OUR HISTORY
1984
Esperanza Beginnings
Robert Morris, Deacon Al Graff, and Fr. John Howard envision the organization out of the St. James Circle service group.
1985
Registered Non-Profit
Esperanza International, Inc. (EI) is incorporated as a U.S. 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
1986
First Volunteer Group
Students from University of San Diego, the first volunteer group, builds 10’ x 20’ wooden houses in Tijuana.
1989
Apartments for Migrants
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
FEM is Founded
Fundación Esperanza de México, (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
Work in San Diego
Esperanza founds the Esperanza Housing and Community Development Corp. of San Diego for low-income housing operations in the San Diego area.
1992
Concrete Blocks are Engineered
A cost-effective, safe, and volunteer friendly house-building system (Hainer block) is engineered for Tijuana building projects.
1992
First Executive Director
Philippe Gagne becomes Esperanza International’s first Executive Director.
Apolonio Rodriguez and Sergio Rodriguez Sandoval are hired to coordinate work in the communities.
1992
First Volunteer Group Coordinator
Victor Esparza becomes the first Esperanza Volunteer Group Coordinator responsible for United States volunteer groups.
1992
Self Help Principles
Self-help and community development principles are introduced to the work of Esperanza.
1993
First Community Savings Groups
First community savings groups (FAVs) are organized in Tijuana colonias.
Esperanza Housing and Community Development Corp. of San Diego merges to become Community Housing of North County.
1995
Esperanza Health Clinic Opens
The Esperanza Health Clinic opens its doors to the residents of colonias near the Tijuana city dump.
1996
Land is Purchased
Land is purchased for the construction of Pueblo Esperanza (La Posada).
1998
Eduardo Joins Esperanza
Eduardo Zavala Reyes is hired as the third Esperanza Volunteer Group Coordinator.
1998
First Long-Term Volunteer
The first long-term volunteer joins the Esperanza staff from September to December 1998.
Melissa Drollman is hired as the second Esperanza Volunteer Group Coordinator.
1999
Pueblo Esperanza Opens
“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.
2000
First Executive Director of FEM
Josefina Pataky becomes the first Executive Director of Fundación Esperanza de México.
2001
Building Expansion
Fundación Esperanza de México establishes an office at the Pueblo Esperanza compound.
Construction on a second volunteer housing wing to double the capacity begins at Pueblo Esperanza.
2002
Board of Directors
Reorganization by the Esperanza International Board eliminates the Esperanza International Executive Director position.
2002
Los Niños Group
The Esperanza International Board contracts with Los Niños for Esperanza volunteer group registration service.
2002
FEM Achieves Non-Profit Status
Fundación Esperanza de México achieves nonprofit status in México.
A second volunteer housing wing at Pueblo Esperanza is completed.
2003
Support From Mexican Government
Development continues in the Tijuana communities and Esperanza community organizations (FAVs). Support from the Mexican Government and major Mexican businesses grows.
2003
Caretaker Housing
A caretaker house is built at Pueblo Esperanza. Construction begins on a gray water recycling system.
2004
Second Long-Term Volunteer Added
Two long-term volunteers are needed to support growth in volunteer groups.
2005
Pueblo Esperanza Grows
Construction for a long-term volunteer apartment is completed atop the caretaker’s house. The community center at Pueblo Esperanza is completed, and Pueblo Esperanza begins a composting program
2005
Chip Bags and Inner Tube Purses
Fundación Esperanza de México introduces home enterprise chip bag and inner tube purse construction projects as a means to increase family income.
2005
First Ecology Education Event
A joint project of Fundación Esperanza de México, Tijuana Public School teachers, Los Niños, and Ecoparque brings 1,800 students together for the first annual ecology education event.
2006
First Spanish Immersion Program
The first Spanish immersion program is offered at Pueblo Esperanza.
2007
Native Plants Garden at La Posada
FEM develops a “native plants” garden at Pueblo Esperanza through a grant from the San Diego Natural History Museum for the purpose of continuing their work in ecology education.
2008
First Tortilla Cooperative
The first Esperanza Tortilla Cooperative in Valle Verde begins.
2008
Seattle University Study Abroad
The first Seattle University accredited study abroad academic program is offered through Professor Paul Milan.
2009
San Diego State University
San Diego State University offers an academic study program.
2010
Oaxaca Expansion
An expansion program in Rio Grande, Oaxaca opens and the first volunteer group visits Oaxaca.
2010
First Lomas Del Valle Home
The first home is completed in the new Esperanza housing development in Lomas Del Valle.
2010
La Posada Housing
Completion of a new housing unit at La Posada (Pueblo Esperanza).
2013
New Housing Prototype
New housing prototype is used for a special build in the Ensenada area.
2015
Australia, Germany, and Little Italy
Welcomed The Cardoner Project from Australia and students from University of Stuttgart, Germany.
Esperanza International establishes office in Little Italy, San Diego.
2016
2 New Community Savings Groups
Fundación Esperanza de México begins work in 2 new communities, “Los Castores” and “Primo Tapia”. These two new Community Savings Groups begin to save for new homes in 2017.
2017
Ground Breaks for Casa Mil
Fundación Esperanza de México breaks ground on 'Casa Mil', the 1,000th Esperanza home for the Cervantes Family in the colonia of La Morita.
2018
First "Friendraiser"
Fundación Esperanza de México has a new Executive Director: Ernesto Aguilar.
Esperanza International hosted a "Friendraiser" at Border X Brewing in San Diego, CA.
2019
Clean Energy Upgrade
Thanks to the support of our amazing donors, we completed a clean energy upgrade for La Posada: a 19.95 kW solar panel installation. The system is a ‘grid-tie’ system designed to generate power equal to the entire energy consumption of La Posada.
2019
First Fall Fiesta Fundraiser
Esperanza International hosted a successful Fall Fiesta at Pondera Winery, in Woodinville, WA.
2020-2021
Navigating the Pandemic
Hosted a virtual Spanish immersion program & found creative ways to support our communities through the pandemic.
2022
Binational Mission
Developed a new binational mission statement, joining Fundacion Esperanza de Mexico and Esperanza International in the same Mission, Vision, and Values.
