(Oct 13, 2026)
Project Amigo is a Rotary-supported nonprofit project supporting students in rural Colima, Mexico, for educational access with scholarships, mentoring and other resources, from elementary school through university. Over 255 students have already progressed from middle school to university education. It started in 1984 with a US Rotarian tourist taking the wrong bus, coming to Colima and being impressed with the limited educational opportunities there. Rotarians were recruited to support a Christmas Fiesta, health clinics and expanding literacy there. After achieving nonprofit status in the US, scholarships were awarded to middle school students so they can stay in school instead of working in the fields.
By the 2000’s, computer labs and university scholarships were added. Additional services now include dental, vision, mental health, enrichment activities and parental support. Rotary service weeks for volunteers have been added year-round, when they can meet students and work on specific community projects. Student sponsorships by Rotarians help pay for tuition fees, school transportation, supplies and meals, a weekly homework club, and email exchanges between the students and their sponsors. There are now over 250 students, and 28 high school graduates and 13 university graduates, some of them having been appointed to important government positions.
Student responsibilities include maintaining a high grade point average, attending homework club, 10 hours of community service, and writing to their sponsors. The sponsors write to their students, with encouragement and mentoring. Dora Zúñiga encourages more Rotarians to sign up as sponsors. Her contact information is 608-345-6769; dora@ProjectAmigo.org; Facebook.com/projectamigo. Thanks to Marylyn Klaus for helping to arrange this presentation and for being our Club’s first Project Amigo sponsor starting many years ago.