How We Began
Centro de Esperanza Infantil
Jodi Bauman
Oaxaca Youth Empowerment and Centro de Esperanza Infantil grew out of the compassion of Jodi and Harold Bauman. While on vacation in Oaxaca in 1984, the Missouri couple were troubled by the children they saw selling products on the street or asking for money. Initially, they helped one family enroll their children in school. Over the years, they took on more families. By 1996, Jodi, Harold, and friends were supporting about seventy children in attending school and they founded Oaxaca Streetchildren Grassroots (renamed Oaxaca Youth Empowerment in January 2024).
From Then to Now
As the program grew, many changes occurred. Centro de Esperanza Infantil, our partner nonprofit in Oaxaca that does on-site work, was created in 1999. Initially located in a rented building, CEI eventually purchased a colonial building on Calle Crespo in downtown Oaxaca. In November 2023, the CEI named the building Casa Jodi to honor Jodi Bauman. In addition to providing meals, hosting classes, and containing a computer center, Casa Jodi houses the administrative staff.
In September 2022, Centro de Esperanza Infantil opened a satellite center, Casa Emilie, in Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, a community a few miles from downtown.
Members of the boards of directors of Oaxaca Streetchildren and Centro de Esperanza Infantil in 2000.
Help support our efforts to help the students to continue studying and achieve their goals. Make your tax-deductible gift today so the future of Oaxacan youth remains bright.
Oaxaca Youth Empowerment, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
Our Tax ID is: 35-1988669