Reach out. Touch. Cradle, hold, laugh, play. Such important components to every child's well-being, yet for too many children within our cities, our country, our world, those neccessities are severley lacking.
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to join 4 friends (Andrea, Craig, Tim and Shawn) on an adventure that has changed me quite a bit. We crossed into Mexico by foot and took the short walk to, what I was expecting, to be a run-down orphanage with children running wild. Instead, we entered the grounds of the Purple Palace with young and old from the US and Mexico helping kids make hand-prints on clay to later be placed as the entry way into their new home. I saw men and women painting walls, cielings and banisters with the most bright and lively colors you could imagine. The boys were in their section of the house playing music and being chased by one of the full-time staff. So much laughter coming from that room as boys rushed past me! Then over to the girls area where brightly colored beds were painted and decorated with princess blankets and Dora the Explorer posters. Immediately, the girls and toddler boys wanted to be held. Whether 2 or 8, they wanted to be picked-up and not let down. This was warming and heart-breaking all at the same time.
After the grand tour, the 3 of us ladies headed over to the girls side of the "palace" where we were greeted with upheld arms and smiles beckoning us to pick them up. A little girl, Joy (name changed to protect her identity), caught my eye. I could tell she was strong, articulate and could make you smile just with one glance. She was a bit more hesitant with me as it was obvious she already had her friends in place, so i took my time and just played with the other girls until she was ready to venture over. About 20 minutes later Joy sat on the bed next to me and said loudly and with force "COLORES! COLORES RO-JO!" My limited spanish helped me to discern that she was telling me that what we were looking at was the color red. We then went around the room saying colors and laughing at my attempts to roll my "rr's" when saying "amarillo". Joy was a good teacher and quick to correct when I mispronounced a word!
As the day went on, Andrea and I sat with Connie, the director of the orphange, and I asked about sweet Joy's story. I was not ready for what I was about to hear. Joy's mother is American, her father, Mexican. Both were using and possibly selling drugs. As a baby, Joy was used as a drug carrier across border lines. A full diaper took on a whole new meaning! She was abused and misused. Her mother spent time in jail but was released about 3 weeks ago. Sadly, she has gone back to drugs, prostitution and smuggling. Yet 4 year old Joy is resilient, one who I am convinced, will create much change throughout her life, as she has already changed mine.
The Purple Palace began In 2001, when Connie and Tyler Youngkin began renting a big warehouse in the heart of the Red Light district of Tijuana for $1000 a month. They had volunteers renovate this warehouse to become a pleasant place with a dormitory for boys, 2 living areas, a dining area, a kitchen and 2 bathrooms. They had 20 boys then. These boys were ones that roamed the streets all night, would be raped, some were doing drugs and selling them, some would sell little girls to pediphiles for $10 each. When they were bored, they would find drunks on the sidewalk and take their alcohol , pour it all over them and then light them on fire. They were cold, dirty, hungry (when they got money they would buy candy and not much else), and very rejected. They used dirty language, robbed, beat up others ,were beaten up and would challenge any authority and they were not in school. Their mothers are in jail, died of AIDS, or are prostitutes, high on illicit drugs who rarely care for their sons.
Little girls were also being raped, beaten, used for prostitution, and deserted. Some lived in vacant lots, and most roamed the streets at night. In 2003 they opened a dormitory for the girls! Connie and Tyler rented the shop next door for $500 dollars a month. Because of the work Connie, Tyler and many others are doing in Tijuana, they were able to move their orphanage further away from the Red Light District and into what truly is The Purple Palace. They are now home to over 70 boys and girls!
The children can leave this program anytime they want. This is not a closed institution, but it is like a family home.
What should our response be? How can we help? There are some of us who live just a hop, skip and a jump away from the border lines of Mexico and can easily take a Saturday to go play, paint, or get involved however is needed. For others, travel isn't as easy but if you would like to offer financial support toward neccesities such as beans, rice and fresh fruits and vegetables there is a great need. If you would like to learn more about the Palace and their needs, please visit www.thepurplepalace.org
May someone reach out and touch you this week in a way that is meaningful to both you and the giver!
