Mexico
Remote learning
Giving young students in Mexico access to technology for virtual learning
Education & Training
The Need
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than 1.5 billion students worldwide, exacerbating pre-existing inequalities in education. Compassion believes that getting an education is a basic human right, and key in releasing children from generational cycles of poverty. But when the pandemic hit, only those with access to technology for virtual learning were able to continue their studies. Those whose families cannot afford Internet access or smart devices for home learning were left behind, their education put on hold indefinitely.
The longer students remain out of school, the less likely they are to ever return. Even pre-pandemic, only 68 per cent of young people in Mexico attended upper secondary school. Unfortunately, school dropout rates among high school and post-secondary students have been increasing steadily each year. As of November 2020, 756 of Compassion beneficiaries between the ages of 12 and 21 had dropped out of school for various reasons, including a lack of economic resources and migration to other cities.
The consequences of education loss are staggering and devastating, driving generational cycles of poverty and economic instability. Students who drop out of school are at far higher risk of poverty, substance abuse, early pregnancy and crime.
Our frontline church partners in Mexico wanted to step in and provide a solution. By equipping their buildings with new computer labs, they wanted to help beneficiaries access online learning—students who would otherwise be forced to abandon their education, giving up the chance to one day leave poverty behind for good.
Our Response
With your generous support, we provided 2,652 children and young people from 17 Compassion centres across Mexico with reliable access to technology through fully outfitted computer labs, enabling them to continue their education during COVID-19 and beyond.
Compassion Mexico conducted a nationwide search for furniture and computer equipment suppliers. The suppliers were chosen based on quality, having the proper materials and offering a good price. Because churches were able to purchase the computer equipment through an authorized HP distributor, there were enough resources to buy nine more computers and set up computer labs at two more churches than originally planned, impacting 17 churches in total.
Churches hired professional technicians to install the computers. Each lab was outfitted with 10 computers and monitors, desks and chairs, one laser printer, two whiteboards and a storage cabinet. Churches were responsible for providing spaces that were sufficiently sized, properly ventilated and had access to electricity and Internet.
Staff members from each church were trained in basic computer and IT skills, so they can continue to oversee the labs and help students learn how to use the equipment. In August 2021, churches held a special inauguration event to celebrate the opening of the labs. By using online platforms, most students from these 17 Compassion centres have now successfully completed the 2021/2022 school year, while some are due to finish later this summer.
In collaboration with local educational centres, churches have also begun offering a variety of technical workshops at the computer labs. Students can attend skills training courses to learn basic computing skills, including how to use software to manage administrative tasks.
Activities
Computer installation: A professional technician was hired at each church to install the computers. Each lab includes computers, desks and chairs, a printer, whiteboard and storage cabinet.
Online learning: Students have been able to use the labs to continue their schooling online.
Workshops: Each church collaborated with local educational centres to provide computer workshops at the labs. Courses covered basic computing skills and computer maintenance, and were open to children, their parents and siblings, church members and centre staff and volunteers. Participants received a certificate upon completing each course.
Your Gift Provides...
This initiative provided access to online learning for 2,652 children and youth from 17 Compassion centres across Mexico:
• 159 computers and monitors: 10 per centre, except for ME0785 (4 computers) and ME0160 (5 computers)
• 150 desks and chairs: 10 per centre
• 15 laser printers: 1 per centre
• 30 whiteboards: 2 per centre
• 15 storage cabinets: 1 per centre
Monthly Internet services and the cost of computer maintenance and repair are being covered by local contributions.
ReportA message from a pastor
Through this intervention, we give each of the young people the opportunity to enter the world of new computer and communication technologies, allowing them access to a strategic way of carrying out activities that will allow them to be at the cutting edge. In this way, we also give them the tools that they will use to perform and be competitive in any area that requires such knowledge.
We can now offer our children a better quality of life, demonstrating to them that they have the capacity to learn and improve their education and environment, and that we are very interested in them feeling that they can achieve goals at any age. We provide teaching on work quality, order, perseverance, participation, equality and good results.
We want to extend this objective every day so that more participants can join, and that everyone can develop and change the history of our centre. We want to go beyond impacting lives and satisfying needs, but also to expanding knowledge and opportunities, among other things.
Our participants share with us that due to what happened with the pandemic they have had to put aside their learning and education. Sadly, the majority has lagged behind because of the lack of opportunities to access the technologies required for learning. As students, they have lost time and development skills, and many of them have had to drop out. Others are stagnant and some have had to quit school completely. It is necessary to broaden the outlook of support and we believe that we have made a great start.
Since we were notified that we could have a computer room, many parents, participants and members of the church have become involved and have shown interest in participating in the activities that are carried out. Currently, we have some caregivers enrolled who are taking the basic computer course with ICATECH, as well as collaborators who are participating in computer activities.
Previously we gave our students many benefits to improve their quality of life, and certainly they were very useful, but the computer room has given us the opportunity to teach them how to generate their own income and develop their knowledge and ingenuity. It has provided the opportunity to continue preparing them to meet the needs that will arise in terms of infrastructure, services and knowledge.
We thank God for the goodness we receive from Him at all times. We hope that in the midst of these times of negative impact to global health, you are being kept in the palm of the Lord’s hand. This initiative was a great joy for us as you shared with us the blessings that you have, and we thank you with a sincere heart.
ReportA message from those your gift helped
Due to the pandemic, we changed our lifestyle. Because school classes were no longer face-to-face, I spent too much idle time at home. Before entering the course, I experienced fear and insecurity because it was a new way of learning and I had to adjust to the needs of that moment.
Once classes opened in the computer room, I had new challenges and goals, not only to learn information technologies but also to acquire more skills. I am now completing the first course, but I am more than excited to increase my knowledge.
We are all sure of being able to compete in the job market because we have knowledge, tools and certificates validated by nationally and internationally recognized institutions. Through this intervention I have learned perseverance, determination and discipline. I have learned that we must take advantage of what they are putting in our hands.
Thank you for the opportunity you give us to learn, because that way we can be better adolescents. We trust that God will continue to give us blessings and we will remain committed so that the purpose is fulfilled.
ReportThank you for your generosity
Thanks to you, 2,652 students in Mexico can continue their education during the pandemic and beyond. As technology continues to advance and become increasingly integral to education, work and everyday life, learning computer skills is an important step forward for these students toward their future educational endeavours and careers.
Parents are so grateful for your support, as they can’t afford to buy computers or access the Internet at home. They are excited and relieved that their children can continue their studies and build a better future for themselves. Some unemployed parents have also been able to access technical skills courses at the labs, which will qualify them for higher-paying jobs and improve their families’ quality of life.
The new computer labs are already having a community-wide impact. Churches have gained influence and regard, as people see what they are doing to help the most vulnerable during these difficult times. As more workshops are made available and staff and students become increasingly adept in the use of technology, they will be able to share their knowledge with many others.
Thank you for providing church staff, parents, students and their communities with this life-changing technology, which will benefit generations to come!