Updated: March 2009
Mexico
Overview | World Vision's history in Mexico | World Vision in Mexico today
OverviewMexico, the world’s most populous Spanish-speaking country, is bordered by the United States to the north, Guatemala and Belize to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea to the east. Mexico City, the capital and economic hub of the country, is the third largest metropolitan area in the world behind Tokyo and New York. The center of the country features an elevated plateau dominated by high, volcanic mountains. The east coast is low and flat, and the northwest is predominantly sandy lowlands with a desert-like environment. The southern coastal areas, popular with tourists, have a hot and humid climate. Natural resources include petroleum, natural gas, silver, gold, copper, lead, zinc, and timber.Approximately 60 percent of people living in Mexico are mestizo—those with a mixture of Amerindian and Spanish ancestry. The indigenous Amerindian peoples make up 30 percent of the population, while the remaining 10 percent are Caucasian, mostly of European descent. Spanish is considered Mexico’s national language and is spoken by 97 percent of the people. English is used primarily in business and commerce as well as in border towns. Along with several European languages, Mayan, Nahuatl, Zapotec, and other regional dialects are also spoken. Spain defeated the Aztecs in 1521 and ruled Mexico for the next 300 years. The Mexican people declared themselves independent in 1810, but it wasn’t until after two decades of war that Spain recognized Mexican sovereignty in 1821. |  |
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| After losing the territory of Texas in 1836 and a defeat in the war with the United States a decade later, Mexico lost the area that is now California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. In the mid-1800s, President Benito Juárez instituted economic reforms and championed equal rights for the nation’s indigenous people. As a result, he is often regarded as the country’s greatest and most popular leader. Following the decade-long Mexican Revolution (1910-1921), President Venustiano Carranza established a new constitution that still governs Mexico today. The rest of the 20th century saw economic fluctuations, a growing illicit drug trade, controversy surrounding immigration across the border with the United States, and insurgency in the southeastern state of Chiapas. In 1985, an 8.1 magnitude earthquake, one of the most devastating in the history of the Americas, struck near Mexico City, killing more than 9,000 people and injuring another 30,000. After the conclusion of World War II, the government of Mexico began emphasizing economic growth. By the mid- 1970s, a huge oil reserve was discovered off the Yucatan Peninsula, transitioning Mexico into a significant exporter of petroleum products. But due to the government’s unrestrained borrowing on the strength of its petroleum revenues, the country accumulated a large external debt. When oil prices collapsed in 1986, export earnings were cut, devastating the economy. In 1994, Mexico, the U.S., and Canada entered into the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that called for the gradual elimination of tariffs and import quotas in order to remove barriers to free trade among those countries. Subsequently, with the devaluation of the peso, the U.S. agreed to prevent the collapse of Mexican banks in return for veto power over much of Mexico’s economy. Trade with the U.S. and Canada tripled over the next decade, with an average national economic growth rate of five percent. Despite classification as an upper-middle income country, there remains a significant disparity between the wealthy and the poor in Mexico. Nearly 18 percent of Mexicans live below the poverty line using the food-based definition of poverty; asset-based poverty levels amount to more than 40 percent. Low wages, unequal income distribution, and limited opportunities for progress in the impoverished southern states have led to 25 percent nationwide underemployment rates and an increase in the number of working children. UNICEF estimates that more than 5 million Mexican children are part of the labor force. Back to top World Vision's history in MexicoWorld Vision began partnering with the people of Mexico in 1963 when a child sponsorship program was launched and a grant to renovate an orphanage was provided. Development work in the first seven years included well-drilling, poultry raising, and vocational training. World Vision involvement in the 1970s included providing potable water to rural communities, conducting childcare classes for young mothers, and assisting victims of the 1973 earthquake that rocked the south-central region of the country. The Mexico field office opened in 1977, and by the end of 1980, more than 25,000 children were receiving food, school supplies, vitamins, clothing, and medical checkups.During the 1980s, World Vision provided relief and rehabilitation assistance to victims of several natural disasters. A major earthquake, a volcanic eruption, three hurricanes, and a severe hailstorm took a toll on the country. The Puebla Home, one of many projects designed and implemented during this period, provided children of economically disadvantaged families with daily meals, clothing, health care, and educational opportunities. The San Francisco de Los Blancos Project, launched in 1986, helped a predominately agricultural village establish community leadership. Twenty trained leaders worked with World Vision to provide the village with potable water, improved housing, education, and sanitation. By 1991, more than 39,100 children in Mexico were benefitting from sponsorship. Heavy rains created flooding and mudslides in Tijuana in 1992. World Vision supplied food packs of flour, beans, rice, and potatoes, as well as blankets, tarps, and shovels to an estimated 1,800 people. In 1994, World Vision offered aid to displaced people in the state of Chiapas who had to flee their homes due to armed conflict. Additionally, relief supplies were provided to victims of a 7.3 magnitude earthquake in the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca in 1995. By the mid 1990s, 232 sponsorship and development projects assisted Mexican families and communities throughout the country. In 2004, World Vision again responded to a natural disaster in Mexico. Hurricane Marty’s nearly 100-mileper- hour winds and pounding rain caused massive flooding that destroyed nearly 20,000 homes. In partnership with Mexico’s federal government and state officials, World Vision staff and volunteers repaired or reconstructed 2,500 damaged houses, providing safe, secure shelters for many children and their families. Back to top World Vision in Mexico todayWorld Vision is committed to partnering with the people of Mexico to enhance their lives today and to help enact sustainable solutions for the future of their communities, families, and children. Currently, 61,338 children are registered in the World Vision sponsorship program.Several times this number of children and other family members benefit from World Vision activities. Of these registered children, many have World Vision sponsors in other countries. U.S. donors sponsor more than 27,500 girls and boys. In addition, World Vision operates 24 development programs, 12 of which are supported by U.S. donors. Highlights of these efforts include the following:
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