About us
Volcanes Kids Education Project (VKEP), is a nonprofit community-based, charitable organization with the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty by inspiring and empowering children to stay in school and dream big.
Volcanes is a small, impoverished community located on the edge of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Before the VKEP’s inception, many children in Volcanes dropped out of school after primary school or middle school.
The primary objective of VKEP has been to provide students in grades 1-12, in the local public school with the necessary academic, emotional and physical support to stay in school. VKEP began with 60 students in 2011. Today, in 2019, close to 400 young people participate in VKEP’s activities that occur before or after their public school classes every day. We have helped 32 of those students go to university.
Due to meager funding and inadequate resources in Volcanes, too many students slip through the public school system with little or no English, computer, math skills or reading and writing skills in their native language. VKEP addresses this need by supplementing the school’s curriculum with English and computer classes along with math tutoring, Spanish intervention, a complete library with laptop computers, music classes, sports, arts, environmental and social activities.
Reaching Out. Empowering a Generation!
VKEP has made a huge difference in Volcanes in just in eight years. Our expanding enrollment speaks to the need and the value students gain from attending our programs. VKEP needs your help to support one or more children enrolled in this program. Making a donation will help us ensure that our doors are always open for children of Volcanes.
What makes VKEP Unique
- VKEP ensures a “safe haven” for youth, far from the stressful situations they face at home.
- VKEP’s teachers are all highly dedicated, professional and caring.
- VKEP has strong, positive links and cooperation with the community.
- VKEP has keenly invested volunteers, teachers, administration, donors and other community stakeholders.
- Before VKEP, it was unheard of for youth in Volcanes to go on to university. Now, 32 of its alumni are attending university. Their studies include medicine, architecture and science.
- All of our activities are regularly evaluated to ensure they meet organizational goals.
The successes of VKEP have been many and heartwarming. This project is changing the community.
The successes of VKEP have been many and heartwarming. It is this project that is truly changing the community to one of desperate poverty to one of real change toward a better life for all who live in Volcanes.
Until the inception of VKEP most children, if in school at all, rarely graduated from primary school, much less secondary or high school. An impoverished existence continued, generation after generation.
VKEP has an excellent track-record and a solid plan in place for long-term service to the community. VKEP, and specifically VKEP, by offering education opportunities creates less poverty, less stress, less crime, an increase in standard of living and greater equal opportunity in the community.
What our staff have to say
A music video that was partly recorded in our school
Our Founders
