International committee members Vera Jimenez and Terry Bichlmeier went to Tijuana, Mexico on Saturday to meet with prior RBRC member Nicholas Sandoval of Create Purpose and discuss our club’s participation in an RI global grant for The Abandoned Youth Agricultural Learning Project in BCS, Mexico (Nicholas has dedicated his life to serving the abandoned youth of Baja and moved to Tijuana in March of 2015).
After a slight detour, past member Nicholas met us in Tijuana and lead us to Hogar de Esperanza (home of hope) that cares for about 54 of Tijuana’s abandoned children. Create Purpose operates a garden and child development program at the home every Friday and Saturday.
 
The holistic program strives to break the cycle of poverty in Baja Mexico through hands on education.
The urban garden project at the orphanage site including composting, soil preparation; planting, tending, and harvesting. We saw corn, kale, squash, Sunflowers, spinach. 
We met their team of professionals  including educator-nutritionist, Marlena; psychologist, Lisa; agriculturist, Samuel and other mentors. We also discussed future plans for an aquaponics and grey water project to further enrich the garden.  
Finally we met with a very impressive 23 year old Rotaract, President Amable.  She and Nicholas have secured the backing of the original Tijuana Rotary club and District 4100 as the local partner club for a global grant.