Project Amigo

Scholarship Programs: Scholarships to attend junior high, high school and college are provided to 180 needy students. The scholarships include school uniforms and shoes, school registration and lab fees, transportation to school, books and school supplies, room and board for the college students, and fees for school field trips or workshops not otherwise covered in their registrations.

Volunteer Programs: Approximately 130 volunteers work 8 days each during the year for a total of 1,170 volunteer days. Approximately 8 volunteers work 100 days each during the year for a total of 800 volunteer days. The programs provide 2,000 volunteer days a year. Expenses include maintenance and utilities of facilities provided for volunteer housing, volunteer meals, transportation and office supplies. Volunteers deliver children's books to poor rural schools and promote literacy and the joy of reading amoung children who would not otherwise have access to such programs. Volunteers promote preventative dental care and health by teaching good brushing techniques, distributing toothbrushes, and applying fluoride to the teeth of children in poor rural primary schools. Volunteers collaborate in the development of life-skills programs to share with adolescents in the scholarship program. Volunteers work with local teachers and staff to further develop progarms for the benefit of the students and the community.

Children's Programs: Provide incentive programs to children in grades K-6 including two educational outings for 350+ children each year. 365 children received gifts of new clothing and shoes and enjoyed a festive Christmas party with pinatas, games and a traditional pozole dinner. The children were transported to the party scene by commercial and donated buses. An additional 1,000 students each year benefit from the fluoride program, receiving fluoride tablets each day in some schools and fluoride gel applied twice a year in other rural schools. Additional education services, meals, and programs are provided to 175 sugar-producing children in the mill town of Queseria. Also, 6 students are now provided vocational education opportunities.