Lack of Access to Medical Service: Migrants who lost arms or legs under the heavy cargo wagons, do not get the medical service they need in Mexican hospitals. Though their health status is at high risk, they are kicked out just some days after their accident.

A Place to Stay: The Jesús el Buen Pastor shelter gives a place to stay to these people. Here they are offered the possibility to heal their wounds and to find new energy to keep on living: because the big majority of these migrants are left dreaming about working in the United States to give a better life to their families: and this dream becomes ashes with such heavy accidents.

Prosthetic Devices: The posibility to get prosthetic devices means a new perspective to these persons. With one of them they can start a new life, they are mobil on urban grounds and they are not as easily stigmatised by the society.

Support for Migrants: The shelter´s support already starts in Tapachula´s General Hospital, where migrants’ surgeries, blood units and medicine are paid. After transferring them to the shelter, the migrants stay under the medical observation and care of professionals.

Permanent Costs: Besides the costs of surgeries, medication and prosthetic devices there are permanent costs of life in the sheter, such as food, electricity and water for 30 to 50 persons. Every year the shelter recieves more and more migrants. However, its finances are not secured by a big organization. The place supports itself with the help of sponsors from Mexico, the United States, Canada and Europe.

Professional Training: At the shelter we offer English classes, computer classes, sewing and handcraft workshops to give professional training to the people who live there, which allow them to forget about their physical disabilities faster. Wounds take  a few months to heal, so it is much harder for these migrants to think about a way to go back to their homes as a “handicapped”, without the possibility to contribute to their family income.

Download an information sheed here.