They are Mexico's bright future.

Many of the students at Universidad Tecnológica de Bahía de Banderas (UTBB) in Nuevo Nayarit, Mexico, have overcome significant hurdles to attend college, especially those students from our rural communities. These students are succeeding at UTBB - they are A and B students - and they are at risk. These promising young people struggle with transportation costs, with getting enough to eat, and with finding the resources to purchase supplies they need for their career track.

Help us keep them in school.

Carolina, Ximena, Fernando and Francisco

"My name is Marely Carolina Hernández Pérez, I am from the state of Chiapas and I am currently a student in the Medicine program at the Technological University of Bahía de Banderas. Currently, the cost of living is high: expenses for rent, transportation, food, and basic services represent a significant burden. Although my parents make their best effort to support me, their income is limited. My mother makes tortillas by hand to sell, and my father works as a farmer or construction worker depending on the opportunities that arise. I also work at a birria taco stand on weekends to help with my expenses, but even so, sometimes it is difficult for me to cover everything.

I am concerned that, as my degree progresses and academic demands increase, it will be more complicated for me. I am a student committed to my education, I strive to maintain good grades and to make the most of the opportunity to study Medicine, since my goal is to become a health professional who contributes to the well-being of my community." [Translated from Spanish]

Of course, with a story like this, UTBB Friends is happy to support Carolina through graduation. UTBB Friends provides a meal every school day in the cafeteria. We also make sure she has the materials she needs for her medical program: scrubs, a stethoscope, and blood pressure monitor, and more. We will support Carolina through graduation.

With your help we can support more deserving students like Carolina. Learn more about how you can help, or how to sponsor an individual student, here.

Twins Francisco and Fernando take three buses to get to campus from Volcanes in Puerto Vallarta. The 800 pesos a week for both students, takes a huge chunk out of the family income. " The only support comes from our mom; she works at a friend's bakery, where they make and deliver bread. However, her bakery is not very big, so the income is not high. They pay her between $450 and $800 a week for the days she works, but she also makes and sells on her own, earning roughly an extra $1000 from her sales. But really, that is not enough. We want to work, but it is impossible because we live 1 hour to 1 and a half hours from the campus and we would not have the necessary time to do our homework." [Translated from Spanish]

Their mother earns an average of 3500 pesos a month. ($200US, $275CAN)

Francisco is majoring in Virtual Environments and Digital Business. Fernando in Industrial Maintenance. Can you imagine majoring in Virtual Environments and Digital Business without your own computer?

We support the twins with daily meals and bus coupons. Francisco received a new laptop from a generous donor. His joy at this unexpected gift was massive.

With your help we can support more deserving students like Fernando and Francisco. Learn more about how you can help, or how to sponsor an individual student, here.

Gael was recommended to UTBB Friends by his counselor. His story is not unusual - working long hours, multiple forms of transportation to get to the campus, and a course of study (Culinary Arts) perfect for our tourist area that requires expensive supplies and materials. In his letter to us he said:

I am Gael Islas Pulido, I am 18 years old and I am in the second semester of the Gastronomy program. I live an hour away from the university. On occasions, when I am running late due to not sleeping well because of my work, I take two modes of transportation to arrive on time.

In my job, I do not earn enough to cover the university expenses, and now that the work season is low, I do not work full shifts and I earn less, $400 pesos. [$23 US, $32 CAN] per day. Therefore, in the first days of attending the university, that money runs out. Additionally, I do not receive financial help from my family; my grandmother works in a bar as a waitress where she earns $250 per day plus some tips she receives, since they also have limited income and various expenses, they cannot support me.

For this reason, I try to work as much as possible to obtain more income; however, this affects my academic performance, since sometimes I do not have time to do homework or I fall asleep due to accumulated lack of sleep. I must get up at 5:00 a.m. to be able to arrive at school on time, and I leave work at 12:00 p.m. Despite this, I strive to submit all my activities on time and to attend university daily. [Translated}

Happily, Gael has a sponsor! The sponsor is providing a laptop, a backpack, basic school supplies. a chef uniform and money for transportation. Gael can depend on support through graduation.

Learn more about how to sponsor an individual student here.