Ministry of Love

CURUFC helping the Global Rugby Community: The Ministry of Love

Ministerios de Amor (Ministry of love) is a charitable organization, dedicated to the rescue and transformation of street kids. It was founded in 1987 with the sole aim of offering the possibility of a better future to those forgotten in our society, to give an opportunity to those children that, due to the physical and emotional abuse that they have suffered in their own homes, have decided to escape and find refuge in the streets, sewers or in abandoned buildings. Their only identity is in the streets and the only companions that they have are the illnesses, prostitution, physical abuse, drugs and abandonment.

They are welcomed into the Ministerios de Amor where they receive a balance diet, clothing, accommodation, medical attention, education - from elementary school all the way to college, english lessons, computing lessons, training courses, sport and cultural activities, as well as a moral and vocational guidance. The orphanage helps children from a very young age up to 18 years old.

Since July 2005 a new word was introduced into the vocabulary of Ministerios de Amor, this word is 'TRY'. 'TRY' has become the victory shout from the children every time their team scores on the Rugby pitch. The team is called Halcones de Ministerios de Amor (Ministry of Love Hawks).

They are very pleased to report that, in less than five years, the children have demonstrated on the pitch what they are able to achieve. Some of the players have trialed in the national team, with one of them making it all the way to the Under 19s national team that went to represent Mexico in Barbados in 2009. He won the sportsmanship trophy of the tournament and has become a role-model for the rest of the children in the Ministerios de Amor.

This sporting achievement has been able thanks to the help, time and patience of Mr. Raul Monroy. Mr. Monroy was the first Mexican to play rugby in Mexico, and he is one of the founders of the Mexican Federation. Now he is retired and dedicates his time to promote the sport coaching the team and teaching the good values that one most have both on and off the rugby pitch. Mr Raul Monroy's son, Dr. Carlos Monroy read for his PhD at Cambridge and was a CURUFC member.

Ministerios de Amor has been able to help these children thanks to the effort and help from many people and institutions such as Cambridge University. With the team jerseys and support provided by CURUFC they are able to continue with their rugby team.