What is a Cendi?
According to the official website of the Federal Education Authority in Mexico City (AEFCM), Child Development Centers (Cendi) are spaces dedicated to the care and education of children in two stages: infant, which begins at 43 days of age and at one year and six months, and maternal, which is from one year and seven months to two years and 11 months. They also provide preschool education up to age 6 for children of workers.
The Cendis operate in morning, afternoon and continuous hours, and offer complementary services such as medical care, psychological care, social work and dining, guaranteeing a comprehensive environment for the development of minors.
More Child Development Centers in CDMX
From Utopía Cihuacóatl, in Iztapalapa, which is considered the first comprehensive project dedicated to care and recreation for women in Mexico City, the elected head of government, Clara Brugada said that this demarcation is the pioneer in the entire country in the care system, which she seeks to bring to all municipalities.
She said that to ensure that mothers and fathers have safe spaces for their children and that they can carry out their activities without any problems, it is necessary to have more Child Development Centers and that these be within reach of their workplaces or schools.
He explained that as part of the comprehensive project for the construction of 100 Utopias in Mexico City, these must have a care system and a Child Development Center, all with free activities.
“All the upcoming Utopias in the city will have a Cendi, a Child Development and Care Center, all of them, and we are going to make 100 Utopias, but even more, I am suggesting to my colleagues, secretaries, mayors that we can take up again and do more, we have to think about making another 100 in another 100 spaces,” she said.
Brugada stressed that this will be the commitment of his Government, which in addition to taking advantage of each space for activities and benefits for the inhabitants of the colonies and municipalities must be accessible and free.
She added that early childhood should be considered a priority state policy for any government and that she will seek to make Mexico City a pioneer in this area.
“If we are going to do 200 Cendis in this next government, the next ones who come to govern (Mexico City) or the next ones will do another 200,” he said.
According to figures from the Mexico City Government, there are currently 211 Cendis in the 16 municipalities and with Brugada’s commitment, by the end of his administration there will be a total of 411 child care centers.
The next mayor of the capital did not detail the plans for the construction of the new Cendis or the budget that will be allocated to their construction and operation.
