On August 7th Edith Martin of the Edmonton Northeast Rotary Club gave a presentation on Project Amigo, an NGO that assists and advocates for education in rural Mexico.
Project Amigo was inspired by one individual's visit to Colima, Mexico in 1984. While site-seeing Ted Rose inadvertently found himself in one of the area's smaller villages. Thoroughly charmed by it's inhabitants but taken aback by the pervasive poverty he encountered he became a catalyst for change in many young lives.
Realizing that education was the key to self sufficiency for those growing up in impoverished conditions Ted and his wife Susan Hill sought to provide opportunities, first in the form of a typing school and subsequently through providing support and incentives to encourage children to graduate from high school and attend University. As the scope of the project evolved a team of staff and volunteers were brought aboard to facilitate operations.
As well as focusing on the importance of formal education Project Amigo strives to make reading for pleasure accessible to all. Setting up makeshift libraries and providing youngsters with their very own books sets the stage for life-long learning opportunities.
Project Amigo's influence has contributed to 71 of Colima's youth graduating from University, with 92% of these graduates gaining employment.
Project Amigo depends on donations and the assistance of volunteers, two fronts that Northwest Rotary Club are very active on. Edith and her husband Darrel have had the opportunity to witness first hand the value of Project Amigo's endeavours as well as to experience the hospitality of the Project Amigo staff and the citizens of Colima.
Anyone interested in helping make a difference with Project Amigo can visit https://www.projectamigo.org/