‘Programa Escuelas de calidad (PEC)’ (Quality schools programme)

PEC is a governmental scheme aimed at improving standards in state schools. Each school that participates must prepare a proposal including the development and resources that their school hopes to achieve and costs involved in doing so. Each school that is accepted onto the programme receives an initial $50,000 pesos, and anything extra that the schools can raise (up to a maximum of $50,000 pesos) will also be matched by the scheme.

Each year we receive several applications from schools who would like support in raising extra money in order to participate in PEC and improve the service that they can offer to their students. Below is a list of the schools that have so far received support:

Centro de Atención Múltiple, Cihuatlán (C.A.M.) – 2006, 2007, 2008
C.A.M. has received support in the form of donations for participation in PEC for the last 3 years. Completed projects include the construction of a recreational area, installation of a therapy pool, purchase of computers for computer aided learning, and the purchase of essential physiotherapy equipment.

Students and teachers from C.A.M. participate in fundraising events. The annual event at Restaurant Maya includes performances from the C.A.M. students and all of the funds raised from this event are donated directly towards C.A.M.’s budget for PEC.

C.A.M.'s recreational area

Escuela Primaria ‘Virginia Torres’ – 2008
This primary school in San Patricio Melaque was severely damaged during the floods of 2007.

A total of $35,000 pesos was donated by Ayuda a los Niños to repair damaged computer equipment as well as for reconstructing the fallen perimeter wall which had become dangerous for the children, and for the installation of a new dining area to prevent children from having to sit on the floor to eat.

Virginia Torres..Wall destroyed by flooding

Escuela Primaria ‘Luis Benavides’ – 2008
After originally coming to us with a request for economic support to build a perimeter wall to protect the school from pesticide spraying from the neighbouring farmland, we reached an alternative solution for their initial problem and instead donated money for the school to participate in PEC. The farmer agreed to spray his fields only outside of school hours and the school will now use their PEC money to construct a storage room and kitchen.

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Escuela Primaria ‘Emiliano Zapata’, Tomatlán – 2008
The Emiliano Zapata Primary school in the small town of Valle Majahuas in the municipality of Tomatlán receives students from the surrounding community. It is an area of few resources and Ayuda a los Niños cleaned and painted what was a dilapidated and unused building, as well as paying for new windows and doors. The room now accommodates more students and is also to be used by the town people for local meetings. A total of $15,000 pesos was spent on the renovation.

During the same visits, two laptops were also donated to the school by volunteers for computer aided learning. Computers are a valuable resource for schools here, and many don’t have the funds to purchase them; if anybody is thinking of disposing of old computers/laptops that are still on good working conditions then please consider this option.

Escuela Primaria Federal ‘Adolfo Ruiz Cortinez’, Pinal Villa – 2006
Located in the town of Pinal Villa, near Jaluco, this primary school received support from Ayuda a los Niños after receiving a private donation specifically for the need to repair the well and plumbing system. The project was then completed with funds from events and private donations by building a classroom to replace the previous one which consisted of a corrugated iron roof and no walls.

Please go to the photo galleries to see the classroom prior to the work carried out by Ayuda a los Niños.

Sponsorships

Each year, C.A.M. receives sponsorships for several students to continue attending this school for special education. The number of full sponsorships now stands at 14, and is used to cover transport costs to and from the school, as well as lunch and contributions towards cleaning costs. Without the sponsorships these children would not be able to attend the school with the regularity required to develop the skills they aim to acquire.

C.A.M. currently receives a total of $8,000 pesos per month (except during holidays) to cover these sponsorships.

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Young girl who is receiving ongoing treatment for cancer