“Opportunity awaits,” they said. Fuentes del Valle is a place promising just that. But what is it really like? Let’s uncover its story. Fuentes del Valle is located in the Tultitlán Municipality. It is part of the Mexico City metropolitan area. This colonia is the third-largest in its municipality.
In 2010, Fuentes del Valle had over 74,000 residents. Imagine the energy and life within this large community. Fuentes del Valle sits near the Federal District’s northern edge. It is positioned between Buenavista and San Pablo de las Salinas.
Many families migrate to Fuentes del Valle. They come from Central Mexico searching for better opportunities. They seek better wages in the crowded border society. Life here isn’t easy. Dirt roads and houses built from scrap are common. Access to water is limited. Sanitation, schools, and medical facilities are scarce.
The Victoria-Tapia family’s story reflects many experiences here. They moved from Tijuana seeking affordable living. The father, Enrique, worked in construction. Rent in Tijuana was too high. It left little money for food. Neighbors told them about Fuentes del Valle. They learned of a vacant plot of land. The family decided to move.
Fuentes del Valle consists of a wide dirt road. Improvised homes and simple stores line it. These stores are made from old garage doors and tarps. This street is the community’s heart. Children ride bikes. Women mingle and chat. Dogs roam freely. The land slopes steeply downward on either side of the road. More shacks are carved into the hard ground there.
The Victoria-Tapia family lived in a tiny one-room shack. It was no bigger than a child’s bedroom. They slept on elevated wood planks without mattresses. Behind the house was their indoor-outdoor kitchen. Space wasn’t a priority. Being together as a family was.
Nayali and Enrique moved to the border. Jobs were scarce in central Mexico. Enrique had to travel for work. Sometimes he was gone for a month. Though far from her extended family, Nayali is happier in Fuentes. Her children see their father every night.
Volunteers built the Victoria-Tapia family a home one cold morning. Sixteen volunteers from San Diego made the trip. They constructed a nearly 800-square-foot home in one day. It included a loft, sturdy wood walls, and a concrete floor.
This simple structure meant everything to the family. Quetzali finally had her own space. Nayali had a clean kitchen to cook in. Kevin and Jesus could nap without disturbance. The family would stay dry when it rained.
Nayali said, “This house is a dream come true.” Fuentes del Valle represents both hardship and hope. It shows the strength of families seeking a better life.