Tools for Schools
Dedicated to providing the underprivileged children of the greater San Miguel de Allende area and rural Central Mexico the school supplies, tools, and programs to enrich their learning environment and their lives.
The Need
Many families in Mexico face economic hardships. As such, the need for a quality education is paramount to their future financial security. Tools for Schools (TFS) helps fill the gap between limited funding and school needs. By enhancing their educational environment, TFS contributes to improved education levels and brighter futures as these children enter the workplace. When children receive a quality education, the community experiences less poverty, crime, and domestic problems.
Federal and State agencies supply the schools located in Central Mexico with basic school supplies at the beginning of each school year. Supplies are limited and with the low tax base among residents, there is little money allocated for re-supply throughout the school year. The government provides teachers and the facility itself but local governments have limited resources for provisioning the schools and students.
In our service area there are more than 44,000 students from kindergarten through high school. From this total we target our support on those rural schools in greatest need.
Our Organizational History
TFS is an idea that started in the fall of 2007, when we focused on providing backpacks and school supplies to one underprivileged school of 200 students for Christmas. After conversations and consultations with people that are now advisers to this program, we decided to continue to add more schools and to generate continuing support.
Our first delivery to Los Ricos de Abajo included 58 backpacks and supplies. Typical supplies provided include, but are not limited to:
• Backpacks
• Pens, Pencils, & Colored Pencils
• Notebooks
• Pencil Sharpeners
• Rulers & Scissors
• Crayons & Chalk
• Tape, Glue Sticks & Bottle Glue
• Construction Paper
• Chalkboard Erasers
• Kleenex Packs
Our Action
In addition to sourcing, packing and delivering backpacks and school supplies to rural students, TFS links with other local organizations to improve rural school conditions. In 2008, TFS connected schools and needy students with several organizations, improving lives and conditions for many:
TFS visited a school that had 3 computers which were not being used because of their age and obsolescence. TFS coordinated with Computadores Pro Jovenes (Computers for the Children) to update not only the hardware but software and educational programs available as well. (Now, 39 students and teachers use the computers for study and fun.)
In March 2008, TFS visited a school that had 43 children in its kindergarten class, but had chairs and tables for only 20 students. The classroom size was only 5M by 5M (17 x 17 feet). We purchased and provided 2 tables and 8 chairs to the school. Shortly after that, the children moved to a temporary structure while their classroom was being remodeled to double the size.
TFS is partnering with Casa Ayuda, an orphanage in San Miguel with about a dozen children in residence. These children range in age from 5 to 16 years old. Casa Ayuda schools all of these children, but they had an outdated computer of little use. Again, TFS arranged for an updated computer with Computadores Pro Jovenes. We also provided a whiteboard and markers to help with the educational process. In December 2008, TFS introduced Casa Ayuda to Fundacion Nutricion y Vida (Foundation for Nutrition and Life). On January 2nd, 2009 they made their first shopping trip to the Food Bank. FNV also donated a new Whirlpool 20 cu.ft. freezer to the Casa Ayuda Family. As part of this new collaboration, Casa Ayuda will become FNV’s first Nutrition Center in the San Miguel area.
