Many of you know me as Jose (aka NorcalHopster) — or as the “ceviche man” (thanks, Andy!). But only a handful of you know this about me:

I’m a product of Mexico’s public school system. I completed my elementary education there, and I’ve seen firsthand what it’s like to learn in classrooms with limited resources. That experience shaped me deeply and gave me a personal understanding of the challenges students face when they don’t have access to the tools they need to thrive.

With back-to-school season in full swing, I felt compelled to make a small but meaningful impact in a community that truly needs our support.

Just 35 kilometers southeast of Mexico City lies the town of Escalerillas, Chimalhuacán, in the State of Mexico—home to one of the region's largest landfills. Here, children as young as six work alongside their parents as pepenadores (waste pickers), collecting recyclables to survive.

Due to extreme poverty and a lack of resources, many of these children are forced to skip school to help their families make ends meet. Education takes a back seat to survival.

The goal of this fundraiser is to purchase a minimum of ten computers and basic school supplies for students in Escalerillas, Chimalhuacán. Ideally, we aim to provide Mac and Windows computers so the kids can gain experience with both operating systems—an important skill for future academic and professional opportunities.

Depending on the needs of the community, the computers will be distributed across two or three local schools to ensure they reach as many students as possible. Every contribution, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to bridging the digital divide and helping these children reclaim their right to an education.