A Mexico Free From Child Abuse
The above vision that drives Red Viva Mexico is huge – not least because, according to a 2024 report from UNICEF Mexico, 6 out of 10 children (62%) in Mexico experience violent discipline at home, which includes psychological aggression or physical punishment. Red Viva Mexico brings together churches, pastors, families, young people, and volunteers to play their part in making a child abuse-free Mexico a reality, working together to protect children and create safe, hopeful environments. Their efforts are focused on:
Raising awareness of child abuse and neglect.
Training adults - including parents, pastors, and teachers - on how to build protective environments.
Equipping children to recognise danger and speak up for their own safety.
Over 350 churches have been trained in child safeguarding policies, and many have established safety committees and protocols.
This video, created by Red Viva Mexico, showcases their outstanding work in safeguarding children. “The main thing we teach these churches is ways for children to also learn how to protect themselves.” - Pastor Antonio Carrillo
Healing and hope
Although the aim is to prevent child abuse from happening in the first place, Red Viva Mexico also acts to help those children who tragically become survivors of abuse. For a long time, María sought professional help for her daughter: they visited psychologists and therapists, but this hurt teenager did not feel safe enough to open up to anyone. Her mother recalls how her daughter would repeatedly say that “it was useless,” and that “she was wasting her time.” María’s church is a member of Red Viva Mexico and received training on implementing child protection policies and sharing concerns about child abuse. It was in this context that María met Elena, a volunteer psychologist with Red Viva Mexico, specialising in processes of resilience and recovery for children and adolescents who have experienced abuse. With deep empathy and a commitment inspired by God’s love and the vocation to serve, Elena created a safe and humane space where the teenager could, for the first time, open her heart and begin a journey of healing. María’s overwhelming gratitude is evident: “At last, my daughter was able to speak, she was able to trust. It is the first time she has felt truly listened to and accompanied in her pain. She is in better spirits, better understanding what has happened and slowly healing. I also feel supported on this journey.”
A New Phase of Growth and Vision
Red Viva Mexico has undergone its own journey of healing following the death of its former exemplary leader and founder, Aixa Marín, after a period of ill health. However, the network has not let its grief hold it back, with plans to scale up its efforts through a major new project. This initiative focuses on three key areas: expanding church-based safeguarding by training at least 110 more churches in safeguarding practices; empowering at least 60 child ambassadors through the Good Treatment Campaign; and carrying out citywide advocacy to raise more awareness about child abuse and protection.
In a conversation with Pastor Antonio, Phil, Viva’s Chief Executive, was struck by one phrase he used: “Violence starts in the home.” Phil notes that “This reality drives their ongoing commitment to connect with more churches and expand training to keep children safe. Despite the loss of Aixa, a founding and pivotal member of the network who sadly passed away recently, rather than slowing down, they want to do more—in honour of her legacy.”
Rooted in Relationships and Faith
The Red Viva Mexico coach, Isaac, journeys with the network in many ways, offering encouragement and pastoral care, as well as programmatic support when needed. An example of this was when the network leaders delivered a training of trainers workshop back to Isaac as a practice run, in preparation for their delivery to churches. Isaac noted that their preparation is exemplary: “The next step will be an in-person practice among them as a team so they can go well prepared to their first official training as facilitators, equipping children and adolescents as leaders and agents of change in their city.”
Red Viva Mexico is, in the words of Kezia, a Viva staff member who visited Mexico this year, a “small, tight-knit group full of joy, prayer, and commitment.” Viva is privileged to partner with the network and its leaders, Pastors Samuel and Antonio, who view their mission to help children live free from abuse as a God-given responsibility. “The truth is that we thank God for being able to serve in this Red Viva, to be useful, to contribute with a grain of sand to this great problem that we have in Mexico, and with the help of our great God, to strive to see this come to an end.” - Pastor Antonio Carrillo.