In 2006, the Casa de los Amigos celebrated its 50th Anniversary and rededicated itself to its historic mission as a Center of Peace and International Understanding in Mexico City. The Casa’s mission comes to life through our current Peace Programs: Migration and Economic Justice. Casa staff and volunteers run the programs, which combine direct action, self and community education, and work in solidarity with other Mexican civil society. The Programs are strengthened by our hospitality program and guest house.
Mission:
Support the rights of migrants and refugees in Mexico and the work of our Mexican civil society partners with our Hospedaje Solidario (Hospitality in Solidarity) Program.
Educate the Casa’s community about the roots and realities of immigration in Mexico and the right to asylum
Our Work
Hospedaje Solidario: The Casa de los Amigos works with a variety of governmental, non-profit, and international organizations, such as Sin Fronteras, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Mexico, and the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR), to offer short-term and long-term housing to refugees, those seeking asylum, migrants, and victims of human trafficking. In addition to a safe and warm home, we offer free breakfast, free local phone calls, an orientation to the neighborhood, and accompaniment around the city.
Awareness and Education: Long-term volunteers and staff form the Casa de los Amigos’ Migration Committee. The Committee meets weekly to organize presentations, dialogues, and documentary film screenings about immigration, refugees and asylum. We also work to stay abreast of important current events related to the subject, and maintain an anthology of news and scholarly articles.
Direct Support: The Committee maintains a resource guide for immigrants and refugees in Mexico City. We refer requests for housing and assistance to relevant governmental and civil society organizations. The Committee also maintains a center for second-hand clothing which we distribute to guests in need and others who come to the Casa seeking help.
Strengthening Networks: Committee members attend events, meetings, conferences, and workshops in Mexico City related to the issue of immigration, helping to strengthen the Casa’s role as an integral member of the local community supporting the rights of migrants and refugees. Since April 2010, we have organized a space for reflection for those working with migrants in Mexico City.
More Information
- Migration edition of La Voz de la Casa
- “From Arizona to Tamaulipas,” by Clay Boggs, in the November edition of Western Friend
- “Solidarity Hospitality: Refugees, Migrants, and the Casa de los Amigos” by Nicholas Wright and Jill Anderson, Western Friend
- An article about our Spanish classes for new refugees