FCBARCELONA.CAT

XICS Mexico (El Salto and Tonalá)

• Location and context
  The centres are located in two of the poorest neighbourhoods of El Salto and Tonalá (both in the state of Jalisco), where poor families with a high percentage of unemployment live. These towns have many cases in which the head of the family had to emigrate, which leaves a high number of children and women in a highly vulnerable situation. Moreover, they also have violence problems as well as drug trafficking and consumption.
  
• Beneficiaries
  The children registered at the XICS –200 per centre- are between 4 and 15 years and suffer a high risk of consuming toxic substances, joining gangs, and in general, dysfunctional family and social problems which makes them extremely vulnerable. Many of them suffer from malnutrition, have a low physical and mental performance and are victims of school absenteeism and of the juvenile delinquency networks.
  
• Infrastructures and activities
  During this season these XICS centres developed the programme NED (Nutrition, Education and Sport) of the Foundation Rafa Márquez through which children were clinically monitored in the event of detecting nutritional or sanitary problems.
  
  Educational strengthening programmes were also implemented in order to improve interest for reading among youths, as well as their creative capacity and of attention with up until now excellent results in up to 90% of children between 5 and 7 years.
  
  The sport activities have promoted values such as team working, discipline and effort and have helped to improve the capacity to face the everyday difficulties.
  
• Co-executing entity
  Rafa Márquez “Fútbol y Corazón” Foundation
• Collaborating entities
  City Council of El Salto
  City Council of Tonalá