By Perla Michelle Rosales Sandoval
Territorial Coordinator in Citizen Initiative
for the Promotion of the Culture of Dialogue

An unforgettable day at the House of the 3Rs

A few days ago I had the opportunity to participate in a forum on the first House of the 3Rs, called “Ximena Guzmán”, in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Mexico City. Upon entering, I was enveloped in a vibrant atmosphere: children's laughter, conversations between older adults and young people, and a general feeling of tranquility. This place was much more than a care center: it was a vibrant, breathing, caring community space.

The forum brought together diverse stakeholders. From the beginning, an atmosphere of collaboration and listening was felt. The tour included a tour of each space, where I was able to meet the people who bring the space together: educators, therapists, volunteers, and caregivers; each person with a story, a smile, and a shared mission of care.

Services that humanize and comfort

The 3Rs House offers an impressive array of free services that ease the burden of caregiving:

• Childcare centers (6 months to 6 years).

• Free public laundry.

• Community dining room with affordable and healthy food (affordable rations)

• Day home for senior citizens.

• Care for people with disabilities, including rehabilitation areas with adapted pools.

• “The Challenge is to Care” room to raise awareness of male co-responsibility.

• Cyber school, lactation room, and comprehensive health services: laboratory, general medicine, dental care, pediatrics, gynecology, nutrition, geriatrics, and mental health.

• A spa and fitness space, ideal for moments of self-care, relaxation, and well-being.

Seeing the spa in operation: the gentle sound of the water, the relaxing atmosphere, the sense of pause and worthiness... all these details show how the House cares for those who care and those who receive it.

Where do youth fit into this space?

One of the most striking moments was seeing the intergenerational interaction: children, youth, and older adults sharing, teaching, and learning. This coexistence promotes empathy, understanding, and breaks down generational stereotypes.

Youth and care

In Mexico, a significant percentage of young people are disconnected from the education and labor market. According to the OECD, by 2023, 16.3% of young people between 18 and 24 years old neither study nor work. At the national level, in the range of 15 to 29 years reaches 20%, well above the OECD average of 12.5 %. In this group, women represent 96% of the inactive population, while among men it is 91.8%.

These data highlight that many young women engage in unpaid care work, which limits their access to education or formal employment. Having spaces like the Casa de las 3Rs allows young people (especially those in vulnerable situations) to:

• Reduce domestic and care workload.

• Access to learning, socializing, mental health, and self-care spaces (such as spas or workshops).

• To inhabit a space that listens to their voices, their needs, and integrates them as subjects of law and action.

Emotional well-being and mental health as rights

Overwhelming caregiving and a lack of opportunities can have mental health consequences: anxiety, stress, and emotional exhaustion. However, at the Casa, I noticed how these scenarios change: young people find a moment of respite, a safe space, a supportive, nonjudgmental hand.

The spa isn't a luxury: it's a gateway to self-care. The mental health spaces, the cyber school, intergenerational interaction, the music, the craft workshop... everything contributes to healing, empowerment, and building caring networks.

As I left the 3R House that day, I was filled with a mixture of hope and responsibility: hope in seeing policies transformed into human experiences, and responsibility in recognizing that care is a right, a shared task, and an act of dignity.