Adopt a Scholar!

This online campaign starts September 13 and ends September 25. It is not an auction, but a way to sponsor and support a child to attend La Cruz Kids Club for the year, from September to mid-July.

Please support this campaign as it's one of the few ways we are able to provide services for our mission to serve the community of La Cruz.

Should you wish to make a general donation, in lieu of sponsoring one child, click on the DONATE button in the header.

Should we raise more than the $5,400 USD, we will dedicate these funds to the 15-week Creative Arts Momentum program, which has a cost of $2,600 USD to serve 70 students.

You can make a difference in a child's life now and as an investment in the future of La Cruz.

Your donations are tax deductible in the USA. Should you wish to receive a Canadian tax deduction, please contact Amy Welch for more information. +1 503 516 4757 or amywelchpdx@comcast.net

OUR REQUEST

There is NO in-person public school again in La Cruz, when school will begin again at the primaria or secundaria is not known.

Amigos de La Cruz is once again offering in-person instruction, many children have registered and there is a waitlist.

18 students do not have the $300 USD annual tuition fee to cover 40 weeks of instruction.

Our goal is to raise $5,400 USD to serve these 18 students. See their stories and requests.

Tuition covers books, materials, healthy snacks, field trips and outside specialists brought in to work with the children.

The 5 teachers are paid by Amigos: Abraham, Allegra, Galvis, John and Lilly.

The building, owned by the Moss family, has been donated free of rent in exchange for maintenance and insurance.

Last school year, September 2020 to mid-July 2021, school was online. Most of the children at the primaria (elementary school, grades 1-6) did not have access to materials or a proper education. Nor did they ever see their teacher.

Few children received feedback from their teachers, some teachers gave out homework but did not grade the material. In short, it was a lost year for many students.

Considering that many students do not continue school after grade 6, this translates into a lost generation.

The Amigos de La Cruz, A.C., a local nonprofit, stepped in to offer in-person education, 5 days weekly at their building at Coral 5, near the glorieta. Because of the size of the building and the number of teachers (5), only 50 students could enroll, with a waitlist of an additional 60 students.

This year the government once again started this school year online. It is not known when in-person instruction will begin again. Nayarit is in Red with high COVID infection, only 34% of Mexican nationals have at least one vaccine.

Since the economy of the Bay of Banderas (Puerto Vallarta) is dependent on tourism, some families are out of work or have reduced hours. The average income is 300 pesos daily ($16 USD/day) throughout most of Mexico, but slightly higher here in the bay.

The "Adopt a Scholar" campaign is aimed at helping families with financial need to continue with the Kids Club education program.

The early weeks of September were dedicated to class preparation, professional development and planning, organization and cleaning of the learning spaces and enrollment of existing and new students. There was also a parent meeting and a workshop to help applicants write their letters and profiles for the "adopt a scholar" campaign that we are now launching.

MISSION
To contribute to the quality of life in the community of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle through cultural, educational, environmental and charitable assistance programs.

GOALS
– Increase educational and cultural opportunities
– Facilitate improvements in health and safety
– Support a sustainable environment
– Maintain a collaborative relationship with local officials and citizen groups

Questions?
Call John Whitten WhatsApp +52 322 111 9419
or Amy Welch WhatsApp +1 503 516 4757

Kids Club - Langosta 27
Across from Kindergarten, by the Plaza