Mission to the poor
Our community of Santa Ana
The mercy ministry of Eirene was first esta-
blished in the underdeveloped community
of Santa Ana Tepetitlan.
The town is located towards the south-
western corner of the growing city of
Guadalajara, between the beltway and
the city of Bugambilias.
Santa Ana Tepetitlan is a well established
settlement of generational families, with
strong cultural traditions.
The ministry works alongside the poor and
disadvantaged in the community, to serve
their physical and spiritual needs.
The people and the needs of
Santa Ana Tepetitlán |
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Santa Ana Tepetitlán is an old village rooted in many customs and traditions. Santa Ana was founded approximately in 1170 AD by one of the tribes that came from Aztlán. When the Spanish came, they brought Africans to the community which is why the area became known as “Santa Ana de los Negros.”
Around 1729, Franciscan monks came and built the first cathedral. For the longest time, Santa Ana was primarily an agricultural village, and after the Mexican Revolution, with the agrarian reform (when the land was divided among the villagers), the people of Santa Ana became owners of these lands.
 Center of the town
The families, as they began to grow, gave away pieces of their properties to their children which continued for generations and now has families living on top of each other.
Some of the people sold part of their land and with the extra money, became alcoholics.
Over the years Santa Ana transformed, as it was swallowed up by the growth of the metropolitan area of Guadalajara. With this taking place, it involved Santa Ana in all of the social problems that come along with large urban areas, also incrementally increasing the problems that already existed.
In 2008, approximately 6,000 people registered in the census. It is difficult to know exactly how accurate this information is because of how the families live.
"Partner with Eirene today as a "Support Member", working together in the
mission to change lives and transform communities in Guadalajara, Mexico".
Alcoholism and drug addiction -
Alcoholism continues to gain ground each year as children become involved from younger and younger ages in its abuse. This comes from poor examples by the parents, especially the fathers, as well as from peer pressure. Fifty percent of the families in Santa Ana have at least one alcoholic in the home. The situation is very grave as the children begin from a young age sniffing glue, drinking alcohol and taking drugs, some starting as young as eight years old.
Unemployment and lack of medical services -
The jobs that are most commonly held in Santa Ana are as brick layers, plumbers or as laborers for a construction crew. Some of the women work at cleaning homes. Most do not have permanent employment or access to social security, which would provide health care for
them and a type of retirement option.
Family disintegration -
Because both the mother and father normally work, there is a large problem with children being left alone to care for themselves. These children become very prone to skip school or not go at all, become involved in drugs and alcohol and generate an environment that is prone to violence. Many young women become pregnant, starting at sixteen or younger.
The education is severely lacking in content and the schools are supersaturated -
Less than ten percent of the population older than eighteen have finished middle or high school. Most children leave school because they don’t see how it will make a difference in their life or because there is much pressure in the home for them to work and help with the finances.
Malnutrition -
Because of bad eating habits, many in the community show signs of malnutrition and the children are very susceptible to getting sick.
How do you fix these problems?
Eirene Ministry is a mercy ministry for com-
munities in Guadalajara, and Santa Ana is
one of these communities.
To help provide solutions and offer lasting
change, Eirene Ministry has established an
effective education and an affordable health
care ministry. Is able to offer English and
employment training classes, and finally
community outreach assistance programs
to those in emergency need.
The goal is to work alongside individuals so
they see the need to change and then, in
turn, they can change their families and
transform the community.
| You can help change lives
You can be part of our Mercy Ministry in
the community of Santa Ana Tepetitlan
and help bring transformation.
You can join and partner with Eirene today
as a "Support Member", working together in
the mission to change lives and transform
the community in Guadalajara, Mexico.
You can then participate through the many
options in the Change is Possible or the
Business Partnership program (this is not
necessarily financial). Click here to join
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Map of Santa Ana Tepetitlan:
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"Partner with Eirene today as a "Support Member", working together in the
mission to change lives and transform communities in Guadalajara, Mexico".
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