Get to know us.
OUR MISSION To create opportunities for people to serve Tijuana through house building, education, and long-term community.
OUR VISION A world in which relational and economic life flourishes, where people are globally compassionate & gain new life by giving theirs away.
OUR VALUES Glorifying God,
Transformation through service,
Empowering young people,
Commitment to people, communities, and places,
Collaboration with local organizations
Doxa is Greek for “Glory to God”
Who We Are
Doxa is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of families in Tijuana, Mexico through housing, education, and community development. To date, Doxa has facilitated the building of over 2,000 houses, providing shelter for more than 10,000 people. Each year, Doxa awards scholarships to over 120 kids and runs community centers in partnership with local orphanages.
With thousands of volunteers from across the U.S., Doxa offers opportunities to serve and connect across cultures. Their work continues to make a real difference for people on both sides of the border.
Our History
Starting in the late 1980s, Tijuana’s population surged, and while many families could buy land, few could afford to build proper homes.Tony, the founder of Hogar de los Niños Orphanage, saw this need, and Rod, a lumber company owner from Los Angeles, designed a simple wood-framed house that youth groups with no construction experience could build in just one week’s time.
Youth groups from Washington began coming to Tijuana during spring break to build houses, staying at Hogar de los Niños and working in nearby neighborhoods. As home-building trips to Tijuana grew in the 1990s, there was a clear need for better coordination. In 1997, Homes Without Boundaries was created to support logistics and planning, helping youth groups from across the U.S. serve, connect, and build meaningful relationships.
By 2007, as builders got to know the families they served, it became clear that many children in Tijuana weren’t staying in school. In response, the mission expanded to include education scholarships, an after-school program, and soon after, summer camps, dance classes, parenting seminars, and community events—all growing naturally from the strong relationships built over the years.
With all the growth, the name Homes Without Boundaries no longer fit. In 2011, it was officially changed to Doxa to reflect the expanded mission of housing, education, and community support.
As West Tijuana grew, the need for new homes decreased. By 2017, Doxa shifted to building in East Tijuana, where development remained behind. They partnered with Unidos por Siempre Orphanage and began offering education scholarships there in 2019.
In 2007, the Doxa scholarship program supported 10 students. We now support 140 students annually.
Currently, Doxa has facilitated the building of over 2,000 houses (thereby housing over 10,000 people), provides education scholarships to over 120 kids annually, partners with two orphanages, and operates a community center. Tens of thousands of volunteers from all over the United States have traveled to Tijuana to serve. Lives on both sides of the border have been forever transformed.
BY THE NUMBERS
1990
First groups build houses in Colonia Pedregal de Santa Julia, Tijuana, Mexico (West TJ).
Partnership with Hogar de los Niños Orphanage to host house building groups.
Homes Without Boundaries 501(c)3 non-profit organization formed in Washington state.
2000
500th & 1000th houses built!
Hogar de los Niños Orphanage undergoes major construction and expansion.
2007
Education scholarship program started in West Tijuana with 10 children.
Education after-school program started with dedicated homework classroom.
2009
50 children enrolled in education scholarship program.
First year of summer camp, which takes place annually during the month of July.
2011
Homes Without Boundaries legally changes name to Doxa.
Doxa also incorporated in Mexico as a non-profit organization.
1,500th house built.
100 children enrolled in education scholarship program and summer camp
2015
First groups build houses in Ejido Javier Rojo Gomez, Tijuana, Mexico (East TJ).
Partnership with Unidos por Siempre Orphanage to host house building groups.
New property acquired in West TJ to be future home of education and community work.
2,000th house built.
2019
Education scholarship program started in East TJ with 30 children.
Unidos por Siempre Orphanage undergoes facility expansion.
2024
Finalized long-term partnership with Grupo Unidad (Rancho) to be the home base for East TJ house building operations and hosting groups.
