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The Zacualpan Preparatory school serves 200 students in the state of Nayarit, Mexico.  The project is an upgrade to the school facilities and includes improvements to the Library with the installation of 10 computers and classroom improvements with more and better desks.

                        Why is this project Important?            Español                      

Zacualpan lies 25 minutes North of La Peñita

This is a small town of some 4000-5000 residents. Most of the people living here are farmers or support the farming community.

The importance of Cebeta/Zaeta Extension Preparatory School in Zacualpan   1)    This school is the only high school between Puerto Vallarta and Tepic that offers adult education on Saturdays.  It gives adult education to students who must work during the week and to those students who had to drop out of school to help with younger children at home or have babies of their own or the myriad other reasons that so many students drop out of school.  The drop out rate in Mexico was 84% at the 6th grade level according to the Seattle PI.  2)    In Mexico there is no safety net for single mothers and their alternatives are bleak, as women of Rotary, we are especially sensitive to this situation.  It is the reason that we've added a Guardaria (day care center) to our rehabilitation plans so that these women have the opportunity to go to school 3)    The teachers at this school are completely dedicated to the concept that the road to success begins in the classroom.  They donate their own time to teach the Saturday program without salary.  They have also begun work on one classroom after raising $20,000 pesos with the help of the parents and the community. 4)    With the explosion of tourism on the Nayarit coast, it is clear that an education in computers and learning English will be important factors in getting a job in the near foreseeable future.  There was only one computer for 220 students at this school.  5)    This school is 40 years old and is in desperate need of rehabilitation: the roofs leak, glass is missing from most of the windows, inadequate electrical capacity, old desks and equipment of every nature, paint peeling off the walls, etc.    We, Viky  Robelo and Mariana Day, became aware of this school when Viky became a student and many of our Cambiando Vidas Scholarship Students attended this high school, which in addition to offering vocational training in agriculture, cooking and sales of those products is also a preparatory for entrance into university.   Nine of our scholarship students attend and of these 5 have matriculated on to university.  We were so impressed by the teachers' dedication that we wanted to help restore the school.    Shortly thereafter, we were lucky enough to be among the founding members of the Jaltemba Rotary Club and working together with other Rotary Clubs we have started this very ambitious project.  I feel we have a very good chance of success as we are working with new Clubs and Rotary Clubs that have supported us in the past with the rehabilitation of the schools in our home pueblo of Chacala.    The Rotary Clubs who have signed on for this project are:    Phase I - Computers and Kitchen Equipment: Northern California Clubs - Middletown, So. Ukiah, Ft. Bragg, Sebastopol, Santa Rosa West, St. Helena and Clearlake for a total of $10,700 USD towards the purchase of 10 computers, 30 desks, a metal prep table, industrial oven and fridge, plus misc. kitchen supplies.   Phase 2 - Rehabilitation of 5 Classrooms:  Berkeley, Ca.,  Shawnee/Kansas City, Mo., Omaha, Neb. - a group from these Clubs will be coming in April to assess the work to be done.  There are 14 classrooms in total.   They will be looking at replacing roofing material, upgrading electrical and plumbing, floor tile, plaster and paint.   Our rough estimate for the rehabilitation of 5 classrooms is approx.$40,000 USD.    We'll have a better idea about Phase 2 after the April visit - I will be keeping in close touch w/those Clubs as they develop a plan of attack so to speak.  Viky, Johan and Eddie Dominguez will be on the ground in Mexico coordinating efforts w/the Zacualpan teachers and community.    I hope I've outlined this project well enough for you to present to your Club, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to write us.    Yours  in  service, Mariana   "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. "      M. Meade