Project Pasitos & Casa Connor - Two Dreams Come Together Pasitos de Luz
December 3, 2019

Pasitos de Luz is housed at Casa Connor. We are a non-profit charity in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, that provides care for children with disabilities from low income families, particularly single mom families. We were founded in November 2000 by Yolanda Sánchez Santiago, who wanted to help single mothers with a disabled child to be able to work and learn how to address the disability of their child.

Pasitos de Luz, which means 'Little Steps of Light' in Spanish, is a lifeline for approximately 130 families, with a goal of reaching 200 families. Each day we see approximately 70 children. The children who come to Casa Connor suffer from acute physical and/or psychological illnesses. We offer a large range of services free of charge, including physical therapy, psychological care, nutrition and wellness, education programs and so much more!



We are not just locally and regionally recognized for the quality of our services, but also by the city and state government because of the beneficial impact of our services to families who need them.

Casa Connor was donated to Pasitos de Luz to help the children we support reach their highest potential. Since 2000, Pasitos de Luz has supported children with Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, Autism, psychological trauma, severe learning problems and intellectual impairment issues and many more disabling conditions, all at no cost to the families. The services are provided to approximately 130 families, with a waiting list of as many and more, who require specialized therapy and treatment.

From our early years through 2016, Pasitos was housed in a very small family-owned home that had been adapted to the needs of the children. But Yolanda always had a dream and in 2011 this dream became a reality!

In 2011 Casa Connor was a dream for the Vanderveens and Peter & Teena Oudman and it has been their life and breath since that time. They wanted to do something in memory of their son and grandson, Connor Vanderveen, who had died aged 15 of a rare genetic condition called Hunter Syndrome. The families dedicated themselves to building a facility for children with special needs with the help of a dedicated board of directors and many compassionate donors.

This facility is Casa Connor and was opened in October 2016. Pasitos de Luz moved in at the start of 2017.

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