KIDS KINGDOM - BAJA MEXICO

“I only had soup and old tortillas at home and was always hungry,” said seven-year-old Hian when he arrived at Kids Kingdom orphanage in Ensenada, Mexico.

Sweet little Chuy was only six years old when his mother tied him up with rope. Then she beat him with a paddle and a hose. At nine years old, Chuy’s mother abandoned him and he had no other choice but to live with his abusive, alcoholic stepfather.

• Alejandra was abandoned as a child and lived in poverty. • When she first came to Kids Kingdom orphanage she never smiled. • Now she never stops smiling.

In his own words, Carlos tells his story

My name is Karen Millán. I'm 21 years old now, but I arrived at Kids Kingdom orphanage in Ensenada, Mexico when I was just four years old. Will you take a moment to read my story? It will only take a few minutes. I want to show you how much my life has changed since I was a little girl.

“We lived in Ensenada in a one room house,” she recalled. “We hardly ever had food and we had to look in our neighbor’s trash cans for food."

Raul and his sister were alone, poor, and helpless living in Mexico. Then, you helped give them a new, happy home!

Shiomara Medina arrived at Kids Kingdom in May 2009 at age eight. This is her story. "My name is Shiomara, and I am 16 years old. I have a sister named Cassandra, age 18, and I had another sister named Isis, but she passed away. I was born in Nayarit, Mexico, but when I was two years old my mom moved us to Ensenada. We lived in a small house that we built with wood and scraps. My mom cleaned houses to earn a living, but it wasn’t a steady job. Because of our low-income, I wasn’t able to attend school."

What is #GIVINGTUESDAY? This month, we have a day for giving thanks. We also have two for getting deals- Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But, did you know we also have a day for giving back? It’s called Giving Tuesday. On Tuesday, November 28, 2017, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to promote generosity.

When Eleazar Santiago’s (above, right) parents abandoned him and his six younger siblings when he was just a teenager, he thought his life was over. As the oldest, he was now responsible for six little lives and he did not know how he would raise them while still attending high school.

By: Rosalina Carapia My name is Rosalina and I was born in Ensenada, Baja California. My father left us when I was very young and my mother had to go to work to support me and my five brothers. This...