FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Families
How Can I Build My Home with Esperanza?
For families living in the greater Tijuana area who are interested in building an Esperanza home for their family, please view our "Families" page HERE, or contact our Administrator, Cuquis at M.Zatarain@EsperanzaDeMexico.org to get involved or learn more.
How Do Families Pay for Their Homes?
Families are contributing money on a weekly basis to the FAV (community savings group) in which they participate. Most families are contributing approximately $27/week. Each FAV elects a treasurer who collects and manages this money. When families receive a government subsidy, they are able to pay off the homes in 5-7 years. Without the subsidy it takes 10-12 years.
See more about Esperanza community household savings groups (FAVs) HERE on our How It Works page.
How Much Does it Cost to Build an Esperanza Home?
As of May 2023: Taking into account the recent increase in cost of building materials and updated foundation, the cost per 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home is about $16,100 USD without government subsidy*, or $10,600 with government subsidy.
*From CONAVI, Mexico's National Housing Commission.
Inclusion
Disability Accommodations
We value inclusion and access for all participants and are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations for anyone participating, volunteering, or working with Esperanza.
For any disability accommodations or questions, please contact our program director, Melina at programs@EsperanzaINT.org or at +1-619-885-8255 as soon as possible so that we can best support you during your experience.
Nondiscrimination Statement
Inclusion is a core Esperanza value. Esperanza does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or income level in any of its activities or operations.
Taxes
Are My Volunteer Fees Tax Deductible?
A portion or all of your fees may be tax deductible. Please consult a tax professional to determine this for your individual trip.
Note: A trip can be deductible if all the time is spent doing the charitable activity, if the value of food and lodging is de minimis, and if you receive nothing of value. So the classic “volunteer” trip that is not deductible is you go to Africa, visit a village to “help” the locals, but stay in a five star hotel and spend half the trip on a safari. Going to the Posada is the antithesis of this. But if an Esperanza volunteer extends their experience to go to a resort or stay in San Diego, it may be that their airfare and much of the trip is not deductible. The volunteer can deduct travel expenses, such as airfare and other transport, accommodations, and meals, when performing services away from home. This might include trips to attend a convention or board meeting, taking underprivileged at-risk kids on a camping trip, or monitoring environmental destruction. However, there are important limitations: The volunteer cannot gain significant personal pleasure, recreation, or vacation from the travel. And the volunteer must really be working — tagging along on an outing while performing nominal duties, or even no duties for significant parts of the trip, won’t cut it.
What is Esperanza's 501(c)3 Number?
Esperanza International, Inc. 501(c)3 Tax ID number in the US is: 33-0099715
Travel
How Can I Get a Passport in a Hurry?
Yes! Find rush passport information on the U.S. Travel site HERE.
What are the Rules for Minors Traveling Without Their Parents to Mexico?
Mexican regulations as of 2013, state that generally there is no need for a notarized consent form, just a valid passport. However, it may depend on the citizenship status of the minor. Please find more information HERE.
If you need the Affidavit or Consent form for a Minor, you can find it HERE on the General Volunteers section of our website
What are Transportation Options for Groups?
Most of our US groups fly into the San Diego airport and then cross the border into Mexico from there. There are many ways to cross the border! Get dropped off from the airport via Uber or other driving service, take the city bus to the trolley then walk across, or rent your own vehicle. Most of our California and other closer groups choose to drive from their location directly to Tijuana. Your group can also rent our Esperanza Minibus and be driven around Tijuana after crossing the border. There are so many options!
You can download just the transportation options HERE, or find the same information in the Group Leader Planning Handbook found HERE on our Group Leaders page.
Please contact our program director at Programs@EsperanzaInt.org if you’d like to chat about any questions you may have regarding transportation or other questions related to volunteer opportunities.
What is an FMM Tourist Card and Do I Need One?
The FMM Tourist Card is similar to a visa (but isn't one) and has been a requirement from the Mexican government for many years for ALL international people traveling to Mexico. It is a requirement for all international people traveling to Mexico by air and anyone traveling for 7 days or less and free when you apply online in advance. You can find the online application for air travel and those who are traveling 7 days or less HERE.
For those walking or driving across the border into Mexico, it is a requirement to pay for one when staying more than 7 days (for example, you arrive on a Saturday and depart the following Saturday). You can apply online in advance, or the majority of our groups wait to apply until they are crossing through the San Ysidro/El Chaparral points of entry. You'll need to pay a fee, which as of Jan 2025 is currently $717 MXN (approximately $43 USD) per person. You can find the online application for border crossing and those staying 7 days or more HERE.
Volunteers
Can I Donate Clothing or Money During My Trip?
Many groups choose to donate their gently used clothing, shoes, and bedding used during their time volunteering, at the end of their trip.
In addition, many volunteers save their used and clean chip bags throughout the year to bring and give the Chip Bag Ladies who will then use them to make purses. More on the Chip Bag Ladies HERE.
For larger quantities of donations, there are Mexican customs regulations that restrict what may be brought into Mexico. Failure to follow regulations may result in seizure of the goods, seizure of the vehicle, and/or substantial fines and attorney’s fees. HERE is a guide with more information on Mexico donations. Please note that this link is provided as an informational resource only and we have no history or relationship with this organization. Once you have checked these restrictions, donations brought with groups are welcome (typically clothes, hand sanitizer, etc.). Esperanza’s program director is available to answer any additional questions and confirm acceptable donations.
In keeping with our philosophy, donations will not be given away but will be used in ways that the communities feel are best. In alignment with our self-help/ autoconstrucción principals, we also request that you do not donate or gift directly to a family.
Can I Visit the Facility Before I Bring a Group?
Absolutely. We allow prospects to visit the Posada and ask any questions they may have. We can also offer a tour if advanced notice is given. Please contact us for more information at: programs@esperanzaint.org
Do I Have to Volunteer with a Group?
We typically recommend volunteering with a group, whether it be an open group or the San Diego day group for locals. You can find more about those two HERE on our Volunteers' General Information page.
However we do work with individuals. Please contact our program director at programs@esperanzaint.org for to get started.
How Do I Register My Group?
Contact our program director at programs@esperanzaint.org or learn more HERE on our Volunteers' General Information page.
Is It Safe?
We are transparent about safety and security and provide group leaders and volunteers with information from the U.S. State Department and monitor resources from the Consulate General in Tijuana, and local sources in Mexico.
Reminders:
- Safety is the primary concern of our organization. If we believe at any point that it is unsafe for volunteers in Tijuana, we will inform groups immediately.
- There is a security plan in place and volunteers are accompanied by staff that knows Tijuana well when they leave our facility.
- The Posada is a fully-gated and locked facility with 24-hour on-site staff
- We have never had a violent incident or security problem with any of our groups in our 38 year history.
- Violence in Tijuana is concentrated between the drug cartels and the police.
- Visit our Volunteer page HERE to download our Esperanza Security Manual.
Check out the Department of State travel information for Mexico HERE.
