The Milpa Alta municipality in Mexico City has launched the first Bebeteca in Santa Ana Tlacotenco, thus offering mothers without access to childcare schemes the opportunity to promote early stimulation, learning, and creativity in children from 0 to 3 years old. The Digno Bebé program aims to ensure the full development of early childhood in an area with high rates of marginalization in CDMX, where poverty affects 54.7% of the population, according to Conapo data. This initiative will benefit a community with a high number of Nahuatl language speakers.
The Bebeteca in Santa Ana Tlacotenco is designed to promote early stimulation, learning, the creativity of babies, and the preservation of indigenous languages, especially Nahuatl, which is facing a concerning decline in its use. It seeks to ensure that future generations keep these valuable cultural heritages alive.
The space will feature facilities adapted for infants, early stimulation workshops, children's literature, music initiation, and recreational activities for children aged 4 to 10 years. Workshops on breastfeeding and parenting will also be offered for mothers and fathers, ensuring a comprehensive approach to child development. It is expected to benefit more than 20,000 children, providing them with growth opportunities in a stimulating and quality environment.
Additionally, the Aliméntate program will guarantee nutritious and quality food through the Bebeteca, aiming to ensure that children grow healthy and strong, maximizing their skills and abilities. The combination of good nutrition and effective early stimulation is essential to forming productive citizens committed to their community.
Based on the results, Mayor Octavio Rivero plans to expand this model to the 12 towns that make up Milpa Alta, with the goal of opening a Bebeteca in each community by the end of his administration. This will consolidate a network of spaces dedicated to the integral development of children and promote the preservation and strengthening of the region's cultural identity.
