Help children improve their school in Mexico :)

Hi, my name is Luke, I'm from Australia, and I'm fundraising on behalf of American English Tree. I found this organisation after moving to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. They sponsor children in underprivileged communities to learn english. They also teach spanish to foreigners and with every spanish-learning student, they famously sponsor a child to learn english.

 

They recently started teaching at a small school in a town called Aguacate , where they send their teachers once a week with all the material the kids need to get started. Unfortunately American English Tree doesn't have enough people taking their classes to pay for the amount of children interested in learning english in this new Aguacate community.

 

Initially 65 children enrolled to learn english. After one month, interest has skyrocketed up to 105 children and there simply aren't enough rooms, chairs, desks, books, pens, whiteboards etc. available given the lack of government investment in these areas. A lot of the more remote communities and schools in Mexico don't receive government funding, or unfortuantely the funding doesn't end up where it should.

 

Why is learning english important for these kids? Firstly, any additional education that these children receive will benefit them mentally; keep them off the street or away from work; and give them a safe and stimulating place to go most days. Secondly, being bilingual in a tourist town like Puerto Vallarta will provide them with many additional opportunities in terms of earning potential later with work, travel or receiving additional education. Lastly, it's not only about learning english - with the below investments, these kids will have a comfortable, healthy and safe school environment to learn anything they want!

 

What they need funding for:

1. Teachers - 3-4 teachers travelling once a week to Aguacate community, including travel expenses. Costs roughly associated average to US$1 per child, per day - totaling $5,200 per year.

2. Learning Equipment - whiteboards, pens, activity books, pencils, tables, chairs.

3. School Buildings - painting, security bars for windows/doors, bathroom repairs (plumbing for water/sewerage fixed, replace hand basins), electrical cabling installed, ceiling fans, lighting, shelves, bookcases.

4. Externally around school - fencing, security gate, soccer goal posts, clean-up junk, install garbage bins.

 

While I don't have exact estimates for the above, budgeting an additional $5-10k on top of the teachers will assist with contractors, fabrication, purchasing and materials. Items for security and learning will be prioritised.

 

I encourage you to share this fundraising link with friends, family and collegues if possible. Heck, even you know an organisation that would love the opportunity to help, let them know - now is the time.

 

Any donation, small or large, will go a long way to make a difference in these kids' lives.

 

Thank you,

From myself and the kids in Aguacate :)