A place between

home and school

where children learn
critical life skills

SPRING 2014 Edited by: Lexi Stickel
First Annual Da de los Libros/Da de los Nios
Celebrated in La Palma on March 23
rd

The Rural Education Institute of Mexico, Inc. (Rural Ed) is an organization based in San Miguel de
Allende in Mexico. We have the mission to improve the future success of children in rural communities
through education, life skills, and leadership. The organization has the vision of ensuring equal
educational opportunities for all children in Mexico.
On March 23
rd
, the Rural Education
Institute of Mexico celebrated the first
annual Da de los Libros/Da de los Nios
in La Palma. It was a celebration of youth
and literary.
Through fundraising efforts, Rural Ed was
able to raise funds to purchase 75 new books
for the event and over 75 books were
donated for the event.
On a Sunday afternoon, the children of La
Palma and their parents participated in six
activity stations set up around the community
center. Each child received a passport booklet
upon entering the community center. After
completing all six stations, each child presented
their passport to a staff member and then picked
out a book of their very own. The children and
parents loved the event and Rural Ed gave out
104 books to the children of La Palma.
Rural Ed will continue to host Da de los
Libros/Da de los Nios events in rural
communities in Guanajuato in April 2015.

www.ruraledinst.org 2

Dear Friends of the Rural Education Institute:
The last couple of months have been full of changes for the Rural Education Institute. First, we received our
501(c)(3) status within the United States, this means that all donations made by US citizens are tax
deductible. This status also allows us to reach out to foundations and corporations within the US for
financial support. We are also just around the corner from finalizing tax deductibility status within Mexico.
We are now in a financial position to expand our programming.
In January 2015, we will be expanding to three new rural communities in the state of Guanajuato. We have
made great progress on finalizing these communities, based on the Rural Education Institutes criteria for
communities as well as communities desires. Great progress has been made within the programming as well
Rural Education Institutes Director of Operations and Director of Programming have implemented new
evaluation and monitoring tracking tools. We are excited to see the progress children have made within our
programming.
Since August 2013, Lexi Stickel has been serving as the Director of Operations and Justin Sandoval has
been the Director of Programming since January 2014. Together they implemented our first annual Da de
los Libros/Da de los Nios. Over 100 books were given to community members this was a fantastic event
that we are excited to see the event grow in the coming years. Lexi and Justin are both moving on to new
adventures in June 2014, and we are sad to see them leave San Miguel de Allende.
As we move forward with new events and expanded programming, join us in supporting education in rural
communities through donating today. Thank you in advance for your generous support.
Gratefully,
Bruce Rossley
For information about contributing to Rural Ed, please see the sidebar on page 3 of this newsletter or
email ruraleducationinstitutemexico@gmail.com.
Partnership with Computadoras por Jovenes
The Rural Education Institute of Mexico
prides itself on maintaining key
partnerships with similar nonprofits.
Computadoras por Jovenes is a nonprofit
that believes the children of central Mexico
need computer skills to succeed. Their
mission is to provide computers, support,
software and ongoing mentoring to
children in central Mexico.
The collaboration with Computadoras por
Jovenes and the Rural Education Institute
is critical to the success of the
programming. In each community center,
there is a classroom, library and computer
lab. Computadoras por Jovenes provides
the computers for the computer labs in two
different communities. Additionally, every
computer is loaded with great educational
software. The programming team teaches
typing and basic computer literary skills
using the computers. The computer lab
continues to be one of the most popular
aspects of the programming. The children look
forward to utilizing the computers. Recently,
the secondary class in La Palma utilized the
computers to conduct a small research project.
Through the partnership with Computadoras
por Jovenes the children in rural communities
learn computer skills that will serve them for
the rest of their lives.
Students practicing their computer skills
www.ruraledinst.org 3

Donate to the
Rural Education
Institute:
Your generous donations
will help with: creating
scholarships for students to
continue their education in
high school, expanding our
bilingual libraries,
purchasing needed supplies,
and funding general
operation expenses.

Our Needs:

Spanish books for our rural
libraries - $7 USD per book

School supplies for our
programming - $100 USD
per month

Scholarships for the support
of children to attend high
school - $300 USD per year
*this includes registration,
uniform, books and
transportation

---
Checks can be made payable
to Rural Ed & mailed to:

Rural Education Institute of
Mexico
PO Box 530219
Lake Park, Florida 33403
*If mailing a check from Mexico
please email us for the Mexican
address at info@ruralmex.org!
---
Please mention if you would like
a tax-receipt when you donate.

Expansion Efforts to Three New
Communities in Rural Mexico
Rural Ed will be expanding to three new communities in rural
areas in Guanajuato, Mexico in January 2015. Over the past five
months, the staff and volunteers have been outreaching and
building relationships with several communities that have
requested our programming. Currently, the staff is in the process
of conducting needs assessments to determine which communities
will be most benefited by the programming.
Programming will began in January with classes two days a week
in each community. Rural Ed will renovate facilities in all three
communities to ensure that each is equipped with a small library,
computer lab, and classroom with appropriate supplies.
Rural Ed is thrilled to finally be able to expand this year has
been a year of tremendous growth for the organization. In
January, Rural Ed received tax deductibility status in the United
States. Rural Ed is in the process of finalizing tax deductibility
status within Mexico currently.
Additionally, this is the first year that the programming will run
continuously throughout the year. The summer sessions will be a
great chance for new children to join the program. Programming
will carry on from May-August with a small break before the
programming year begins in September 2014.

Career Day Brings Professionals
into Community Centers
In early March professionals joined our staff for Career Day, an
event aimed at demonstrating potential career opportunities to the
children. This year a train engineer, computer engineer, bank loan
officer, and a beekeeper visited the children in La Palma and
Jalpa. In efforts to help guide the children in their future careers,
the professionals held demonstrations, questions & answers
sessions, and talked about their own education. Each presenter
spoke about their lives growing up in a changing Mexico and

provided advice about
opportunities and in how
to succeed in their own
education. As most of the
students are from rural
areas, this event brought a
networking opportunity for
the students moving on to
preparatoria. Rural Ed is
proud to host Career Day
every year.
www.ruraledinst.org 4

Director of Programming, Justin Sandoval, conducting a leadership game with the children of our
secondary programming in La Palma Justin has been a critical member of our team.

Thank you to our generous donors:
Reading Corner Level
Waldo L. Avello & Suzanne M. Wessa-Avello
William L. Eickhoff DDS, P.A.
Ernest J. Townsend

English 101 Level
Linda A Page
Lore Brenauer
Michael J. Barri

Laptop Level
David & Melody Brobst
Gregory & Janis Glenn


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Da de los Libros/Da de los Nios
Lorna & Alan Stickel
Courtney Garcia
Britta Reinan
Dan Michaels

This year donations have contributed to
renovation projects, Spanish language
books, classroom supplies, and our
scholarship program.
Dates to Remember:
8 May 2014

The beginning of our first
summer session in the
communities
10 July 2014

Ken Bichel benefit concert at
Bellas Artes in San Miguel
de Allende. **Check our
website for more information
22 August 2014

Welcome dinner for the
2014-2015 intern team
hosted by Sara and Craig
Tylosky.