Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Compassion for the Family Inc. takes domestic violence against women very seriously. So seriously that they have constructed the Banderas Bay Women's Shelter in a discrete location in the greater Puerto Vallarta area. Non disclosure of the location of the facility is imperative to provide abused women and their children with a safe refuge but, here, David Zude shares the non-profit organization's latest news.

Fact of the Month

Little witnesses: Many children are witnesses to domestic violence. Over 60% of boys that witness violence in the home grow up to be abusers. Sadly, girls who are witnesses to domestic violence have a much higher incidence of being abused than girls who do not witness abuse in the home.

Last Month

The first week of March was filled with many events sponsored by the Women's Institute of Puerto Vallarta. We were invited to some of these events by the director of the institute, Lic. Sara María Chávez Medina, who also donated the proceeds of two of the events to Banderas Bay Women's Shelter.

International Women's Day was March 8th. We celebrated the day with The Women's Institute in Puerto Vallarta by participating in the 5k run that they sponsored.

March 14th was the 3rd Annual Chili Cook Off sponsored by the American Legion Post 14 Puerto Vallarta and the Navy League. There was a huge turnout for this event. People enjoyed many great chili recipes, and super entertainment. Congratulations to Nacho Daddy for winning this year's best chili.

What a Drag we had on March 18th. The event of the year! Thank you so much to the guys who participated, the event committee, all of our wonderful sponsors, and everyone who attended. There is already talk about next years event. Congratulations to Fast Eddie for taking home the grand prize. A video of the "What a Drag" event can be seen HERE.

On March 27th we had the privilege of addressing several Puerto Vallarta agencies including Social Services and the domestic violence division, The Women's Institute Puerto Vallarta, the Secretary of Social Development and the Municipal Addition Center of Puerto Vallarta among others about Banderas Bay Women's Shelter.

In March we also had the privilege of submitting another federal grant proposal, this time to PAIMEF operated by the Social Development Institute.

Also last month we had the opportunity to meet with the director of The Women's Institute for the state of Jalisco in Guadalajara. The meeting was very positive and we look forward to a great working relationship with Dr. Koyo and her team.

Currently

During the month of April we will continue to apply for grants in the U.S. and Mexico.

We are currently interviewing women to fill the shelter director position.

Plans have begun for an external resource center and a short term emergency shelter in Puerto Vallarta. These are resources that are badly needed, but do not exist in Jalisco or Nayarit except in the capitals of Guadalajara and Tepic.

Almost 90% of women who suffer domestic violence do not report such incidents, in large part due to a lack of resources and/or distrust in the government. An external resource center is a place where women, men and children can receive information about domestic violence as well as assistance in dealing with domestic violence in their lives or in the lives of family and friends.

The workers of the external resource center will also be responsible for informational talks in communities located within a radius of approximately 2 hours of Puerto Vallarta. The external resource center will also function as a channel to the emergency shelter and Banderas Bay Women's Shelter.

An emergency shelter is a shelter for women and their children who need to escape from a violent environment, but are considered to be at "low risk" and have a social/family network available. It is a place where women and their children can stay for up to a week until they can make arrangements to stay with family or friends.

Website

Our website, CompassionForTheFamilyMx.org, has been updated and is now available in Spanish and English. Please check it out.

Needs

The shelter is in need of children's clothing and shoes. There is also a need for more women's shoes.

Please consider a cash donation to the shelter.

Donations can be made through Paypal on the website, by sending a check to Compassion for the Family, 115 13th Street SE, Altoona, IA 50009 or by writing compassionforthefamily(at)yahoo.com.mx. Donations received from U.S. or Mexican citizens are tax deductible.

About The Banderas Bay Women's Shelter

The Banderas Bay Women's Shelter is working with Vida Reavivida/Compassion for the Family Inc. and Mexican Social Services to provide an immediate, temporary and safe living environment for women and children who are the victims of domestic violence; to prepare them to be financially independent through jobs, education, English second language education, non interest small business loans; and to assist them in living a life free of violence through professional counseling.

Vida Reavivida A.C. is a not for profit charitable organization that is registered with the state Jalisco. For more information about Vida Reavivida A.C. and the Banderas Bay Women's Shelter, please visit CompassionForTheFamilyMx.org, find them on Facebook, or contact David Zude at compassionforthefamily(at)yahoo.com.mx.