Our impact
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We measure our success by the positive impact we have on the lives of each and every child in our programs. Each year we see many positive results and heart warming successes, and are proud of all the achievements of our kids. We are also proud of the partnerships we have forged and maintained, all providing resources to help us meet our mission of enabling the kids be the best they can be.
Below we share some of the headline figures from last year, as well as some recent inspiring case studies.
“Pasitos de Luz has given hope to me and my son”
Gael is 11 years old and diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. He was enrolled into our programs in 2023, and the positive changes we have seen in him have been remarkable. His dad Edgar explains that he first started looking for help because “I was absolutely desperate. My son was very aggressive, would not pay attention to anything and had been removed from several schools. His tantrums would last up to 2 hours!“
We enrolled Gael into our Hydrotherapy and Special Education programs, attending Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Gael can let off steam in the pool, while also benefiting from group activities and social integration in the classroom. In the afternoon, he has the opportunity to spend time in our green outdoor spaces, where he experiences the calming influence of the plants and animals.
Gael has benefited enormously from his time at Pasitos de Luz. Edgar gets emotional when he talks about the improvements in his son. “Gael has changed so much. He is much much calmer now. Every now and again he does throw a tantrum, but it only lasts 10 minutes or so. He is more stable and actually responds when you ask him something“.
Therapy Successes 2023
It is so inspiring and heart warming to see children take their first steps, roll over or eat breakfast for the first time unaided. This is what motivates us to keep striving for excellence in what we do.
In 2023, we delivered a total of 8,500 therapy sessions, which included physical and occupational therapy, multiple early stimulation, hydrotherapy and electrotherapy sessions. We also ran alternative therapies through our Temazcal (a traditional Mexican steam bath), as well as music, art and dancing.
Iñaki is now reaching for the stars
Iñaki is a little 3 year-old boy with a big smile who started at Pasitos de Luz in 2024. He has a diagnosis of type 2 Arnold Chiari syndrome, a condition in which brain tissue extends into the spinal canal, causing weakness in the arms, trouble swallowing and changes in breathing pattern.
On enrollment at Pasitos de Luz, we created an integrated Support Plan for Iñaki, which included physiotherapy strengthening exercises Monday to Friday, two nutritious meals per day, reading and writing exercises, speech therapy, piano classes, art, temazcal and more.
We have been really impressed with Iñaki’s progress since he entered our programs. As you can see in the videos below, he now has much improved strength in his arms and is able to grab and manipulate objects. He is also much more sociable, with a wider vocabulary, thanks to regular speech therapy. Iñaki is reaching for the stars, and we are there to help him actually touch them!
Increased Skills, Healthier Eating and Graduation Successes 2023
Our Special Education program continues to produce positive results and uplifting success stories. Its principal objective is to give children the daily living skills needed to be more independent and self-sufficient, to develop their numeracy and literacy skills, and ultimately to enable them to integrate into and flourish in wider society.
Keily’s graduation success!
Keily is a cheerful and sociable 12-year-old girl, full of energy and eager to run all day. She lives with her mom and two sisters in the Altavela neighborhood of Banderas Bay, a short drive from our facility.
Keily is diagnosed with Silver-Russell syndrome and learning disabilities, which means her physical growth has been stunted and she has difficulty retaining information. However, since she started at Pasitos de Luz 5 years ago, she has greatly benefited from our Nutrition and Special Education programs.
Thanks to the two nutritious meals she receives every day at our facility, plus a healthy noon snack, Keily has gained much-needed weight and now pays more attention in class. In fact, all the children who attend Pasitos de Luz eat a healthy breakfast and lunch. Good nutrition is vital for their growth and overall wellbeing.
Her progress in the classroom has been impressive too. In the last 12 months, Keily has learned to form and write words and sentences, and she is now able to identify numbers from 1 to 100 without mistakes. Her arithmetic has also greatly improved. Keily has much become more independent too: she dresses herself, ties her own shoe-laces, and brushes her teeth after each meal.
This year, Keily successfully graduated from Pasitos de Luz! We were sad to see her go, but know she will make great strides at her local neighbourhood school. Well done Keily!
Meet our kids and help us change more lives for the better
We see daily, weekly and monthly improvements in our children as they engage in therapy, educational programs, nutritional programs, recreation, music, dance and other activities. To find out more on the progress of individual children, we encourage you to meet some of our kids!
And if you feel moved to help us help more children, consider joining Love Pasitos Monthly, our monthly giving program. Learn more and give here
