San diego drop in childcare: Top Drop-In Daycares in San Diego, CA
Top Drop-In Daycares in San Diego, CA
Recent drop-in daycare reviews in San Diego, CA
Cajudo Ana Family Child Care
Definitely a place where you have ease and peace of mind to leave your child with!!! Ana is really good with her daycare kids, even her family is involve in caring for her kids in care.Love her dearly <3
– Evangelyn J
Sanfilippo Childcare
Angela has been my child care provider since my daughter was 3 months old. She is very warm and welcoming and you can rest assured that your child is in good hands with her. Angela also sends text updates throughout the day with photos of my daughter which I love receiving. She is a wonderful andloving daycare provider and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for child care….
– Lissa C
Judy’s Family Childcare
Judy has taken care of my daughter for three years, and I couldn’t recommend her more highly. She’s not just a daycare provider, she’s “Mama Judy. ” With Judy, I know that my child is not just sitting on a couch, watching television. I know that she’s at the park, or the zoo, or a museum, or in thebackyard doing science experiments. I know that she’s with someone who genuinely loves taking care of her, who isn’t just punching the clock or staring at her phone all day. Judy comes out the door to hug our kids every morning, can’t wait for them to wake up from naps so she can play with them again, and works incredibly hard to teach them not just letters and numbers but kindness and gentleness and self-respect. If you are looking for strict order and rigid schedules and everything neat-as-a-pin, Judy isn’t a good match for you. But if you want your kid to come home dirty and happy and really loved at the end of the day, you’ve found the right place….
– Danielle A
Fran’s Day Care
Fran is a fantastic daycare provider with over 20 years of experience. She has taken care of my daughter for over a year. I couldn’t be happier! She is hands on, loving and nurturing.
I can relax in knowing my baby is being very well taken care of. I highly recommend Fran’s Day Care!
– Elena P
Nieves Family Daycare
My took my son to Little Family Daycare for few weeks and he loved it there! Joyce was very loving and caring with my son. 🙂
– Lorena
Drop-in daycares in San Diego, CA
Description:
State licensed childcare #376617374 and a provider since November 2005. My home is a safe place where children ages from 8 weeks to 5 years old are valued as individuals and where their need for attention,approval and affection is supported. Our day includes playtime, weekly outings to the park, daily arts and crafts, and story-time….
Recent reviews:
We love Ms. Ana (or Mama as the boys call her)! Our son has been in her care since he was 4 months old and is only leaving now at 2 1/2 because we are moving. She cares for the kids like her own; they havestructured time, but also lots of time to play. They get breakfast and lunch, take naps, read books, learn their letters, numbers, colors, and more.
We didn’t send our son here so he would learn all this, but he surprises us everyday with something new he learned at Ms. Ana’s. We will miss her and Papa a lot!…
Reviewed by Kelcey E
Description:
Hi, I’m Angela, I’m 56 years old and have been an active child daycare provider for over 30 years. I’m located in the Mission Hills area and have a warm and loving home that has a large outdoor area for childplay. I’m currently licensed for eight, but limiting capacity to 4. I specialize in infant to 2 years of age. I look forward to meeting you and your child. Best to reach me on my cell phone at 619-944-9655….
Recent reviews:
Angela is great! Both of our daughters spent 2 years there, and to this day they still talk about their time with Angela. We found Angela after calling the YMCA resource center, and we couldn’t have gottenluckier. She is caring, loving, and really knowledgeable. If you are looking for daycare for your little one, go with Angela; you can thank me later.
…
Reviewed by Jessica H
Description:
With over two decades of experience in early childhood education, at Judy’s Family Child Care, you and your child aren’t clients – you are family.
We provide nutritious meals, field trips, and a creativecurriculum that includes art, science, music, and many hands on activities to make learning fun! We focus on developing both self esteem and social skills through a nurturing, loving and creative environment, so that every child has the confidence they need to succeed.
PLEASE NOTE that at this time we can not enroll children less than 12 months old.
We look forward to having you join our extended family soon….
Recent reviews:
Ms. Judy is a true treasure. She combines many years of experience with genuine love and care for the children under her care. Her daycare focuses on teaching kids kindness, respect, sharing, all while lettingkids be kids and have lots of fun! Whether it’s going on field trips to the park or zoo or museum, playing in Ms.
Judy’s garden full of slides, Lego tables, ride-on toys, chalk boards, and lot of other opportunities for fun activities, or staying inside on a rainy day reading books and playing with trains, Ms. Judy always finds a way to make the day a success. My kid loves her tasty, healthy home-cooked lunches, and is proud of the pictures and various creative crafts he makes with Ms. Judy’s encouragement and help. As he’s gotten older, she’s added activities that teach letters and math, always keeping it low-pressure and fun. And all that for a rate that is beyond competitive. She’s truly been a blessing in our lives….
Reviewed by Nurith A
Fran’s Day Care
3485 Reynard Way Unit C, San Diego, CA 92103
Starting at $425/wk
Description:
Hi Parents, My name is Francesca Sanfilippo (formerly Sciuto) and I have been running a licensed and insured, in-home daycare in my lovely home in the Mission Hills area for over 32 years. I am and remaincurrent with my CPR and First Aid certifications.
I consider myself to be a loving, nurturing, energetic, and hands on caregiver who treats my children as I did my own. It is common for me to have parents bring their second and third children to me. I specialize in infant toddler care. I am bilingual in Italian/English. I have been licensed and registered with the State of California Community Care Licensing referral list for 29+ years and I have a perfect record from licensing! My home has easy access for drop-off and pickup. I limit my care to three children to insure that each child receives my personal love, care, and attention….
Recent reviews:
Like all the other moms here, I love Fran and strongly encourage you to consider her for your infant’s care. I have known Fran for nearly 10 years!! Before I had children I knew she ran a daycare, and I wasalways impressed by her kind and caring demeanor. Fran has provided childcare for our first child, then our second child for total ~4 years. She is punctual, reliable, and committed to her work.
Fran loves all the children that come to her home, and it is reflected in my children’s love of her. Facing COVID, Fran is calm and supportive, and works with families to protect the health of everyone. I have had live in nanny and regular nanny, and none has been as dependable as Fran, who is respectful of parents’ time and work. We are sad to move on to Preschool, but I know my son has been well socialized, and has met all his developmental markers, and is ready for Preschool. If there is an opening available, I strongly recommend you don’t pass it up!…
Reviewed by Hui X
Description:
Hello Families,
Thank you for your interest. I am Joyce, a licensed childcare provider. I have been helping San Diego families for nearly 10 years. I am also a mother of two boys who are growing up way toosoon.
I have a small home daycare and I tend to keep just five kids, ages 3 months to 4 years old. While health and safety are my top priority, I provide a comfortable environment where children can play and learn from each other under my guidance and to ensure they reach their developmental stages.
Routine is key in my daycare; I feel this is the best way for children to grow into their independence. If you would like your child to feel like they are with family, then this is the place for you.
I have been fortunate to have infants in my home, then have a sibling join us a year or two later. We have had the privileged to be part of several families and watching the babies grow, then go on to kindergarten. Childcare should allow parents to be worry free and a place where their child feels secure. I can proudly say I have offered dependable and trust worthy childcare. As parents I know our lives stay busy; as a convenience I am make time available for phone interviews before meeting you in person. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. Hope to meet you soon.
Joyce
CL # 376629296
San Diego (Chollas View)…
Recent reviews:
Joyce is an amazing care provider. She provided back up care for my daughter when i needed it. She made my daughter feel comfortable and welcome from day one.
While there my daughter received excellent care.
Reviewed by Miriam K
Description:
Our day camps combine peaceful mindfulness practices with hands-on art activities, yoga & creative/cooperative games. Participants will blissfully experience mindful movement, develop compassion, discovercreative talents, taste healthy foods & make quality friendships! Full day & half day options are available.
There is a twinkling light inside of every child. The ZenTotz Curriculum is especially designed for young beings, so that they may grow up to shine their inner lights with greater consciousness and love for others!…
Recent review:
We’ve loved every experience with Zentotz! My daughter feels a sense of calm after her classes! Highly recommend
Reviewed by Lisa B
Description:
Hello and thank you for looking.
My name is Tammy.
With degrees in Child Development and Inspired by child development’s best, I bring fun, excitement, and love for learning into young minds and lives.
Myapproach to teaching is based on a strong belief that children learn through play. I believe that learning is not taught, it is experienced. I provide fun hands on activities for children to explore, discover and investigate.
With over 20 years of childcare experience and multiple degrees in child development, I am not your ordinary home daycare provider.
It is my desire and hopes to enrich little people’s minds, to give them a hunger and passion for learning.
It is also my personal goal to provide a place where children want to come, an environment that is welcoming, loving, safe and encouraging to children.
I’m a highly recommended daycare, please see me.
Startingsmalldaycare.com
I’m located off the 805/15 and Market I’m close to the 94 as well.
If you are interested please give me a call and we can set up a tour time, (which are in the evenings, as I don’t allow strangers in during daycare hours).
Want to know more or see my reviews and testimonials?
Simply go to my website.
Thank you for your time,
Tammy.
..
Recent review:
Miss Tammy is AMAZING! She loves my son and the other kids like they are her own! She is so patient and kind! I appreciate how she spends a few minutes chatting with each parent as they drop off their child.I’ve also never seen a child upset to be dropped off with her in the mornings. Many of the kids have been with Tammy since they were infants, and they are so sweet and gentle with my son. I love how Tammy does holiday related crafts with the kids — I’ve got a foot print picture frame with an adorable picture of my son! Tammy is a treasure, and I’m so lucky I found her!…
Reviewed by Nicole C
Description:
Hello, my name is Diana Bosforo and I have been an excellent daycare provider for the past 30 years. I have owned my state license for many years, I am CPR certified, and I am also a member of the YMCA childfacility. I love kids and treat all the babies I take care of as if they were my own grand kids….
Recent review:
Diana is as close as you can get to dropping off your child at grandma’s house–she truly cares about the kids, and has a genuine bond.
We started taking our son to Diana when he was 4 months old and he is nowover a year old, he loves going to see Diana. The house is clean, the baby is fed and we have a peace of mind and know that our child is in good hands….
Reviewed by Julia V
Description:
Hi there, I am a licensed Family Child Care home, I am a fun, loving and experienced provider. I have worked with kids from 3 months to 4 years old, I cater a small group of children, usually no more than sixkids in order to provide a family environment.
I am fingerprinted cleared through live scan and CPR certified….
Description:
Hi everyone! We are a curriculum based in home daycare. Our staff/owner has 10+ years experience with children. Our program will provide the foundation that your child needs to flourish in kindergarten. Weoffer a unique combination of curriculum and play based learning that allows each child to explore their imagination while acquiring knowledge and skills through education.
For us, this isn’t just a job, it is our passion and our dream to own a daycare. We pride ourselves in our dedication to learning, and our want to teach and nurture the coming generations. Each child is special to us. Our goal is to harness the best of each child and give them the space to facilitate their growth. Our uniquely paired program gives each child the right balance of imagination, stimulation, and learning opportunities. Our goal is to not only teach each child basic knowledge of ABC’s and counting, but for them to leave here a better, well rounded individual each day.
Some of what we offer in our program:
-Breakfast, lunch and snacks.
-Art and projects.
-Beginners American Sign Language.
-Preschool with counting, color, shapes, spelling, alphabet, reading and writing,
And much more!
We would love to show you our daycare. Send us an email and schedule a tour today!
We also offer after hours and weekend babysitting. For rates and more information, feel free to reach out via email!
tinyteapotspreschool@gmail.
com
License#: 376629111….
Arielle’s Child Care
8355 Station Village Lane, San Diego, CA 92108
Costimate: $381/wk
Description:
Arielle Sima RN, MSN
Description:
My name is Julia and I am from Spokane, WA. I just moved to San Diego about a month ago and am waiting for my California nursing license to process. I worked on a neurology unit for the past year and a half ata hospital in Washington. I have nannied regularly since I was 15 for friends/neighbors and have worked with a wide variety of ages! I absolutely love kids and animals. My friends and family would describe me as funny, motivated, caring, and mature. I have my own car. I am looking forward to settling in here in San Diego and meeting new families like you!…
Kiddie Hall
600 B Street, Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101
Description:
Get set for a thrill-filled summer! Our age-specific, kid-approved camps add up to a season of discovery and fun for preschool to school-age children.
This year, our 12 weeks of camps fall into six greatthemes: Mighty Bodies, Bendy Brains; Awesome Art; Gravity Galore and More; The Wondrous World of Food; Wild about Water; and Featured Creatures.
We’re in session when your local public schools are on break and you’ll find our flexible scheduling works for your busy family. See why our summer (and winter and spring) break camps are the place to be when school’s out….
Camp CaHiTo
PO Box 3275, San Diego, CA 92163
Starting at $265/day
Description:
Campfire USA Camp Cahito in San Diego, CA is a childcare and camp for children that provides a safe, clean, interactive, fun and exciting environment where your child can learn while having fun. The centercurriculum aims to provide a variety of age appropriate activities such as sports, music, enrichment, summer camp, spring break camp, thanksgiving camp, winter camp, and special event….
Starseeds Daycare
6576 Alcala Knolls Drive, San Diego, CA 92103
Costimate: $323/wk
Description:
We are a small family daycare located in Linda Vista, close to Fashion Valley Mall.
We are open on Friday nights and Saturdays all day. Flexible Hours are available upon request and availability. We speak bothRussian and English languages. We are proud to provide healthy organic plant-based meals and provide eco-friendly and clean environment for our children. We have a private yard for children to play and explore.
Who we are? Anya, Occupational Therapist with over 10 years of pediatric experience working with kids with special needs and her sister Lana, who is grad school for Speech and Language Pathology. We have 2 children of our own who are 2.5 years old and 9 years old. We are passionate about working with children and provide fun and loving care! We would love to hear from you soon!…
Description:
Our Promise – Young people want to shape the world. Camp Fire provides the opportunity to find their spark, lift their voice, and discover who they are. In Camp Fire, it begins now. Light the firewithin.
Camp Fire San Diego has been providing camping programs for over 75 years.
Our year-round programs in the community, at Camp CaHiTo and at Camp WoLaHi give youth the tools they need to be successful at home, at school, and to learn to care about the world and their environment….
Description:
21 Century Approach to Early Education and Child Care
At Take Pride Learning, our mission is to inspire and teach a new generation in a way that accelerates learning and to engage children at a deeper level oflearning. We believe that when young children learn the basics right from the start, they are more confident, social, and do better in school.
Our modern approach embodies the notion that when you teach a child a fact – he may remember it, and when you show a child an example – she can describe it, but when you tell young children a captivating story, set to music, the story and songs become a part of who they are, shape who they become, and stay with them for life.
I am a teacher turned entrepreneur and my dream is to change the world through education, imagination and technology.
To do this we had to start at the beginning with early education. We created the award-winning iKnow Series: 5 interactive enhanced eBooks and supporting products to improve how children learn the basics.
We are looking for caregivers with early education/early childhood development to implement our 2-phase launch plan: 1) Online home membership and 2) The 30-Day adventure camp.
Our business is rolling out a 2-phase launch:
Phase 1: Sell membership and products
We are targeting your area of the country for very specific reasons based on research. Caregivers have the opportunity to sell iKnow Memberships and then you are their online Ambassador (care-giver) to make sure they have an amazing experience. This can be a 12-month a year position. Great way to make extra money!
Phase 2: The 30-Day Adventure Camp
The caregivers that demonstrate high volume sales, leadership, and the need for a center in their area will secure an integral job in The 30-Day Adventure Camp (physical location in caregivers city).
Here we will run camps where 3 to 5 year olds come and participate in an early learning experience where they learn literacy, language, science, global citizenship and that there is great value in always doing their best….
Description:
Pacific Surf School
Description:
Camp Reach For The Sky in San Diego, California is a camp facility for children diagnosed with cancer, and their siblings. It is run by the Seany Foundation and it offers an accepting environment where thecampers’ illness is understood and supported. Campers can indulge in normal summer camp activities under the watchful eyes of resident medical staff and trained camp counselors….
Description:
The Girl Scouts Day Camp in San Diego, California offers a camp for Girl Scouts from grades K-12. They offer traditional camp experiences like crafts, songs, and campfires. Campers may work on the activities toget Girl Scout recognitions. Non-Girl Scouts are still welcome to the multitudes of activities in the day camp.
They also have a resident camp duly accredited by the American Camp Association….
Description:
Camp La Jolla is a fitness and weight-loss camp that offers its services to overweight and obese children, adolescents, and adults. Located in Coronado, California, the company admits participants between theages of ten to twenty-six years old. The company’s program focuses on diet and physical activity management, cognitive-behavioral therapies, and family involvement….
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Drop-In Daycare Articles
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FAQs for finding drop-in daycares near you in San Diego, CA
What are the benefits of drop-in daycare near me in San Diego, CA?
Drop-in daycare near you in San Diego, CA can be a flexible and convenient solution for busy parents who need child care on an as-needed basis.
This type of child care gives families the flexibility to drop their children off for just a few hours or for an entire day, depending on their individual needs. This kind of drop-in service can help to reduce stress associated with arranging more traditional, longer-term child care options.
What age ranges do drop-in daycares near me in San Diego, CA accept?
Typically, drop-in daycares cater to children between the ages of 6 weeks and 5 years old, but daycares will vary depending on their facilities and requirements. When reaching out to drop-in daycares in San Diego, CA, be sure to mention the age of your child or children and confirm they accept children in that range.
Do I need to make a reservation to use a drop-in daycare near me in San Diego, CA?
While drop-in daycares in San Diego, CA may require a short registration process and forms to be filled out, it is usually not necessary to make a reservation ahead of time for each visit. This convenience makes drop-in daycare an ideal option for those with unpredictable schedules or when babysitters aren’t available due to illness or other unanticipated events.
However, drop-in centers may fill up quickly during peak times, so it’s always best to call ahead to ensure the needed availability.
What should I bring with me to a drop-in daycare near me in San Diego, CA?
When preparing to drop your child off at drop-in daycare near you in San Diego, CA, it is important to make sure that you are bringing all of the necessary items for a successful and enjoyable experience. Remember to bring any blankets or stuffed animals that may serve as a comfort item — this may even include pacifiers or sippy cups if necessary. It is also important to remember snacks and drinks, so your child stays well fed throughout their stay. Don’t forget essentials like diapers, wipes, and changes of clothing!
Ratings for San Diego, CA drop-in daycares listed on Care.com
Average Rating4.5 / 5
Drop-In Daycares in San Diego, CA are rated 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 51 reviews of the 21 listed drop-in daycares.
San Diego Date Night: Best Drop-Off Childcare Spots
Ready for a summer date night or a break from the kiddos? We’ve found a bunch of super fun drop-off childcare spots where your kids can jump on trampolines, do gymnastics and meet animals, all while you enjoy a romantic dinner, a day date, or catch up with your besties at a hip wine bar.
Scroll down to see our top picks.
Videos From Tinybeans
G3Kids Drop-Off
G3Kids via Yelp
Itinerary: Drop off your little one and shop to your heart’s content! Whether you’re in Pacific Beach or near UTC La Jolla you can drop off your kiddos. Then, you have up to two hours of free time to workout, dine or shop. This gymnastics fun space will have your half-pint engaged in climbing, jumping, bouncing and crafts.
Schedule: Reserve a spot online for kiddos two and up. Drop them off for up to two hours. Further, the cost is $30 for one hour and $50 for two hours. If you join it’s $15 for one hour and $25 for two hours. The hours are Mon.-Fri. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Pacific Beach
929 Garnet Ave.
San Diego, CA
858-333-9009
Online: g3kids.com
4313 La Jolla Village Dr.
La Jolla, CA
858-333-1729
HomeRoom Hourly Drop-Off
Cassie H.
via Yelp
Itinerary: Little ones have so much fun here they may not want to leave. From a small indoor field and sandbox to a climbing structure, books and arts and crafts there’s plenty to keep them going. Even more, the staff is super friendly and there are animals to look at like a little chinchilla. Your half-pint will love coming here and you will love the break.
Schedule: If you have more than one kiddo, you’ll get a great discount. The first child (ages two and up) is $14/hour, the second child is $7/hour. Hours are Mon.-Thurs., 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri., 7:30-11 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m.-11 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Even more, they serve a morning and evening snack.
1820 Marron Rd.
Suite 112
Carlsbad, CA
760-936-6722
Online: homeroomcare.com
La Jolla Rec Center
Joe R. via Yelp
Itinerary: Your little warrior can play and eat with their friends.
While you and your hubby go out on the town! From organized outdoor games to arts and crafts, the rec club keeps kids entertained and fed too! You can grab a nice dinner in La Jolla or take a romantic stroll on the beach. All in all, everyone comes home happy.
Schedule: Parent’s Night Out happens the second Fri. of each month from 5:30-8:30 p.m. It costs $20 per kiddo ages five to eleven. Dinner is served too. Register online.
La Jolla Recreation Center
615 Prospect St.
La Jolla, CA
858-552-1658
Online: sandiego.gov/lajolla
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Funbelievable
Funbelievable
Itinerary: Rekindle your date night while your kiddo has unbelievable fun. Grab three hours of couple time (or just you time!) while your half-pint runs, jumps, snacks and watches a movie. All under supervision of other grown-ups (not you!). Funbelievable hosts this event on Friday evenings.
So, hurry and get your spot!
Schedule: Drop off your kids for $25 for three hours of structured playtime and add in an extra five dollars for dinner. Date nights fill up fast, so act quickly. The time is from 5-8 p.m. on Friday nights.
Funbelievable
11655 Riverside Dr.
Lakeside, CA
619-456-2474
Online: funbelievableplay.com
Kidsville
Kidsville
Itinerary: If you’re going out for dinner and a movie, your moppet will say ditto at pick up. They’ll gobble up their meal of pizza and juice and they’ll also enjoy a snack. They’ll ask if you got 30 minutes on a ‘roller coaster’ like they did and they’ll recount the enticing plot of the G-rated film that was played for them. Be sure to make room on the fridge for a coloring page they did just for you and mark in the date of Kidsville’s next night out.
Schedule: Hosted two Sat.’s a month, Kidsville welcomes ages 18 months-7 years.
Non-members pay $45/child, members $35/child and there’s a $5 sibling discount. This particular night out needs a minimum of three enrollees for the event to proceed, so register early enough in advance to ensure the event will occur. This one goes 6-10 p.m.
Kidsville
2375 Marron Rd.
Carlsbad, CA
760-730-9022
Online: kidsvilleplaygym.com
Flip Force
Itinerary: Flip Force offers what a competitive gym should for a night out: access to Olympic bed trampolines, tumble track, rod floor, foam pit and more. A wide variety of activities are planned in advance and a kid approved dinner of pizza and juice will be served. And depending on the number of flippers, a night out might include a special event like the laser tag. Don’t be surprised if they ask you to reserve them a spot at the next hosted night out.
Schedule: Parent’s Night Out runs on select dates, so check their website for a date that vibes with your schedule.
It’s $25/members and $30/non-members. You may reserve a spot in-person or by phone for their 6:30-10 p.m. time slot.
Flip Force
9282 Miramar Rd.
San Diego, CA
858-578-3547
Online: flipforcesandiego.com
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Kid Ventures
Kid Ventures
Itinerary: A night out at Kid Ventures is like any other time they’ve been here with you, but they’ll dine with new friends and be entertained by supervised crafts and games that are conducted throughout the night. Sitting still will just not be tolerated here. The indoor play center has a new theme for each monthly event and very special guests have been known to make an appearance.
Schedule: Fri. nights are when it goes down at Liberty Station’s Kid Ventures. From 5-9 p.m., kiddos that are potty trained to 8 years-old are invited for a night in. This is hosted once a month, but the date often changes, so check the website for accurate dates.
Kid Ventures
2865 Sims Rd.
San Diego, CA
619-573-9625
Online: indoorplaysandiego.com/liberty-station
Toby Wells YMCA
Toby Wells YMCA
Itinerary: The Toby Wells YMCA offers a gymnastics date night, so you may pencil in a Saturday early evening night out one weekend a month (every third Saturday of the month). You’ll have to feed them before drop off, but they may bring a snack to nosh on throughout the evening. They can tumble, jump and play the night away.
Tip: Other YMCA’s may offer this program, so be sure to check the one near you.
Schedule: This one is for ages 3-12 and it takes place certain Saturdays from 3-6 p.m. It’s $25/members and $33/non-members.
Toby Wells Family YMCA
5105 Overland Ave.
San Diego, CA
858-496-9622
Online: ymca.org/tobywells
-–Jeannette Swanson & Nikki Walsh
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featured photo: Funbelievable
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Political asylum in the USA for LGBT or gay people from Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is a post-Soviet country where the dominant religion is Islam.
This alone supports certain traditions throughout the country. It goes without saying that any person remotely resembling a gay or LGBT person would be judged and criticized in such a society. Given the attitude of the inhabitants towards any non-traditional sexuality or orientation, one would expect some kind of rejection, an expression of anger towards “modern” trends.
For many years, gays, homosexuals had to hide their true identity behind unhappy marriages with the opposite sex (as prescribed by the traditional rules of society) or lead an agonizing lonely life with their heads down. However, as advanced civilizations adopt new laws to protect members of the LGBT community, access to more of this information is also being made available to closed communities via the internet.
There are also numerous riots in Kyrgyzstan demanding that the government pass similar bills to allow gay and LGBT communities to gain the freedom, or at least a degree of recognition, to be able to live a more or less normal life in their homeland.
However, people don’t always get what they want.
Kyrgyzstan established its “democracy” about 20 years ago, but it has not fulfilled its obligations to support international human rights in terms of recognizing ethnic differences, exercising freedom of speech, equal rights and opportunities. In “democratic” Kyrgyzstan, one can easily observe a return to a deeply traditional society with inflexible gender stereotypes and norms of social behavior that are characteristic of the Central Asian region as a whole.
Kyrgyzstan refuses to hear, see, talk about the sexual orientation and gender identity of its citizens. Watching, behaving and living differently is severely punished both in the capital Bishkek and in any rural area of the country. Many cases have been documented of severe violence being practiced and encouraged against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, including rape, beatings, and psychological abuse.
Forced marriages and bride kidnappings have become the “norm” in Kyrgyzstan.
According to OSCE statistics, one in four gay and bisexual men and women interviewed was the victim of “curative” or “corrective” rape, a brutal and heinous crime that perpetrators believe will change the sexual orientation of their victim. Victims mention shameful rejection, irreversible alienation and physical abuse from their families in response to their sexual orientation, gender identity.
Many gay, homosexual, LGBT people have actively attempted to portray “changing” their sexual orientation or gender identity in response to social pressure. More than half of gay, gay, LGBT partners were abused by their parents, who were responsible for sending their children to psychiatric hospitals for “treatment”, organizing meetings with men, marrying off their daughters, or using violence/house arrest to make them forget about “unacceptable modernization” and turn into “normal” people.
In addition to the social problems faced by gay, LGBT men and women in post-Soviet “democratic” Kyrgyzstan, they faced an even harsher sentence as sexuality-related hate crimes were promoted for decades in schools, universities, television and radio.
Hate crimes against gays, LGBT people are not registered by the police because of the negativity and propaganda committed and disseminated by law enforcement agencies against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders, intersex people. In fact, according to OSCE reports, there have been cases where two gay men were arrested by the police and illegally detained and forced to have sex with each other while many officers gathered to watch. They then videotaped the entire act and traded it for their freedom. In another case, a lesbian turned to the police of Kyrgyzstan for protection from hate crimes, was detained and raped with a bottle in order to “bring her to her senses”, to turn her into a heterosexual.
Currently, there are no laws in the legal framework of Kyrgyzstan that would guarantee responsibility for expressing hatred against homosexual LGBT communities. The Criminal Code provides only liability for inciting hatred on national, racial, religious or inter-regional grounds.
In addition, the Criminal Code of Kyrgyzstan does not contain a hate motive in relation to crimes committed against homosexual LGBT citizens. Only ethnic or religious hatred is considered an aggravating circumstance under one article of the Criminal Code.
According to the needs assessment of the LGBT community conducted by the LGBT organization “Labrys” in 2012-2013. in Kyrgyzstan, many members of the LGBT community have experienced homophobia and transphobia from medical professionals. After patients disclosed their sexual orientation and/or gender identity to experts, they were denied services. This is either due to a lack of information about the specific needs of gay, LGBT members, or they are simply openly expressing their homophobic and transphobic position. Gays, homosexuals often face privacy violations in medical institutions, forcing them to refuse to take care of their health.
The attitude towards LGBT people in Kyrgyzstan has deteriorated in recent years, primarily on the part of the authorities.
These figures are supported by statistics: a record number of Kyrgyz citizens have fled the country, many of whom have sought and received asylum in the United States. A significant proportion of them are those who are persecuted for their political views or sexual orientation.
USA is a country that welcomes all people regardless of their sexual orientation and origin. That is why many gays, homosexuals who fled their country, leaving their lives behind, find peace in the great country of the USA.
It is important to understand that changes in federal asylum laws can and do occur. If the law changes, trust us, Deron Smallcomb Law Office, to successfully prepare and submit your package to USCIS.
We encourage you to contact our office for a free assessment of your asylum case and what our legal team can do for you in your situation. Whether your situation is complex or not, we can help.
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After Castro – Kommersant
The Castro era is going down in history: for the first time since 1959, a politician with a different surname will occupy the highest post in Cuba. On April 19, the National Assembly of People’s Power will meet in Havana to elect a State Council, which will no longer include its current chairman, Raul Castro. It is expected that this position will be taken by his first deputy, Miguel Diaz-Canel.
Chairman of the State Council Raul Castro and his first deputy Miguel Diaz-Canel (left)
Photo: NurPhoto / AFP
The world-famous Cuba Libre cocktail, which is offered to visitors in any Cuban bar, is very easy to prepare: light rum and Coca-Cola in a ratio of one to two with lime juice and ice . The Cuban authorities prepared the same simple recipe for their fellow citizens for the session of the national parliament. “It seems that the issue of transferring powers to Diaz-Canel has been resolved,” said Christopher Sabatini, an expert from Columbia University in New York, who founded Global Americans, a study of Latin American states.
More than that. Raul Castro intends to soon move from Havana to the east of the island to Santiago de Cuba, the administrative center of the province of the same name, from which he was elected to the National Assembly. In this city, in the cemetery of Santa Ifigenia, there is the grave of his older brother, the leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, who died on November 25, 2016 at the age of 90. The urn with the ashes of the Comandante is walled up in a giant granite stone, on which is fixed a marble tablet with the single word “Fidel”.
At the same time, 86-year-old Raul Castro has not left big politics yet. Back in December, he announced that he would leave the post of Chairman of the State Council and the Council of Ministers, which he has held since 2008, but will remain at the head of the Communist Party – the only legal political organization in Cuba – at least until its next congress in 2021. According to some reports, he also intends to maintain control over the armed forces, including through the Politburo of the party’s Central Committee, a third of which is military.
“Raúl Castro will continue to wield enormous influence in making major political decisions,” said William Leogrande, a professor at the American University in Washington. The question of how independent his successor will be is still open. But first, let’s take a closer look: who is he?
Did not participate in the revolution
Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez was born on April 20, 1960 in the city of Placetas (province of Villa Clara) in the family of a mechanical factory worker. At 19He graduated from the Central University of Las Villas in Santa Clara in 1982 with a degree in electronics engineering and immediately joined the armed forces, where he served for three years. After returning from the army, he taught for a couple of years at the alma mater, then went to work in the Union of Young Communists of Cuba.
In 1987, Diaz-Canel went to Nicaragua, where the civil war was in full swing. The Sandinista government of Daniel Ortega, with the support of the USSR and Cuba, fought against the Contras – they received weapons from the United States and attacked the north and south of the country from the territories of Honduras and Costa Rica.
Active assistance to the Nicaraguan army was provided by Cuban military advisers, but Diaz-Canel, representing the Komsomol members of the province of Villa Clara, was rather engaged in ideological work with youth. Be that as it may, he soon returned home, and the government of Nicaragua, faced with the prospect of reducing assistance from the USSR, was forced to conclude a peace agreement with the opposition.
Otherwise, Diaz-Canel’s biography is not much different from the biographies of most Komsomol and party functionaries, whether in Cuba or in the former USSR. In 1994, he headed the party organization in his native Villa Clara, eight years later he was transferred to the same position in the province of Holguin and soon joined the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba. In 2009, Diaz-Canel became Minister of Higher Education, in 2012 – Deputy Prime Minister, a year later – Raul Castro’s first deputy in the State Council and the Council of Ministers of the Republic.
For the first time in the history of socialist Cuba, such a high post was occupied by a person who did not participate in the revolution 1959 years old.
Diaz-Canel has long been a public figure in Cuba, but his popularity is nothing compared to Castro’s. Which is understandable: he did not gain experience in political struggle in a partisan detachment in the Sierra Maestra mountains; he is considered a skilled leader, but not a charismatic leader. And so far, little is known abroad – he has been mainly in those countries that have traditionally maintained close ties with the Island of Freedom, including China and North Korea. In 2016, he came to Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and visited the Skolkovo center.
Not much is known about his personal life. Cuba is a closed society, information about the top political leadership leaks rarely and in small doses. “Cuban politics is one of the most impenetrable in the world,” said Michael Shifter, head of Washington-based research organization Interamerican Dialogue.
It is known about Diaz-Canel that he is married with a second marriage and that he has two children from his first wife. They say that in his youth he wore long hair and listened to The Beatles (and who didn’t listen to them?), But there were no doubts about his loyalty to the ideas of socialism.
The era of the Comandante is passing away. What will Cuba be like after her?
Photo: Kristina Kormilitsyna, Kommersant
By the way, last year he disappointed those who had already begun to pin any hopes of liberalization on him: he issued a tough statement against the United States. Recent events in the region prove the truth of Che Guevara’s words that “you should never trust imperialism – not for a little, not for anything,” Diaz-Canel said at the time, referring to US pressure on Venezuela and President Donald Trump’s decision to reverse the normalization of relations with the neighboring island, begun by Barack Obama.
“Cuba will not give up its sovereignty and independence, will not discuss its principles in negotiations and will not allow it to dictate conditions,” he stressed in response to US threats to maintain sanctions against his country until democracy is established in it.
And at the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the death of Che Guevara in Santa Clara, Diaz-Canel demonstrated political correctness – he said what his party comrades wanted to hear from him. He will probably have to be extremely careful until he gains more independence. “He owes a lot to the people who chose him, including Raul Castro and his son,” explains Christopher Sabatini of Columbia University.
Raul Castro’s son he mentioned is 52-year-old Interior Ministry Colonel Alejandro Castro Espin, head of the powerful Council of National Defense and Security, which controls the Cuban secret services. The figure is not public, but well known in his country, and more recently abroad. In 2014, he led the Cuban delegation to secret talks with the United States, mediated by the Catholic Church in Canada and the Vatican, and in 2015, he attended his father’s meeting with Barack Obama during the Summit of the Americas in Panama.
Experts note his contribution to the restoration of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States, but they call him “the custodian of Castro’s legacy.” This implies that he will continue to play an important role in the life of the island, remaining behind the scenes of big politics.
Of the numerous Castro clan (Fidel and Raul had five more brothers and sisters, their children and grandchildren live not only in Cuba, but also in the USA, Mexico, Spain), 55-year-old Mariela remained in Cuban politics. The daughter of Raul Castro works as the director of the National Center for Sex Education and is known not only in her homeland, but also in other countries for her speeches in defense of the rights of sexual minorities. She is married, she has three children, and liberal views do not prevent her from being faithful to the ideas of the revolution: “Socialism – yes! Homophobia – no!” Recently, Mariela, who is a member of the National Assembly, spoke out in the sense that her father’s successor as head of state could surprise everyone.
In her opinion, in such cases “never without surprises.”
Handover?
So far, no one expects Diaz-Canel to become the Cuban Gorbachev. But after all, even when Gorbachev came to power, the Soviet Union did not know such words as “perestroika” and “glasnost” either.
Diaz-Canel himself says that “the changes that Cuba needs will be brought about exclusively by the Cuban people.” In this formula, if desired, it is not difficult to hear not only a response to calls for democratic changes that are heard from abroad, but, in fact, recognition of the need for such changes. Clearly, the expectation of change is in the air. But for the implementation of the social order, specific performers are required.
So it will be interesting to see who will be on Diaz-Canel’s team and how strong the resistance of the old guard will be. In 2013, when the National Assembly re-elected Raul Castro for a second five-year term as chairman of the State Council, he declared the need to “pass the torch of the revolution to new generations.
” Whether there will now be a rejuvenation of the highest echelons of power in Cuba, the upcoming session of Parliament will show. Observers noted that at the end of February, the honorary titles of Hero of Labor were awarded to veterans of the revolution, Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, Ramiro Valdez Menendez and Guillermo Garcia Frias. Each of them is well over 80, all three are members of the State Council, but it is not known whether they will remain in its new composition. It is possible that the solemn ceremony in their honor is a prelude to seeing off for a well-deserved rest.
If an aging cohort of revolutionaries does retain real power, it will “strangle and delegitimize the rising generation of new leaders,” warns UC San Diego professor Richard Feinberg. His colleagues from other research centers also fear that Diaz-Canel may repeat the fate of Osvaldo Dorticos – in 1959-1976 he was the president of Cuba, but Fidel Castro, who held the post of prime minister, ruled everything.
Former Cuban Ambassador to the European Union Carlos Alsugaray sees the situation differently. In his opinion, Raul Castro “will retain some control, remaining in the background,” but will tell Diaz-Canel: “Now you have to do all this. You and make decisions.”
“It’s an extremely difficult moment for Cuba,” admits former University of Havana professor Enrique López Oliva. “People are disoriented. They don’t know what they should do. They don’t know what the transition will bring them and what their relationship with the United States will be like.”
Waiting for change
Cubans froze as if in a theater: the expectation of change is in the air
Photo: Reuters
Meanwhile, there are ongoing discussions on the island about possible changes. “I think the country is ready for change,” says Laura de Leon, a first-year student at the University of Havana. Correspondents for The Miami Herald, an American newspaper based in Florida’s second-largest city and home to most Cuban expatriates, spoke to her, as they did to many other Cubans, during a recent trip to Havana.
Among the interlocutors was Lionel Lima, a 44-year-old watchmaker who rents a small workshop in the Guanabacoa metropolitan area for 360 Cuban pesos a month. He is considered a cuentapropista – a self-employed citizen – and admits that he now earns twice as much as he used to at the factory (according to Reuters, in Cuba, the average salary in the public sector is $ 30). “There is enough to live on, although the rent is too high,” Lima says. According to him, he is not afraid of leaving Castro, but would like to believe that “if changes occur, they will be for the better.”
“I hope there will be a change,” says Gabriel de la Concepción, a 26-year-old truck driver who works in the port of Havana in the Regla district. For him, too, the main thing is to have enough money to live, otherwise the prices have risen too much: tomatoes and peppers – at 10 pesos a pound. “There used to be five,” Gabriel sighs.
Luis Puerta Batista, a 46-year-old artist from Callejón de los Peluqueros in the old part of town, lined with craft shops, hairdressers and restaurants, is also “burning with the desire to see change.
” He says: “Political, structural, economic changes are needed. The new Cuban leaders must try, because people rely on them.”
“If they don’t succeed, the system they’re trying to maintain could collapse,” continues Roberto Veiga, a Havana-based lawyer and political scientist who works with his friend Leinier Gonzalez on the independent internet project Cuba Posible. The authors call it a “laboratory of ideas” and want to show what could be done in Cuba, including with the help of civil society. Veiga believes that the discussions that have unfolded in recent years about constitutional reform, the development of private entrepreneurship, and the activities of the media have remained unfinished. In his opinion, “the new leaders will have to offer society something different and take additional steps towards freedom.”
NEP is gaining popularity
For more than half a century, the Castro regime has learned to defend itself quite reliably against pressure from within, and adapted itself to external pressure.
But the situation is changing. The Cuban Communist Party still holds power, but the longer it delays reforms, the more difficult it will be for it to maintain its credibility in society. Moreover, some results of government will have to be presented to citizens – just as in China the Communist Party demonstrates outstanding achievements in the economy to compatriots.
Among the most important economic tasks that the new government will have to deal with, some are obvious. This is the unification of the currency (since 1994, settlements on the island have been made in national and convertible pesos), attracting foreign investment, modernizing energy and transport infrastructure, abandoning the card system, and developing private business. Just one number: in the free economic zone in the port of Mariel (50 km west of Havana), only 26 projects have been approved since 2014, totaling about $ 1 billion, which is clearly not enough.
Raúl Castro had the courage to abandon a number of ideological taboos set by his older brother, who listed not only multinational corporations but the entire process of globalization as Cuba’s sworn enemies.
As a result of targeted liberal reforms, the number of individual entrepreneurs in Cuba reached 580,000 people, but at the end of last summer, the authorities introduced new restrictions for them and suspended the issuance of licenses. Observers attribute the decision to slow down the Cuban NEP to the emergence of social inequality.
According to experts, for the third year in a row, Cuba has been going through the deepest economic crisis since the 1990s, when it stopped receiving aid from the USSR.
In 2016, GDP fell by 0.9 percent, and the Cuban government surprised experts by announcing that last year the economy grew by 1.6 percent. According to the estimates of the international rating agency Moody’s and the analytical unit of the British magazine The Economist, the economic recession continued in Cuba in 2017, and according to the calculations of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the growth of the Cuban economy amounted to an anemic 0.
5 percent.
This happened largely due to the reduction of concessional oil supplies from Venezuela, which itself is going through hard times. Plus more than $2 billion in damage from Hurricane Irma, which hit the island last year.
But the bright spot in the economy is the tourism boom. In 2017, 4.7 million foreign tourists visited Cuba, including 1.1 million Americans, almost three times more than in 2016. It is expected that in 2018 there will be up to 5 million foreign tourists: the largest American airlines plan to increase the number of flights to the Caribbean island.
The tourism industry receives major foreign investment, including from Spain, France, Canada, China, Germany. These countries are among the main trading partners of Cuba, but Russia was not among them until recently. The situation changed only last year, when major contracts with Cuban partners were signed by Rosneft and Russian Railways.
Trump’s U-turn
At the same time, Cubans’ hopes for a gradual lifting of the US trade embargo are not coming true.
The Trump administration has tightened travel rules for Americans to the island and has banned doing business with commercial companies that have ties to the Cuban military.
This is serious: the Revolutionary Armed Forces (RVF) is the main economic entity in Cuba. If the monopoly on political power is in the hands of the Communist Party, then the monopoly on economic activity is in the hands of the military. The RVS Ministry, through its conglomerate Grupo de Administracion Empresarial S.A. (GAESA) owns hundreds of businesses in industries ranging from finance and banking to tourism and film production. It is headed by Raul Castro’s son-in-law, General Luis Alberto Rodriguez Lopez Calleja. According to US data, GAESA controls up to 60 percent of the Cuban economy and about the same amount of currency entering the country. Trump’s sanctions are directed against this conglomerate.
In addition, last summer the US accused the Cuban authorities of some kind of “acoustic attacks” on American diplomats working on the island, recalled them home and demanded a reduction in the number of personnel at the Cuban embassy in Washington.
“I think we’re back in the Cold War era,” lamented Andy Gomez, former director of the Institute for Cuban and Cuban American Studies at the University of Miami.
This turn of events strengthens the positions of the hardliners in the Cuban government as well. “The new sanctions imposed by Donald Trump are playing into the hands of conservatives in the Cuban leadership who are questioning the wisdom of improving relations with Washington,” Professor Leogrande notes. “I just hear them say:“ We warned you.
American businessmen who want to earn extra money on the development of ties with the neighboring island are afraid that under these conditions, companies from other countries will gain competitive advantages. “Since Trump announced the new policy, Russia and China have begun to make trade deals with Cuba and consolidate their influence there,” worries Matthew McLaughlin of Cuba Educational Travel, which organizes trips for US citizens to Havana.
It is possible that this will also help Cubans make their own choice.