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On Saturday, April 28, approximately 50 Rotarians from the South Pasadena and San Marino clubs and their families and friends traveled to Tecate, Mexico to build a house – in a day. Working with Corazon, Inc, a non-profit organization that provides services to Northern Baja residents, the volunteers arrived at the build site at about 8 am. The 600 square foot standard construction home, but without water or electricity, was completed by 4:30 pm.
Corazon coordinates the construction and provides building supervisors to lead the volunteers. Service clubs like Rotary, church groups, families, and companies provide $8400 to purchase the materials and 30-50 volunteers to build the house. The families the receive the home have volunteered hundreds of hours in their community to earn the right to get on the list for a house.
The South Pasadena Rotary Club has participated in these international hands-on projects for several years. In 2017 they teamed up with their neighboring club in San Marino to make it a joint project.
South Pasadena Rotary President and Project Coordinator Dan Watson said, “Building a home in Mexico is one of our club’s most important and meaningful activities each year. In one day we literally change lives, not only for the Cabrera-Anguino family that got a new home, but for the volunteers that built it. It helps build a bridge between the people of our countries. Working with San Marino Rotary has only made this a more meaningful project. We are building a relationship that will last a long time.”
