphaned children being raised under the loving wings of three Catholic Sisters, of the Order of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Joseph.
At present the youngsters range from age three to 16. Some have no known living relatives. Others were abandoned due to extreme poverty and other circumstances that force a parent to surrender a child. Each has been channeled to Villa Infantil through government social service agencies.
The home originated in Guadalajara in the 1990s, when the sisters set up housekeeping in a small house to care for homeless newborn babies infants and young children. As the project was outgrowing its quarters, in 2002 a generous patron donated a patch of country land near the village of San Pedro Tesistan.
Since then three casitas have been built to house the unique Villa Infantil family.
With no means to support themselves and their charges, over the years the sisters have dealt with constant financial challenges to keep the children well fed, clothed, healthy and educated, and maintain the facility in adequate conditions. Neither the state government nor the church is obligated to assist them. Therefore they rely on private donors, sponsors and fundraisers to keep themselves afloat.About nine years ago a few lakeshore area residents who were helping out independently banded together to form Friends of Villa Infantil, a loose-knit support group focused on the children’s education, health and general welfare. The Friends have been instrumental in roping in steady aid from a few sources, including the Educational Foundation of the Americas, Oxxo, Casa Flores B&B, St. Andrew’s Anglican Church and Ajijic’s San Andres Parish.
In the interest of preparing them for successful adult life, all of the Villa’s school-age children are enrolled in a private school to assure they receive quality education, including English instruction. Schooling expenses incurred at the start of the new term have put the Villa under special economic strains over recent months.
This is one motive behind the Over the Rainbow Fashion Show-Gourmet Luncheon benefit that Friends of the Villa will throw on Saturday, March 29. The event will be held at Las Caballeriza Restaurant, located in the Raquet Club at San Juan Cosala. Doors open at 12:30 p.m., with meal service starting at 1:15 p.m., and fabulous runway show featuring Spring frocks, men’s attire and children’s clothing from Cugini’s Opus Boutique following at 1:30 p.m.
Get in on a tempting list of items going for bids in the silent auction, a 50-50 raffle, cool refreshments at the cash bar and great surprises in the way of added entertainment.
All this is included in the price of admission, set at 250 pesos per person plus the donation of a non-perishable food, toiletry or cleaning product to replenish the Villa pantry to be delivered at the gate. Tickets are available at Opus, Diane Pearl Colecciones and Mia’s Boutique up until the March 21 cut-off date.