Our History

Timeline

1984 – Robert Morris, Deacon Al Graff, and Fr John Howard envision the organization out of the St. James Circle service group.
1985 – Esperanza International, Inc. (EI) is incorporated as a U.S. 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
1986 – Students from University of San Diego, the first volunteer group, build 10’ x 20’ wooden houses in Tijuana.
1989 – Esperanza finds apartments for migrants camping in a San Diego canyon.

Esperanza is a partner in the Jimmy Carter house building event in Tijuana.
1990 – Fundacion Esperanza de Mexico, (FEM) a Tijuana based organization with a Mexican board of directors, is founded to direct the Tijuana area house-building work of Esperanza International.
1991 – Esperanza founds Esperanza Housing and Community Development Corp. of San Diego for low-income housing operations in the San Diego area.
1992 – Cost effective, safe and volunteer friendly house-building system (Hainer block) is engineered for Tijuana building projects.

Philippe Gagne becomes Esperanza International’s first Executive Director.

Apolonio Rodriguez and Sergio Rodriguez Sandoval are hired to coordinate work in the communities.

Victor Esparza becomes the first Esperanza Volunteer Group Coordinator responsible for United States volunteer groups.

Self help and community development principles are introduced to the work of Esperanza.
1993 – First community groups (FAVs) are organized in Tijuana colonias.

Esperanza Housing and Community Development Corp. of San Diego merge to become Community Housing of North County.
1996 – Esperanza Health Clinic opens its doors to the residents of colonias near the Tijuana city dump.
1998 – Land is purchased for the construction of Pueblo Esperanza.

Melissa Drollman is hired as the second Esperanza Volunteer Group Coordinator.

The first Long Term Volunteer joins the Esperanza staff September to December 1998.
1999 – “Pueblo Esperanza” opens in La Gloria, providing improved lodging for volunteer groups from the U.S. and a facility for the support of local Esperanza communities.

Eduardo Zavala Reyes is hired as the third Esperanza Volunteer Group Coordinator.
2000 - Josefina Pataky becomes the first Executive Director of Fundacion Esperanza de Mexico.
2001 – Fundacion Esperanza de Mexico office established at Pueblo Esperanza compound. Construction on a second volunteer housing wing is begun at Pueblo Esperanza which will double the capacity.
2002 – Reorganization by the Esperanza International Board eliminates the Esperanza International Executive Director position.  Esperanza International Board contracts with Los Ninos for Esperanza volunteer group registration service.

Second volunteer housing wing at Pueblo Esperanza is completed.

Fundacion Esperanza de Mexico achieves Mexico nonprofit status.
2003 - Development continues in the Tijuana communities and Esperanza community organizations (FAVs).

Support from the Mexican Government and major Mexican businesses grows.
2003 – Caretaker house built at Pueblo Esperanza.

Gray water recycle system construction begins at Pueblo Esperanza.
2004 – Two Long Term Volunteers needed to support growth in volunteer groups.
2005 – Long Term Volunteer Apartment construction completed atop caretaker’s house.  Community Center at Pueblo Esperanza completed.

Pueblo Esperanza begins a composting program.

Fundacion Esperanza de Mexico introduces home enterprise chip bag and inner tube purse construction projects as a means to increase family income.

A joint project of Fundacion Esperanza de Mexico, Tijuana public school teachers, Los Ninos and Ecoparque brings 1,800 students together for the first annual ecology education event.
2006 – First Spanish Immersion Program offered at Pueblo Esperanza.
2007 – Fundacion Esperanza de Mexico develops a “native plants” garden at Pueblo Esperanza through a grant from San Diego Natural History Museum for the purpose of continuing their work in ecology education.
2008 – First Esperanza Tortilla Cooperative in Valle Verde.
First Seattle University accredited study abroad academic program through Professor Paul Milan.
2009 – San Diego State University Academic study program.
2010 – Opening of Esperanza Expansion Program in Rio Grande, Oaxaca, and first volunteer program in Oaxaca.

First home completed in the new Esperanza housing development in Lomas Del Valle.
2011 – Completion of new housing unit at the Posada.
 

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