Niños y Niñas de la Sierra, I. A. P.

1. Niños y Niñas de la Sierra, I. A. P. Mission: To provide first-rate education to children of low-income families who have outstanding learning aptitudes and who live in the Sierra Gorda area of Querétaro state, in México.

2. The Sierra Gorda is one of the poorest areas in Mexico… Where?

3. Instituto de Excelencia Educativa To achieve our objective, in August 2001 we founded the “Instituto de Excelencia Educativa” in Jalpan de Serra, Queretaro, where we currently provide primary school education.

4. Beneficiaries At the Instituto de Excelencia Educativa, we provide first-rate education to a group of 130 boys and girls that study first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade. The school’s project will include from 1st grade to 9th grade. The students are selected based on evaluation results, giving preference to those children that demonstrate outstanding aptitudes and who are from low-income families.

5. What do the children receive? • Classes in accordance with the Mexican Education Primary Education Law. • English as a Foreign Language classes • Computer Science classes • Music classes • Dance and Physical Education classes • Daily nutritional lunch

6. We currently have: • A 5,000 square meters (5,980 square yards) plot of land • Six classrooms, each with restroom facilities. • 30 computers, 130 tables and chairs • Equipped kitchen and dinning area • A cement patio for playing games, dancing, or sports • A little soccer field, fronton and a little pool.

7. Who have collaborated with us in this project? • Board members of Ninos y Ninas de la Sierra, IAP • The school employs six lead teachers, one teacher assistant, and Computer Science, English, Music Dance and Physical Education teachers. • Parents • Volunteers. • International organizations(Infantia Foundation and I-With.Org) • Sedesol and Nacional Monte de Piedad, IAP • Fundación EDUCA México, AC and Fundación Roberto Ruiz Obregón, AC • More than 500 sponsors with monthly donations.

8. The difference… There are a lot of organizations that provide assistance to handicapped children and children with learning disabilities. These institutions receive funds from the government, religious organizations and many caring people. All this is good, because these children need assistance. But there are other types of children with special needs, whom Ninos y Ninas de la Sierra is determined to help: these are the children with outstanding aptitudes. Many of these children have been born in low-income families that cannot even provide basic education. This is a huge waste of potential. Our objective is to identify the children who are capable of taking advantage of our program and provide them with the first-rate education that they deserve. We believe that this is the best investment in society that we could make, not as a charity, but for our own benefit as well as for the benefit of the poor families and communities from where these children come. We are not looking for charity, but for quality.

9. What do we need? • Eager volunteers. • Lampposts for lighting. • A teacher’s room. • Teaching materials and educational software. • Textbooks and Resource books; bookshelves. • School uniforms and supplies. • Chairs for school events. • Good teachers. • A library. Books for reading in english for kids.

10. How can you help? • Become a volunteer at the school we support (Instituto de Excelencia Educativa) • Become a volunteer in the organizational, promotional and fundraising activities of the Board (Patronato de Ninos y Ninas de la Sierra, IAP) • Teach a workshop or conference for students or parents. • Finance or promote this project • Fulfill your social service duty. • Provide financial support (tax deductible) for building new classrooms or supply items such as uniforms, school supplies, food, computers, educational software, tables, chairs, books, etc. • Provide partial or full financial support for the education of one child, which costs US$140 per month

11. We will send you a tax deductible receipt, in accordance with authorization provided by Secretaria de Hacienda effective October 1, 2001 Do you want to donate? Food, books, computer equipment, school supplies, uniforms, sports equipment, construction materials, etc. Part of your free time or your company’s time to collaborate in promotional, educational, organizational, fundraising activities, etc. Financial donations can be deposited to “Ninos y Ninas de la Sierra, IAP” at the following banks: HSBC, account number 4020671087, or, BBVA Bancomer, account number 454434773

12. Join the campains Construction and Equipment, in which we will finish building the facilities for elementary school and we will start building secundary school. Sponsor a student, in which we work to complete the elementary education of more than 100 children from low-income families.

13. Contact us! Niños y Niñas de la Sierra, I.A.P. Ignacio Pérez #11 Norte Col. Centro Querétaro, Qro. C.P. 76000 México Tel. +52 (442) 216-8680 Mobile+52 (442) 322-5884 Instituto de Excelencia Educativa Clave USEBEQ 22PPR151T Calle Sr. Santiago s/n Barrio de La Cruz Jalpan de Serra, Qro. C.P. 76340 México Tel. +52 (441) 296-1078 Tel. + 52 (441) 296-0339 Email address david.montero@ninosdelasierra.org abelmont@prodigy.net.mx Web Site http://www.ninosdelasierra.org Thank you for your generosity !