THE VISION
MISSION: Bring hope through afterschool programs for vulnerable children in the heart of Mexico’s high-risk communities. Safe Zone provides a nurturing environment where children experiencing poverty, crime, abuse, neglect, or abandonment can encounter the love of God from adults who are committed to their well-being. Our programs focus on nourishment, education, values, and positive developmental activities.
VISION: Transform lives through God’s love, giving children the needed support to break free of the cycle of poverty, crime and abuse. By partnering with local churches to carry out afterschool programs in the communities where they live, we aim to keep children in school, remove them from dangerous street environments, and shield them from criminal influences.
THE TEAM
Founder: Rachel Reaser
Rachel’s passion for children in poverty started at an early age being raised in Guatemala where she volunteered in orphanages and other children’s programs. After college that passion was poured into the founding of an inner city project in Charlotte NC. For the past 24 years she and her husband have lived in Mexico and are the founders of Shoulder to Shoulder Mexico, a non-profit organization that serves and empowers churches of all different denominations. Safe Zone project is a dream come true for Rachel. A culmination of many years of experience working with children at risk. Responsible for:
- Directing the team/ team meetings
- Securing Funding
- Promotion
- Driving growth to new locations
- Hiring
- Approval of Safe Zone new locations
- Evaluation of each location
Directors of development and
administration: Hannah
Perez
Hannah has years of experience in working with orphanages. Her masters degree in counseling and her creative problem solving are a great fit for the growth and development of the project going forward. Responsible for:
- Training and volunteer development
- Planning special events
- Program oversight and accountability
- Training and managing
- Safe Zone prize Store for kids
- Quarterly evaluation reports
- Monthly site visits
- Driving yearly schedule
Administration: Daniel Perez
Daniel is from Mazatlan Mexico. His administrative skills and understanding of the culture allow him to provide proper oversight and structure to each of the Safe Zone Project locations. Responsible for:
- Site improvement/preparation projects
- Purchase of food and school supplies for all locations
- Stocking prize store
- Communication with all directors
- Collecting quarterly reports from directors
- Monthly site visits
- Helping with special events
- Initial screening of new SZ applications
Accounting and budgeting: Joshua Reaser
Joshua Graduated with his degree in accounting. He grew up in Mexico, always in the middle of many humanitarian projects for the poor and children at risk, giving him unique insight for this growing project. His eye for detail and perfection is what is needed to provide accountability for the funding and keep the budgets on target. Responsible for:
- All financial records
- Expense reports
- Budgets for every Safe Zone location
- Tax requirements
- Approval of purchases according to budgets
- Payroll
- Investment oversight of endowments
Communications and Media: Tonya Falkenberg
Tonya graduated with her degree in communications. She is passionate about telling our stories and keeping donors and partners informed about the progress and accomplishments of Safe Zone. Responsible for:
- Social Media content development and posting
- Communications and reports to donors
- Participate in Grant writing process
- Participate in fundraising campaigns
- Website management
- Collect and tell the stories
