Imagine having to go to school with no running water. Imagine having to sit on a dirty floor with no desk to write on. Imagine not being able to go to school at all because your family can't afford it. In Mexico many people don't have to imagine it...they live it. Half the country's population live below the poverty line, with the AVERAGE wage being $7300 a year (this being much less in rural areas).

Why can't they afford school? Besides earning $7300 a year or LESS, Mexico doesn't offer free/reduced meals. Or transportation. Or workbooks. The only thing provided is the room and textbooks. Absolutely everything else is up to the family: uniforms, workbooks, food money. Even if the teacher makes copies the children have to pay.

It is estimated that over 90% of children attend elementary school. Only 62% attend secondary school and only 45% graduate from high school. Only about 25% go to college. And this year these numbers are much lower. Schools are closed. Education is done entirely over the internet or television, only adding to the costs involved to educate their children and added stress not being able to help with homework. Many people don't own a television or have internet. And then added costs of copies are causing many students to drop out and many won't return.

These aren't just stats on paper. For us it's personal. Our own friends and neighbors in our town in Mexico are affected by this. We know children who have never attended school at all. My own mother-in-law never finished elementary school. Her dad wouldn't let her. She knew the importance of education and worked hard to ensure her kids would go to school. Thanks to her efforts, all 6 of her children would end up going to college and earning their bachelor's, and sometimes Master's, degrees. In fact, 4 out of 6 have their degrees in education.

Now it is our turn to give. 100% of proceeds will go to rural areas to help pay for materials so they can go to school. Students go and have their homework printed off. We provide the funds. Once they show proof they did their work, they will be able to pick out a food item for their family, like a bag of rice or beans, etc. After 5 times of going, they'll be able to pick out something fun for themselves, be it a toy or a new shirt. Because JUNTOS we can make education available for all.