- Population - 113,724,226
- Infant Mortality Rate - 21.17 deaths/1,000 live births
- Life Expectancy – 72.53 years
- Population below poverty line - 26%
- Year ChildFund entered Mexico – 1955
Quick Facts
- The population of Mexico is growing at about 1.2% annually.
- Adolescents make up 19% of Mexico’s population.
- Mexico is one of the world’s largest oil producers—oil and gas provide a third of the government’s revenue.
- Mexico’s main industries are; food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel. Its main agricultural sources are; corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beef and wood products. Its main exports are; manufactured goods, oil, oil goods, silver, fruits and vegetables.
- Spanish is the main language spoken in Mexico.
- The population of Mexico has more than doubled since 1970 going from 48 million to 113 million in 2011.
- Just over 76% of Mexicans are Roman Catholic.
Priority Issues
- In 2008 just over 47% of Mexican’s were living in poverty and did not have enough income to meet their needs.
- Just over 18% of the Mexican population have nutritional deficiencies.
- 25% of Mexican children are living in food poverty.
- 8% of infants born in Mexico between the years 2005-2009 were born with a low birth weight.
- Approximately 1.2 million children between the ages 4-15 do not attend school.
- Child labour is prevalent in Mexico, with 1 in 8 children between the ages of 5-17 in employment.
- Violence is a major issue in Mexico today. Between 55%-62% of children say they have suffered physical, sexual or psychological abuse during their lifetime.
ChildFund Intervention
ChildFund Mexico has been in existence since 1955. Approximately 29,500 children are receiving assistance in 55 locations. ChildFund Ireland sponsors approximately 200 children in Mexico.
Many families in Mexico have a difficult time earning a living amid economic instability. It is estimated that only 6% of people living in our program areas have sufficient income to support their families.  Many times, children are forced to work as window cleaners, shoe shiners, vendors or clowns, thus spending most of their time out in the streets. Most houses located in ChildFund assisted projects consist of one room with adobe walls, dirt floors and tile roofing.
One Mexico’s biggest problems has been the lack of educational programmes for children under six years of age. In response to this need, an early education programme is being developed, with mothers being trained as the promoters. In addition, the projects assisted by ChildFund sponsors through ChildFund Mexico offer remedial courses to help the children improve their scholastic performance. Financial aid is given toward the purchase of school supplies and uniforms at the beginning of each school year.
ChildFund Mexico, in co-operation with government authorities, has opened health clinics in some project areas. Services include medical and dental assistance, necessary medicines and guidance regarding disease prevention. Enrolled children can eat breakfast or lunch at soup kitchens. Some of these are operated jointly with government authorities through municipal programmes.
Support has been provided for the introduction of potable water, reforestation and the preservation of water springs. A programme has been implemented to help the families improve their housing conditions by providing them with construction materials.
Our sustainable livelihood development program, implemented in Puebla, Hidalgo and Oaxaca, provides families with ways to generate income by training them on block construction, baking, regional candy and jam making, craftsmanship and paper recycling. Micro-credit programs, implemented in conjunction with other micro-finance organizations, are available to support small family businesses.
Poverty has resulted in inadequate healthcare, sanitation and access to safe water in many Mexican communities. We have provided 85% of affiliated families with latrines and now 60% also have access to safe water. Medical and dental clinics in these communities have offered nutritional assessments, immunization administration, disease prevention education, cancer screening, vitamin distribution to pregnant women as well as teeth cleaning, cavity treatment and emergency dental assistance.
Our Integral Nutritional Program, targeting pregnant women and children under the age of five, works to reduce malnutrition and obesity in children by providing them with regular check-ups. Mothers are provided health charts to monitor growth. The nutrition orientation program, sponsored by Nestle Corporation, educates children and adolescents about healthier eating and living, including participation in sports and recreational activities.
For a decade, our Early Childhood Development (ECD) program has been a major impetus for learning in children from birth through age five. In 2007 alone, more than 7,000 children were enrolled in 109 ECD centres. In these centres, educators, working together with parents, develop strategies to stimulate development in young children, including ways to help overcome learning delays. Trained volunteer Guide Mothers reach out to the community to help improve children’s cognitive learning. Along the way, our ECD Scale regularly monitors all stages of children’s development.
We also empower youth through participation in Youth Committees. These committees give adolescents a forum to discuss issues such as drug prevention, reproductive health, ecology and sanitation and participate in vocational training activities and computer workshops. About 50 young people are being trained and will receive certification as human rights promoters.
