Lessons from New Creation Kids
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Last week, an important meeting took place at the John Gullo Home for Children in El Cardonal. Roberto and Alma Osuna—the founders of Albergue Infantil New Creation Kids—made the trip from La Paz to sit down with Facility Director Belén Meza Sandez, Assistant Director Sara María Esparza Lucero, and Leaders2Give President Adam Greenberg.
The purpose? To talk, listen, and learn.
For more than 20 years, Roberto and Alma have run New Creation Kids, a temporary home for children whose families are in crisis. They know what it takes to earn trust from families and communities. They know how slow and delicate the process can be. And they know, perhaps better than anyone, how deeply needed this kind of care still is in Baja California Sur.
Their insights were invaluable.
Many families are afraid that asking for help will mean losing their children. There’s a lot of fear when it comes to government involvement, and just the words “children’s home” can trigger anxiety about separation or punishment.
“The biggest challenge is fear,” Alma said. “Families think someone is going to take their children away. And once they believe that, it’s hard to convince them otherwise.”
But most of all, she emphasized the power of relationships. People don’t trust flyers or formal announcements. They trust people.
“Trust is built face to face. It takes time, but it’s the only way.”
Roberto and Alma also shared how they coordinate with hospitals, how they respond to urgent nighttime calls, and how they document everything with care—making sure that every child they receive is protected, supported, and eventually reunited with their family.
Their advice was clear:
Be consistent.
Be transparent.
Be patient.
Be known.
And above all, don’t be afraid to start small…
“We didn’t fill our home overnight,” Roberto said. “The children came slowly, one by one. But they came.”
Their visit helped reaffirm many of the efforts already underway at the home like strengthening outreach to hospitals and DIF offices, clarifying the home's temporary care model, and showing up consistently in communities where families need support.
It also raised important questions:
Should the home temporarily expand its criteria for who it serves, while continuing to spread awareness about its original mission? Can trusted organizations like New Creation Kids help refer families during this early chapter?
For now, there are no easy answers. But this conversation grounded in honesty and shared purpose was a powerful reminder that we are not alone in this work.
To Roberto and Alma, thank you… your experience is a gift.
We keep listening. We keep learning. We keep working.
We’re proud to be part of a growing community of partners who are making a difference. Keep reading below for updates from our partners.
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PARTNER UPDATES
John Gullo Home for Children
The John Gullo Home for Children provides temporary shelter for children in BCS whose families are experiencing medical crises. Read the latest update below:
⬅️ ⬅️ ⬅️ WATCH THE VIDEO
You may have heard that the John Gullo Home for Children isn’t full yet. So… Why why not?
In this honest, community-focused webinar, we answer that question.
We cover:
Why the home was created
What we’ve learned since opening
Why referrals take time
What’s being done to build trust and awareness
How you can help spread the word
An attendee who experienced extreme poverty as a child, shared a powerful story about how a home like this could have helped her family. She reminded us that language, trust, and emotional sensitivity matter deeply. A powerful reminder of what it means to grow up in crisis and why a place like this matters.
This is not a fundraiser. It’s not a PR spin. It’s a real update from the people behind the project, including a Director of the home, about what’s working, what’s hard, and where we go from here.
If you care about community-led solutions, supporting families during medical emergencies, or just want to understand the story behind this one-of-a-kind home in Baja California Sur... this is for you.
New Creation Kids (NCK) Children’s Home
New Creation Kids is a children’s home in La Paz providing safe, stable shelter for children whose families are facing serious challenges such as addiction and homelessness. Read about our involvement with the home below:
As many of you know, NCK has been with us since the very beginning and continues to hold a special place in our journey. Operated by Roberto and Alma Osuna, this independent, registered Mexican nonprofit provides a safe and stable home for up to 30 children at a time.
Children whose parents are unable or unfit to care for them due to circumstances such as addiction, violence, or homelessness.
While Leaders2Give does not oversee NCK’s operations, we help fund essential daily needs like food, electricity, education, fuel, and water. Our involvement also includes stepping in for urgent capital improvements like when we installed cisterns to help address water shortages in 2021.
Thanks to your generosity, we currently have enough funding to cover their basic needs for the year. That said, the needs at NCK are ongoing and often unpredictable. If you’d like to help cover the cost of essentials like water deliveries or meals, please consider making a donation. Just $25 can support one child for ten days.
The East Cape Health Center
The East Cape Health Center is a nonprofit clinic in Los Barriles offering full medical and dental services with discounted or free care for families in need. Read their latest update below:
This December, at East Cape Health Center we continue supporting those who need it most. In a season that invites reflection and solidarity, the support of our community allows us to keep providing care and assistance to patients who rely on our support programs.
Thanks to every donation, we are able to serve beneficiaries who receive essential supplies and materials for their care resources that make a meaningful difference in their treatment and overall quality of life. These supports represent not only medical supplies, but also peace of mind, continuity, and hope for those who receive them.
Each delivery is the result of a supportive network that believes in dignified access to healthcare. Behind every supply or piece of equipment is an act of generosity that helps us provide timely care and consistent follow-up.
December reminds us that when a community comes together to care for others, its impact extends beyond the present and becomes something lasting.
Feeding The Hungry
Feeding the Hungry is a volunteer initiative in Los Barriles that provides monthly food vouchers to local families experiencing food insecurity. Read their latest update below:
“The Best Ride Ever” was the general consensus at the end of the fifth Community ATV Fun Ride. The route seemed to be an excellent combination of good trails with a few interesting sections. It took the riders way out into the bush and through some beautiful countryside. About a dozen and a half helpers were stationed at various spots along the trail providing music, photographs, games, directions and refreshments to add to the enjoyment of the day.
One or two of the puzzles were a little tricky but at the end most folk discovered the Murder was committed by Rev. Green with the Candlestick in the Hall.
From a fundraising perspective the event was very successful. The ATV riders once again demonstrated how generous they can be when they are having a good time. The 50/50 raffle was well supported with over 20,000 pesos of tickets being sold. With a beautiful gesture, winners Rick and Mary Lindmeier generously doubled the money going to the Feeding the Hungry Charity.
The end-of-ride party at Pullys ran for quite a while. The fun, laughter, and celebrations illustrated just what a enjoyable day it had been for all.
SNAP - Spay, Neuter, and Prevention
SNAP offers free spay/neuter services for the local community in and around Los Barriles, BCS and promotes youth leadership through animal welfare education. Read their latest update below:
SNAP’s Year-End Update: Five Years of Impact
As the year comes to a close, SNAP (Spay, Neuter & Prevention) is taking a moment to reflect on what the community has made possible.
Since 2020, SNAP has provided 7,495 spay and neuter surgeries across the East Cape.
That number represents thousands of unwanted litters prevented, healthier animals, and fewer dogs and cats struggling to survive on the streets.
What started as a small, grassroots effort has grown into a vital community program serving Los Barriles and surrounding towns. Through partnerships with local veterinarians, volunteers, donors, and collaborating organizations, SNAP has continued to expand access to affordable and free spay/neuter services—especially in underserved areas.
Why This Matters
Spaying and neutering is the most effective, humane way to reduce overpopulation. Each surgery helps:
Prevent countless future litters
Reduce suffering, neglect, and abandonment
Improve animal health and behavior
Support safer, healthier communities
Looking Ahead
SNAP’s work is far from finished. Demand continues to grow, and plans are underway to reach more community clinics, educate more families, and keep barriers to care as low as possible.
None of this happens without community support.
Thank you to every donor, volunteer, rescue, veterinarian, and advocate who has stood behind SNAP. Your support has changed—and saved—thousands of lives.
Together, we’re creating a more compassionate future, one surgery at a time.
Crescent Moon Project - Art for Children
Crescent Moon Project offers free arts-based classes that spark creativity and help children grow into compassionate, community-focused leaders. Read their latest update below:
Young Artists Explore the World Through Frida Kahlo and Beyond
After making festive holiday decorations with donated materials, our young artists jumped into a hands-on art adventure inspired by Frida Kahlo. Each session blended close looking, shared ideas, and creative play as children built new art skills and explored their own identities. While many students knew Frida’s name, they were surprised to learn about her life and physical challenges.
This understanding sparked empathy, which showed up in their artwork as comforting details—like teddy bears or special objects—added to care for Frida through art.
Our young artists started with self-portraits. Using graphite pencils, children practiced noticing facial shapes and proportions with the help of a simple crosshair. To make their portraits feel personal, they added three to four symbols that represent who they are—favorite pets, toys, or foods—discovering that art can tell a story about the artist.
Next, the group moved into symbolic nature with watercolor. Children explored how water and paint work together, trying both wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques. They also talked about symbolism and how images like hummingbirds or monkeys can stand for ideas such as freedom, life, or playful mischief.
The following weeks brought hands-on fun with mixed media costumes, using collage materials and India ink to explore pattern, texture, and composition. Everything then came together in a surrealist dream painting using acrylics, where children mixed colors, practiced brush control, and created expressive final pieces. Throughout the program, visual examples, Mexican music, and a relaxed pace helped create a warm, creative space where imagination could thrive.
Wonderland for Kids Sponsorship Program
Wonderland for Kids is a bilingual Montessori and childcare center in Los Barriles offering a Sponsorship Program to help low income families access affordable childcare. Read their latest update below:
Holiday Cheers and New Beginnings at Wonderland for Kids
Wonderland for Kids would like to wish everyone a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year! As we look ahead to 2026, we are thrilled to share exciting news. Thanks to the generous support of Leaders2Give and their dedicated donors, our center will be welcoming two new children into our sponsorship program beginning January 2026.
Our program provides more than just childcare.
These children will receive a Montessori, bilingual education, full-time care, hot meals, and a nurturing environment that helps them learn, grow, and thrive each day. We are deeply grateful to expand this opportunity to families in our community who need it most.
If you would like to help us continue our mission to support single mothers and low-income families, a contribution of $500 a month — just $23 a day — provides nine hours of high-quality care and education, five days a week. Thank you for helping us make a lasting difference and supporting our mission.
To learn about the different ways to donate to Leaders2Give and any of our Partners, visit our Donate page.