
Youth in Puerto Palomas will benefit from opportunities to develop leadership and strengthen relationships at our new Inspire program.
Border Partners is proud to announce that we will officially open the doors of our new Youth Center called “Inspire,” on May 12. This is something we have dreamed of doing for a long time. The Inspire Youth Center will be a safe space for young people
- to connect with peers and mentors,
- to build new skills, and
- to foster their learning and growth through structured classes and activities.
Puerto Palomas has never had any after-school programming for kids. However, drug gangs walk the streets every day looking for kids with nothing to do. Now, these vulnerable kids will have a place to go. It’s a place they can meet friends and find new interests through after-school sessions with trusted community mentors. The Inspire Youth Center will offer after-school programming to provide new opportunities for youth of Puerto Palomas.
Our target beneficiaries are “disconnected” youth between the ages of 10-17. These are kids who don’t have a safe environment at home or supportive adults outside of school. Often they’re not attending school or have failing grades. Experts estimate that 25% of youth in Mexico fall into this category. We think there are about 150 such kids in Palomas.
Inspire Youth Center Activities
In the first weeks we’re open, we’ll offer four classes each afternoon from 4-7 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. There will be healthy snacks for the kids who attend. And, we’ll offer free-time activities for all every afternoon.
The classes we’re offering during the first month are art, mechanics, sports and marching band. In each case, skilled professionals will instruct students in small groups.
We’re realizing this big project through the generous support of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation under their Healthy Kids initiative. Several generous individuals have donated, as well, to make the Inspire Youth Center possible.
You, too, can contribute to the sustainability of the project and expand our offerings at the Youth Center. Border Partners is currently fundraising through Give Grandly until May 17, 2025. A generous donor will match very dollar you contribute. That allows us to make this concrete and positive difference in the lives of border youth.
This new initiative allows us to make a positive difference in the lives of border youth. Your financial support will augment new opportunities for challenged youth in Puerto Palomas at the Inspire Youth Center.