At the end of April, Casa Hogar welcomed 65 volunteers from the U.S.-based company Edmentum, a leading provider of learning technology solutions. Edmentum supports over 43,000 schools, 420,000 educators, and 5.2 million students worldwide. https://www.edmentum.com/intl
The team sponsored the installation of a specialized sports floor for Casa Hogar’s brand-new outdoor inline hockey rink, the first of its kind in Southern Baja California, joining 16 similar rinks in mainland Mexico. Also known as roller hockey, the sport has grown increasingly popular in Latin America in recent years.
“The Casa Hogar Inline Hockey Rink will be a key feature of our new Youth Community Center,” said Jayson Stirrup, Executive Director of the orphanage. The center is entering its next phase, adding two classrooms next to the Casa Hogar facility, which gained international attention after the 2021 Disney film Blue Miracle.
The movie, based on a true story, follows an orphanage guardian and his children teaming up with a washed-up boat captain to win a high-stakes fishing competition. Dennis Quaid stars as the captain, and the film holds a 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it “an uplifting drama.”
Edmentum emphasizes strong relationships as the key to success in education. “We embrace an educator-first mentality to make a positive impact on students,” states their website. Their support now extends to Casa Hogar, partnering with Jayson and his team of educators and children to improve lives within their care.
The new blue snap-together sports flooring was installed on Saturday, April 26. Representatives from the U.S. and Canadian Consulates, as well as the Los Cabos Tourism Board, attended as honored guests, sharing heartfelt words of support for Casa Hogar and its growing community center.
The Sharks Inline Hockey Team, originally based at Don Koll Sports Complex in the Cangrejos neighborhood will be the rink’s primary users, continuing to train for the Mexican Inline Hockey National Championships. A full-length basketball court is also planned next to the rink.
“This will be a space where local youth can engage in sports, dance, art, legal counseling, therapy, and professional skills training, including students from the nearby high school,” Jayson added.
Casa Hogar serves vulnerable children aged 4 to 18, providing love, education, and opportunities to grow into positive, contributing members of society. Jayson and his team focus on educating in academics, life skills, and values, both moral and spiritual, while elevating the children beyond societal norms. He has led the organization since December 2015.
“Jayson is a remarkable person, responsible, kind, helpful, intelligent, and often funny,” said Alejandro Cabrera M., a Mexico City-based entrepreneur, photographer, and poet. “The children love him like a father, and it’s easy to see why; he’s an outstanding human being.”
“We strive to help as many children as possible in our community and across BCS,” said Jayson, a York University Environmental Studies graduate. “We understand the challenges, and that’s how we expand our support.”
Though the Disney film brought fame, it’s Jayson’s visionary leadership that remains the heart of Casa Hogar’s mission, providing a loving refuge for the region’s most vulnerable youth.
For more information or to support Casa Hogar, visit https://www.casahogarcabo.com or call +52 624 1231285. To reach Jayson directly, call (624) 191-1897.
“Until our children can be reunited with their biological families, this is their home, a place where they are loved and happy. And when the time comes, they’ll carry that love forward,” said Jayson. ,