In 2005 Sonia Cejas noticed that a boy from her working class neighborhood was not in school, neither during the morning class period nor in the afternoon. When she learned that he was eager to learn but could not register at the local school she offered to teach him. The next day he was back at Sonia’s home accompanied by four friends who also wanted to learn but could not register in the local public (government financed) schools.

That was the start of a project that has taken over Sonia’s home and life in a Cancun suburb. During the most recent years, there have been between 125 and 130 students studying in two shifts; most classes are for primary level students, but secondary and high school classes are also offered as needed. One of the earliest students has finished high school and university studies; he now teaches in the school.

Many of the students’ families have moved to Cancun from rural areas where births are often not recorded. Most students lack a birth certificate or health card required for entrance in government schools. Others have been exposed to bullying or other social problems in public schools.

All students receive breakfast prepared by volunteers and parents. Other volunteers work to acquire the birth certificates and vaccination certificates that the students require for entrance into government schools.

The Cancun Rotary Club first worked with the school to replace a provisional galvanized metal roof with a poured concrete roof. This was done during the 2016-17 Rotary Year in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Murray, Utah (USA) after a local Rotarian proposed the collaboration. In 2017 a Canadian foundation financed new apartments built on the second floor of the building; this allowed the school to plan for the use of bedrooms where Sonia’s family had lived.

There is a continuing need to provide food and study materials as well as the volunteer hours needed to acquire the documents students require for transitioning into government schools. If you would like to collaborate with us on this project we would be delighted to hear from you.