In Mexico, the costs associated with attending school after the sixth grade increase substantially. Many families simply cannot afford to continue with their child's education. Beginning in the 7th grade, students must pay for books, supplies, uniforms and lunch.  A majority of children from poor families live in the hills, thereby incurring the cost of bus transportation to and from school.  High school students are also required to pay a small tuition to attend a public high school.

Many poor families find it necessary to withdraw their child or children from school and send them to work to support  the family. When this happens, children lose the chance to develop their minds In a school setting and are likely to find it difficult if not impossible to find other than the lowest paying jobs as adults.

Niño’s Adelante (Children Forward), a Mexican non-profit organization, provides the much needed help to deserving children by funding grants through Friends of Niño’s Adelante.

The program has grown over the years and now serves approximately 180 students in the Zihuatanejo area.  Students are matched with individual sponsors for as long as both are in the program.  If students remain qualified for the program, they are retained in the program without regard to the status of their sponsors.  If you are interested in seeing some data about sponsors and students, follow the Some Numbers link.

The organization, supported by a part time local executive director, José Bustos, is run primarily by volunteers.

Niños Adelante has established high standards for entry and continued participation in the program. All students are required to maintain at least an 8.0 grade point average out of a possible 10.0, assuring that the children benefiting from the program are truly interested in and capable of getting a good education. The selection and scholarship process is administered by the Niños Adelante executive director who interviews teachers and principals of graduating 6th graders to preliminarily qualify students for participation in the program. Candidate students are also identified by members of the community and  students currently in the program.

Preliminarily qualified students complete an application to provide information about their family, finances and previous school record. The final step in the qualification process is an interview with each student and his or her family in their home. Most, if not all, of these students would not be able to continue their education without the grants available through this program.

Upon acceptance into the program scholarships, which, effective with the 2005-06 school year are equivalent of $250 US, are awarded and paid in seven installments beginning in August just before school starts. Scholarships are paid with no restrictions. Students are expected to take the money to their families who will make the decisions how to best utilize it.

Each student becomes a "becado". Sponsors,  known as "padrinos" to their becados, are linked with individual becados for as long as both sponsor and becado remain in the program.

Students are required to personally appear for each of the periodic scholarship or "beca" payments. This assures  that the scholarship funds will not be fully spent at the beginning of the school year leaving inadequate funds for the family to keep the student in school for the full year.  The system also provides the Executive Director the opportunity for essential personal contact with the student several times a year.