Started in 1984, Project Amigo is an organization based in Colima, Mexico whose mission it is to empower disadvantaged and marginalized children to achieve their highest potential. By offering comprehensive scholarships for formal education, school supplies, access to educational assistance centers, homework clubs, enrichment activities and healthcare services not otherwise available to them, it is committed to ending poverty through education, one child at a time. Our club is one of 12 in BC to sponsor students. There are currently 220 high school students (grades 7-12) in the program.
The cost of attending junior high and high school are beyond the means of many rural families. Without scholarships, schooling for the youth served by Project Amigo would end at sixth grade, and they would begin working in menial, low-paying jobs. In the above photo, Jesus, a former student sponsored by our club, holds one of some new computers that Project Amigo had acquired. Jesus is 3rd from the left at the back of the group.
Anyone - Rotarian, Rotary Club or private citizen - can sponsor a student at either high school or college level. The Rotary Club of Salmon Arm has been involved with Project Amigo for about four years and in that time has sponsored six high school students. Currently we have two very promising students: Estrella and Jael. The money from our club provides them with a school uniform, registration and lab fees, bus transportation, books and school supplies, a birthday gift, and a holiday food basket for the whole family. Their responsibilities are to maintain an 8.5 GPA, do a minimum of 10 hours community service a month, write monthly letters to sponsors, and attend weekly homework club.
Estrella is in Grade 11. She has been with us for 3 years. She is a
hard worker and an excellent student. She has dreams of attending
university, and with our help will likely reach her goal.
Jael was new to our club last year. He is in grade 7 and a good
letter writer. His goal is to get good grades so that he can continue to
be part of Project Amigo and graduate high school.