| A New Year Dawns at Pasitos de Luz and Casa Connor Pasitos de Luz | |
January 3, 2022 |
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Kids having fun in our pool at Casa Connor
Dear friends old and new,
As we celebrate the beginning of a new year, we take time to recognize how fortunate we are to be able to serve others. We also recognize how fortunate we are to share this journey with you, taking inspiration from your commitment to helping the children whose lives are changed for the better at Pasitos de Luz in Casa Connor.
We hope that 2022 brings good health and prosperity to your homes, and unites your communities in peace and harmony. Let us celebrate the fact that we are all here to witness how marvellous life is and how loving and generous we can all be as human beings.
With much love from the children, families and staff of Pasitos de Luz in Casa Connor
End-of-Year Outdoor Fun!
The end of the year is an opportunity for the kids, staff and families at Pasitos de Luz to enjoy the outdoor spaces at Casa Connor. Unlike at other times of the year, when the heat can be oppressive, temperatures from December to March drop and mean that it is much more pleasant to be outside.
On December 20th we were thrilled to host the annual Christmas party (Posada) for the Pasitos kids and their families. This year, for the first time, we hosted the party at Casa Connor, making use of the beautiful space by our therapy pool. The kids were paid a special visit by Santa, had fun breaking open Piñatas and unwrapping their presents, and were able to enjoy themselves in the pool.
Over the past few weeks, the children have also enjoyed a range of outdoor activities in our Huerto or 'orchard', overseen by Carlos Ayala and his team. The Huerto is a beautiful space that is actually one of the most bio-diverse in the region, with Carlos having dedicated himself to sourcing a huge range of plants, including medicinal plants, such as Muitle, which is known to cleanse blood, and Albahaca (or basil), that is good for memory. Children have benefited from the medicinal qualities of these plants. The herbs, fruit and vegetables grown in the Huerto are also used to supplement the ingredients we put in the nutritious meals that we serve the kids at Casa Connor. Each day the kids eat a healthy breakfast and lunch, as well as a midday snack.
Every one of the outdoor activities at Casa Connor has a therapeutic quality and is part of our Alternative Therapy program. This December, kids have been enjoying...
Harvesting Jamaica (Hibiscus) flowers, used to make the popular Mexican drink Agua de Jamaica. The kids learn more about the natural world that surrounds them and the importance of caring for it.
Picking fruit, such as bananas, papaya and mango, that go straight into meals and drinks for the kids. We show children first-hand where their food comes from, which helps build respect for the environment and for the food on their plates.
We have been running music and dance classes, which give children a chance to participate in activities together and to express themselves. This is especially important for kids like Karla, who is non-verbal.
Horse therapy is really popular with the kids, giving them a new perspective on the world around them. We have noticed that many children, especially those on the Autism Spectrum, are less anxious and more communicative during and after a session on Capote, our resident horse.
We resume activities at Casa Connor on Monday January 10th.
If you would like to get together with friends this month, have fun and raise funds for our work at the same time, then you are cordially invited to our 8th Annual Fashion Charity Luncheon on Saturday January 22nd at the River Café, Puerto Vallarta. Full details here
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in 2022! If you would like to visit us, become a volunteer, become a monthly donor or help out in some other way, please do get in touch at info [at] pasitosdeluz.org
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From the Bay & Beyond
Celebrate a Healthy Lifestyle
From activities like hiking, swimming, bike riding and yoga, to restaurants offering healthy menus, Vallarta-Nayarit is the ideal place to continue - or start - your healthy lifestyle routine.
Banderas Bay offers 34 miles of incomparable coastline in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit, and home to Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit's many great destinations.