Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Soaring unemployment, escalation in violent gang battles and poverty has deepened in many parts of Mexico. Hundreds of thousands of abandoned children wander the streets alone, not knowing what tomorrow will bring.

It is speculated there may be as many as two million Mexican children orphaned or abandoned in Mexico. Two million! Puerto Vallarta may be a paradise for you, dear reader, but for many, many children in this town, life is hell.

That's the bad news.

The good news is that in Puerto Vallarta thirty-nine boys and thirty-two girls, all orphaned or abandoned, enjoy a good life and receive a good education at the orphanage, Fundación Corazón de Niña, located at #355 San Luis Potosi in Colonia Primero de Mayo.

Corazón happened seven years ago when a local orphanage was shut down by state officials and twelve girls were, once again, homeless. Melissa Canez, her partner, Juan, and her mother, Sandra Nichol took the girls into their home and their hearts and started to look for financial and physical support. One of their first supporters to give money was the International Friendship Club (IFC) and Costco helped out with gifts of food. They both continue to support Corazón today. Many others do too.

But good news travels fast. Corazón is continually called upon by D.I.F. (Social Services), the police and, sometimes, even parents who are too sick or too poor to care for their own children, to add to their "family."

The number of children has grown from twelve in 2012 to seventy-one today! There are two houses side by side, one with thirty-nine boys and one with thirty-two girls. The Corazón School was started in September 2017 when four qualified teachers were hired.

Unlike the public schools here, the Corazón kids receive English and computer classes; skills that are so necessary for employment in Vallarta. The building has grown too. Now the original bungalow is four stories and has dormitories, a dining room, four classrooms, a gym and rooms for sewing, carpentry, robotics and other after-school activities.

Imagine the cost of having a family with seventy-one children. Not possible on my pay check! Corazón is always looking for support and, in seven years, has not received one peso of government funding. It is supported only by the generosity of people like us and by local businesses and community groups.

You can help too. The doors are open every Tuesday and Thursday for their Humanitarian Tour from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Visitors enjoy a guided tour of the facility, hear the Corazón story, and engage in discussion with the other visitors and staff. A delicious brunch is offered as part of every tour. The minimum donation for the tour and brunch is $250 MXN per person. Because of their popularity, tours must be reserved by emailing admin(at)corazondenina.mx, or by calling (322) 224-9209.

Nobody can do everything but everyone can do something. Please, at least, take the tour.

The International Friendship Club is a registered charitable organization in Mexico, listed as Club Internacional de la Amistad de Puerto Vallarta AC. The majority of IFC members are English-speaking residents and visitors who volunteer their time, homes or money to help kids around the Bay of Banderas. The clubhouse is located at the northeast corner of the Rio Cuale Bridge above the HSBC Bank, Colonia El Centro, Puerto Vallarta. Phone: 322-222-5466. Website: ifcvallarta.com Email: ifcvallarta(at)gmail.com