The Between the Border club strives to aid the less fortunate children in the border city of Juarez, Mexico. Founded in February 2021, the club has started drives, helped orphanages, and aided shelters.

“We figured that it’d be great opportunity to get anybody, that we knew at school, to try and contribute to the community,” said President Ximena Borunda.

El Paso’s proximity to Juarez, Mexico presents an interesting dynamic for people on both sides of the border. On one side, you have a city in Texas that comes with all the benefits of being situated in the first world. On the other side, you have a city in Chihuahua, Mexico, dealing with extreme violence and high levels of poverty.

“El Paso and Ciudad Juárez lie together uncomfortably like an estranged couple, surrounded on all sides by mountains and desert. The cities are separated by the thin trickle of the Rio Grande, which flows through concrete channels, built to put an end to the river’s natural habit of changing course and muddying boundaries,” Andrew Rice of The New York Times Magazine wrote.

The stark contrast between the two cities represents a challenge for those who live across the border. Some children don’t have access to food, shelter, or even basic hygiene products such as a toothbrush and toothpaste.

“We did a small raffle that actually ended up having a big turnout once we got more people involved, we’ve also done a school supply drive, and we’ve also just asked our members to contribute with other projects,” Borunda said.

Many teenagers in the United States, simply do not or choose not to understand the situation some children in third world countries are dealing with. This has led to a level of arrogance that doesn’t fix the problem.

“I believe that it [Juarez] is judged too harshly because it is a part of Mexico…I just love it, I love the culture, I love being Mexican, so I’m really proud,” said Vice President of Correspondence Alizea Perez-Mendivil.

The Between the Border club is looking to change this problem. They have already contributed by hosting a school supplies drive, helping the Refujio de Dios Orphanage, collecting diapers for small children, and will continue to do much more for the City of Juarez, Mexico.

“They just don’t realize that they’re not living the same life as us because they’re so close to us…and just to realize that, even the smallest contributions can make a difference,” Borunda said.

It is safe to say that the Between the Border club has made a difference and continues to do so as it gives children hope when others choose not to.

“We want to do more donation drives, reach out to more orphanages, get more members, and pretty much just expand to the whole school,” Perez-Mendivil said.