On 13 August, 67 children and young people will leave Hacienda San Salvador in Miacatlán and begin a new chapter at Casa Buen Señor in Cuernavaca.
For almost 50 years, Miacatlán has been at the heart of NPH Mexico, providing generations of children and young people with a home, education, healthcare and a strong sense of family. Moving from a place with such history and meaning is significant.
But the needs of children and young people have evolved, and so has NPH Mexico’s approach to supporting them.
The move follows years of reflection about how NPH Mexico can provide a more family-like environment while giving children and young people greater opportunities to participate in their communities and develop the relationships, confidence and practical skills they will need for independent adult lives.
Casa Buen Señor is already part of NPH Mexico’s history. The home has served as a residence for high school students for decades and is located close to Casa San Salvador, known as Casa Nolan, another established part of NPH’s presence in Cuernavaca. The move therefore builds on NPH Mexico’s longstanding presence in the city.
For the children and young people themselves, the transition can bring both excitement and uncertainty. Supporting each of them through that change has been at the centre of the preparations.
Why Cuernavaca?
Miacatlán has provided a safe, loving and supportive environment for generations of children and young people. However, its rural location has also limited opportunities for them to participate regularly in life beyond NPH.
Cuernavaca offers a different environment, while keeping the children and young people within an established NPH community.
Children and young people will have greater opportunities to build relationships outside NPH, participate in their local community and develop the practical and social skills that come through everyday experiences.
One of the biggest changes will be education. Instead of attending school within the NPH campus, children and young people will attend local schools in Cuernavaca, where they can make new friendships and become more connected to the community around them.
The city will also open the door to museums, cultural activities, community centres, workshops and sports facilities, providing new opportunities to discover interests, develop talents and build confidence.
A more family-like setting
The move will also change what everyday life at home looks like.
At Casa Buen Señor, NPH Mexico is introducing its Modelo Cuasi-Familiar, an approach designed to provide children and young people with a more family-like setting.
Instead of larger dormitory-style accommodation, children of similar ages will live in smaller groups of six to eight. Each residential home will provide greater personal space and privacy, alongside shared living and dining areas and the daily presence of a dedicated caregiver.
The move will also bring brothers and sisters closer together. For the first time, siblings across different school levels will live at Casa Buen Señor together. Boys and girls will continue to live in separate residential units in accordance with local regulations, but siblings will have opportunities to spend time together every day in shared areas.
Preparing for more than a move
Preparing 67 children and young people for such a significant transition involves much more than preparing buildings and packing belongings.
Emotional preparation began well before the physical move. Each child and young person has received individual support from NPH Mexico’s psychology and social work teams. They have been given honest, age-appropriate information and opportunities to ask questions, talk about how they feel and express concerns about the changes ahead.
That support will continue in Cuernavaca. Regular individual check-ins will help teams understand how each child is adapting and provide additional support where needed.
The timing has also been carefully planned around education. Children and young people will complete the current academic year in Miacatlán, move during the school break and begin the next school year in Cuernavaca, ensuring continuity in their education.
Greater participation in community life will also be accompanied by appropriate safeguards. Casa Buen Señor will maintain security and dedicated caregivers, while activities outside the home will follow safeguards appropriate to each child’s age and needs.
Miacatlán remains part of the story
Moving to Cuernavaca does not diminish what Miacatlán means to NPH Mexico.
For almost half a century, Hacienda San Salvador has been home to generations of children and young people. It holds countless memories and relationships and will remain an important part of NPH Mexico’s history.
Its own story will also continue. From 2027, NPH Mexico plans to begin transforming the hacienda into a community centre, creating a new way for this historic place to serve children, families and the surrounding community.
The next chapter begins
On 13 August, 67 children and young people will make the journey from Miacatlán to Casa Buen Señor.
The move itself will happen in a day. Making Cuernavaca feel like home will take longer.
In the weeks and months ahead, we will follow the children and young people as they settle into their new homes, start school, make new friends and discover their community. NPH Mexico will continue monitoring their wellbeing and, most importantly, listening to the children and young people themselves about how they are experiencing the transition.
This is not simply the story of leaving Miacatlán. It is the beginning of a new chapter — and we look forward to sharing it with you.
More information
For more information about the move from Miacatlán to Cuernavaca in Spanish, visit:
