Grant Statement
Our grants sponsor causes and projects that support the environment and the communities around the San Miguel campo in which we hike.
Our grants sponsor causes and projects that support the environment and the communities around the San Miguel campo in which we hike.
Caminos de Agua
Grant 9 March 2025
MISSION: To improve human health and community well-being through adequate and affordable access to clean water.
WEBSITE: https://www.caminosdeagua.org/en/home/
GRANT PROCEEDS: The San Miguel Hiking Group’s grant of $60,000 MXN will support Caminos de Agua’s work in installing two Rainwater Harvesting Systems, which are among the most effective and easily actionable ways to secure safe drinking water year-round for families across the Río Laja watershed. These communities are particularly vulnerable to escalating water shortages and groundwater contamination by harmful substances such as arsenic and fluoride.
Caminos de Agua’s participatory approach is key—ensuring that families not only gain access to safe water but also acquire the knowledge and tools to sustain the systems in the long term. Collaborating with community-based organizations that understand local challenges is also essential to overcoming obstacles and ensuring the success of this work.
To date, Caminos de Agua has installed over 1,540 large-scale rainwater harvesting systems. These efforts have provided more than 1,700 people with access to safe drinking water.
WEBSITE: https://www.caminosdeagua.org/en/home/
GRANT PROCEEDS: The San Miguel Hiking Group’s grant of $60,000 MXN will support Caminos de Agua’s work in installing two Rainwater Harvesting Systems, which are among the most effective and easily actionable ways to secure safe drinking water year-round for families across the Río Laja watershed. These communities are particularly vulnerable to escalating water shortages and groundwater contamination by harmful substances such as arsenic and fluoride.
Caminos de Agua’s participatory approach is key—ensuring that families not only gain access to safe water but also acquire the knowledge and tools to sustain the systems in the long term. Collaborating with community-based organizations that understand local challenges is also essential to overcoming obstacles and ensuring the success of this work.
To date, Caminos de Agua has installed over 1,540 large-scale rainwater harvesting systems. These efforts have provided more than 1,700 people with access to safe drinking water.
Caminos de Agua
Grant 8 June 2024
MISSION: To improve human health and community well-being through adequate and affordable access to clean water.
WEBSITE: https://www.caminosdeagua.org/en/home/
GRANT PROCEEDS: The San Miguel Hiking Group grant of $60,000 MXN will support the Caminos de Agua "Escuela del Agua" (water school) program.
The Water School represents an important step in defining a clear course of action to revitalize our watershed. This two-year program will engage 30 young "apprentices," working alongside 20 teachers from Caminos de Agua, INANA, A.C., and other partner organizations and grassroots initiatives, to develop a theoretical and practical understanding of our regional water problems and their solutions.
The 30 apprentices will receive theoretical and hands-on training over the 2-year program.
The San Miguel Hiking Group grant will provide a scholarship, in the form of a small monthly stipend, to 2 apprentices for 10 months.
WEBSITE: https://www.caminosdeagua.org/en/home/
GRANT PROCEEDS: The San Miguel Hiking Group grant of $60,000 MXN will support the Caminos de Agua "Escuela del Agua" (water school) program.
The Water School represents an important step in defining a clear course of action to revitalize our watershed. This two-year program will engage 30 young "apprentices," working alongside 20 teachers from Caminos de Agua, INANA, A.C., and other partner organizations and grassroots initiatives, to develop a theoretical and practical understanding of our regional water problems and their solutions.
The 30 apprentices will receive theoretical and hands-on training over the 2-year program.
The San Miguel Hiking Group grant will provide a scholarship, in the form of a small monthly stipend, to 2 apprentices for 10 months.
Jóvenes Adelante Scholarship
Grant #7 January 2024
The San Miguel Hiking Group awards its 7th grant to Jóvenes Adelante
Mission: Jóvenes Adelante provides financial aid, tutoring and personalized support to high-achieving and economically-disadvantaged youth from the greater San Miguel de Allende area who wish to pursue higher education.
Vision: Jóvenes Adelante opens up a radically more expansive future for Mexico's youth by reducing financial barriers to higher education, while developing their success and leadership skills.
Students by the Numbers:
The organization provides each student a mentor, psychopedagogical support, a series of skill-building workshops, English language training, and a laptop. They also receive economic support, Master's Scholarships and Title and Professional Certificate assistance.
Grant Proceeds:
The San Miguel Hiking Group grant of $60,000 MXN will be utilized to partially fund the education of a student from the community of Don Juan. He is majoring in agronomía zootecnia and is very focused on sustainability. The balance of the grant money will be used to assist a student or students from one of the communities in which our group hikes.
Learn More About Jóvenes Adelante: https://jovenesadelante.org/
Mission: Jóvenes Adelante provides financial aid, tutoring and personalized support to high-achieving and economically-disadvantaged youth from the greater San Miguel de Allende area who wish to pursue higher education.
Vision: Jóvenes Adelante opens up a radically more expansive future for Mexico's youth by reducing financial barriers to higher education, while developing their success and leadership skills.
Students by the Numbers:
- 76 Communities Served
- 137 Current Students
- 270 Graduates since 2001
- Jóvenes Adelante Graduation Rate 83%
- México Graduation Rate 26%
The organization provides each student a mentor, psychopedagogical support, a series of skill-building workshops, English language training, and a laptop. They also receive economic support, Master's Scholarships and Title and Professional Certificate assistance.
Grant Proceeds:
The San Miguel Hiking Group grant of $60,000 MXN will be utilized to partially fund the education of a student from the community of Don Juan. He is majoring in agronomía zootecnia and is very focused on sustainability. The balance of the grant money will be used to assist a student or students from one of the communities in which our group hikes.
Learn More About Jóvenes Adelante: https://jovenesadelante.org/
Girl's Empowerment Program
Grant #6 May 2023
The San Miguel Hiking group awarded its 6th grant to the Girls' Empowerment Program sponsored by Rotary San Miguel Midday.
This program provides education and ecologically sound menstrual management kits to young girls reaching puberty and beginning their menstrual cycles. Our goal is to help them stay in school and allow them to make informed decisions about their bodies and lives. Currently girls are missing up to 20% of their classes each month.
Thanks to our donors’ generosity, this grant of $75,000 pesos will pay for menstrual management kits for 500 girls in communities around San Miguel. These kits are made with effective, environmentally friendly, washable, and reusable products that can last 3-4 years, easing the financial burden on families and giving girls dignity and confidence.
On Friday, May 12, four of us from the SMA Hiking Group drove with 9 members of the Midday SMA Rotary Club to the Manuel Acuña primary school in Cienega de Juan Ruiz, a small community outside San Miguel, to attend the graduation ceremony of 5th & 6th grade girls from the weeklong education program. The 12 girls who attended this class received their menstrual kits at the end of the ceremony.
The girls, in their plaid skirts, wool sweaters and leggings, were seated in a circle with their teacher. They wore flower garlands in their hair. The teacher led them in a song and then asked a few to explain the flower picture they had made on the floor, representing a woman’s reproductive organs. They used red petals to represent the menstrual flow. The teacher talked about the sacredness of the eggs and the potential to create life. We sang a song about accepting ourselves and others.
We gave the kits to each of the 12 girls and gave them a hug. It was a very joyous event, followed by lunch with them - a meal prepared and served outside by some of the mothers. Muy rico!
This program provides education and ecologically sound menstrual management kits to young girls reaching puberty and beginning their menstrual cycles. Our goal is to help them stay in school and allow them to make informed decisions about their bodies and lives. Currently girls are missing up to 20% of their classes each month.
Thanks to our donors’ generosity, this grant of $75,000 pesos will pay for menstrual management kits for 500 girls in communities around San Miguel. These kits are made with effective, environmentally friendly, washable, and reusable products that can last 3-4 years, easing the financial burden on families and giving girls dignity and confidence.
On Friday, May 12, four of us from the SMA Hiking Group drove with 9 members of the Midday SMA Rotary Club to the Manuel Acuña primary school in Cienega de Juan Ruiz, a small community outside San Miguel, to attend the graduation ceremony of 5th & 6th grade girls from the weeklong education program. The 12 girls who attended this class received their menstrual kits at the end of the ceremony.
The girls, in their plaid skirts, wool sweaters and leggings, were seated in a circle with their teacher. They wore flower garlands in their hair. The teacher led them in a song and then asked a few to explain the flower picture they had made on the floor, representing a woman’s reproductive organs. They used red petals to represent the menstrual flow. The teacher talked about the sacredness of the eggs and the potential to create life. We sang a song about accepting ourselves and others.
We gave the kits to each of the 12 girls and gave them a hug. It was a very joyous event, followed by lunch with them - a meal prepared and served outside by some of the mothers. Muy rico!
Mujeres en Cambio Scholarship Grant
Grant #5: November 2022
San Miguel Hiking group awards its 5th grant to Mujeres in Cambio.
Mujeres en Cambio changes the lives of young girls by awarding education scholarships. These grants help break the cycle of poverty in eight low-income communities around San Miguel de Allende. Educated girls make better life choices regarding marriage and family and tend to have fewer children. Educated girls have a positive impact on the environment. They tend to earn more and give back more to their families and their communities.
Girls are selected in consultation with the schoolteachers and directors in their second year in secundaria – grade 8 equivalent. The criteria for selection include support from the family to keep the girl in school, academic record, and economic need. We support them all the way through university graduation if they maintain their grades.
During the academic year September 2021 to July 2022, we had 18 university graduates, 22 graduated from secundaria and 22 graduated from prepa. Additionally, we provide seminars on family planning, sex education, and personal finance.
Mujeres en Cambio currently has 174 active students. We have helped almost 1000 girls and young women. The scholarships we offer range from $300 USD a year for junior and senior high school and to $1,325 USD for university students.
San Miguel Hiking grant of $60,000 MXN will be used to fund scholarships to 10 newly selected girls in the 2022/23 school year program. This is our 6th grant awarded thanks to the generosity of hikers and donors.
You can find out more about Mujeres en Cambio at: www.mujeresencambio.org
Mujeres en Cambio changes the lives of young girls by awarding education scholarships. These grants help break the cycle of poverty in eight low-income communities around San Miguel de Allende. Educated girls make better life choices regarding marriage and family and tend to have fewer children. Educated girls have a positive impact on the environment. They tend to earn more and give back more to their families and their communities.
Girls are selected in consultation with the schoolteachers and directors in their second year in secundaria – grade 8 equivalent. The criteria for selection include support from the family to keep the girl in school, academic record, and economic need. We support them all the way through university graduation if they maintain their grades.
During the academic year September 2021 to July 2022, we had 18 university graduates, 22 graduated from secundaria and 22 graduated from prepa. Additionally, we provide seminars on family planning, sex education, and personal finance.
Mujeres en Cambio currently has 174 active students. We have helped almost 1000 girls and young women. The scholarships we offer range from $300 USD a year for junior and senior high school and to $1,325 USD for university students.
San Miguel Hiking grant of $60,000 MXN will be used to fund scholarships to 10 newly selected girls in the 2022/23 school year program. This is our 6th grant awarded thanks to the generosity of hikers and donors.
You can find out more about Mujeres en Cambio at: www.mujeresencambio.org
CEDESA Eco Ovens Grant
Grant #4 February 2022
The Agricultural Development Center A.C., CEDESA, is a non-profit civil association, dedicated to the education and training of agricultural and indigenous communities of the Cuenca (Basin) Independencia where San Miguel is located. For over 50 years CEDESA has worked to promote integral development of communities, addressing problems of poverty, pollution, disintegration of the social fabric and water scarcity.
Together with the Rotary Club they constructed hundreds of cisterns for rainwater harvesting, and dry ecological toilets. They introduced beekeeping to support pollinators, supplying healthy foods such as honey, pollen, propolis, and selling natural shampoo and other cosmetics at local markets. They offer a very successful education program of backyard plot optimization producing vegetables, fruit, medicinal plants, grain, and fodder for animals.
The new project that San Miguel Hiking is supporting is building outdoor eco ovens in the seven communities of Presa Allende, Boca de la Cañada, Alonso Yáñez, Ciénega de Juana Ruíz, Vivienda de Abajo, Juan González and Corralejo de Abajo. These ovens will allow families and communities to bake their own artisan bread, cookies, cakes and granola, also rescuing forgotten traditional recipes such as such as "gordas de horno". They will reduce the dependance of these families on low quality commercial baked good, and the chimneys will improve their health affected by breathing fumes when cooking inside on open fires. The construction is done communally, and the ovens efficiently uses less firewood than other methods of cooking.
Together with the Rotary Club they constructed hundreds of cisterns for rainwater harvesting, and dry ecological toilets. They introduced beekeeping to support pollinators, supplying healthy foods such as honey, pollen, propolis, and selling natural shampoo and other cosmetics at local markets. They offer a very successful education program of backyard plot optimization producing vegetables, fruit, medicinal plants, grain, and fodder for animals.
The new project that San Miguel Hiking is supporting is building outdoor eco ovens in the seven communities of Presa Allende, Boca de la Cañada, Alonso Yáñez, Ciénega de Juana Ruíz, Vivienda de Abajo, Juan González and Corralejo de Abajo. These ovens will allow families and communities to bake their own artisan bread, cookies, cakes and granola, also rescuing forgotten traditional recipes such as such as "gordas de horno". They will reduce the dependance of these families on low quality commercial baked good, and the chimneys will improve their health affected by breathing fumes when cooking inside on open fires. The construction is done communally, and the ovens efficiently uses less firewood than other methods of cooking.
|
|
San Miguel Hiking grant will be used for purchasing necessary manufactured parts such as barrels and chimneys, while the families will procure other materials such as mud, bricks, recycled glass, and labor. CEDESA will procure organization, training and follow up. The expected long-term impact is to progress towards better sustainable housing, community organization and cooperation, better nutrition, preserve cultural traditions, promote caring for native vegetation by cleaning and pruning of trees for conserving fuel, and improving health care by avoiding breathing smoke.
We are expecting inauguration and construction of the first oven in July. Donors are warmly invited to participate. Please let us know of your interest and we’ll invite you when a date is set.
You can find out more about CEDESA at: https://www.facebook.com/cedesa.ac or www.cedesa.org.mx
We are expecting inauguration and construction of the first oven in July. Donors are warmly invited to participate. Please let us know of your interest and we’ll invite you when a date is set.
You can find out more about CEDESA at: https://www.facebook.com/cedesa.ac or www.cedesa.org.mx
Tierra Blanca de Abajo Soil Regeneration Grant
Grant #4: February/June 2022
San Miguel Hiking group awards $40 000 MXN to Cuerpos de Conservación Guanajuato, A.C. (CCG) for its Project: “Recuperación de Suelos en el Ejido Tierra Blanca de Abajo” (Soil regeneration)
The Ejido of Tierra Blanca de Abajo is a community of about 500 people located 25km Northwest of San Miguel de Allende. The mineral called Erionita Potásica (Potassium Erionite) present in its soil, water and air has caused many cases of pulmonary cancer.
This happens when dust gets exposed by overgrazing cattle and the natural erosion of the river in the rainy season.
Since 2014, the Institute of Ecology and The Guanajuato Conservation Corps, A.C have helped remedy the situation by constructing 16,800 meters of trenches with the participation of 114 local families. The goal is to slow erosion, capture rainfall and facilitate the re-establishment of native species.They also planted 11,200 magueys on 20 hectares, fenced to protect plantings from animals. This creates a vegetation cover and produces animal feed, aguamiel and pulque, also generating income for the community.
In 2015, rainwater harvesting systems were built to provide clean water to 15 homes. Since then, maguey and nopal plantations have been maintained and artisanal production has increased.
CCG requested the grant for the acquisition of a motorized crushing mill. It will be used by members of the Ejido de Tierra Blanca de Abajo and other communities to mill pruned maguey leaves for compost and sustainable, low-cost livestock feed during the dry season. This process will complete the cycle of maguey from planting for soil conservation to income producing. It will hopefully become an example of self-management for other similar projects in the region.
The Ejido of Tierra Blanca de Abajo is a community of about 500 people located 25km Northwest of San Miguel de Allende. The mineral called Erionita Potásica (Potassium Erionite) present in its soil, water and air has caused many cases of pulmonary cancer.
This happens when dust gets exposed by overgrazing cattle and the natural erosion of the river in the rainy season.
Since 2014, the Institute of Ecology and The Guanajuato Conservation Corps, A.C have helped remedy the situation by constructing 16,800 meters of trenches with the participation of 114 local families. The goal is to slow erosion, capture rainfall and facilitate the re-establishment of native species.They also planted 11,200 magueys on 20 hectares, fenced to protect plantings from animals. This creates a vegetation cover and produces animal feed, aguamiel and pulque, also generating income for the community.
In 2015, rainwater harvesting systems were built to provide clean water to 15 homes. Since then, maguey and nopal plantations have been maintained and artisanal production has increased.
CCG requested the grant for the acquisition of a motorized crushing mill. It will be used by members of the Ejido de Tierra Blanca de Abajo and other communities to mill pruned maguey leaves for compost and sustainable, low-cost livestock feed during the dry season. This process will complete the cycle of maguey from planting for soil conservation to income producing. It will hopefully become an example of self-management for other similar projects in the region.
Caminos de Agua Education Materials Donation
Grant #2: April 2021
The San Miguel Hiking group is proud to announce that it has awarded its second grant. 15,000MXN is going to Caminos de Agua A.C. Caminos de Agua works in partnership with local communities and grassroots organizations to create long-term sustainable water solutions through projects and capacity trainings in rural villages (communities) as well as urban locations. This grant made during their March Match Campaign, was matched by generous donors, and will help pay for educational material used in their water collection and purification workshops.
|
|
You can see more about their work at https://caminosdeagua.org/news/2021/3/19/how-you-can-do-twice-the-good
Click here to see one of their very complete education manuals (en Español)
Puerto Nieto Fencing Project
Grant #1: January 2021
Two NGOs, Cuerpos de Conservación ( ww.ccgac.wordpress.com/quienes-somos/ and Salvamos al Rio Laja www.agua.org.mx/biblioteca/salvemos-al-rio-laja-ac/ have been working on various sites around San Miguel (Doña Juana, Cañada de la Virgen, Puerto de Nieto) on land regeneration and reforestation projects. Their goals are to restore areas that have been severely damaged by overgrazing and deforestation, working with local communities on sustainable ways of farming and ranching, using the surface water wisely and restoring the natural vegetation.
On one site we visited, Lomas Dimas, located in Puerto de Nieto on the road to Queretaro, they planted more than 15 000 native plants such as maguey, mesquite and ocotillos, built trenches and stone terraces to stop water erosion, and hired locals (mainly women) to trim and clean paixtle (parasites) from trees. They are also starting to use maguey leaves to feed animals and lessen overgrazing that leads to land deterioration.
This fragile beginning needs reinforcement, and we can help with fencing. A small grant of 15,000 pesos will provide for adding posts and barbed wire to the original structure and keep the new plantings from grazing animals. So far 9400 pesos was donated by hiking group guides and participants.
In the future, everyone participating in our re-opened public hikes will have a chance to visit and contribute to these projects and show our gratitude and support to the people of the ejidos and lands we walk on.
Right now, you can support these very well- run NGOs working transparently and successfully on this necessary and valuable project. Click on this link to donate any amount link to a fundraising platform
Video on YouTube Restauración en Las Tinajas, Guanajuato, México - Restoration at Las Tinajas, Guanajuato, Mexico
On one site we visited, Lomas Dimas, located in Puerto de Nieto on the road to Queretaro, they planted more than 15 000 native plants such as maguey, mesquite and ocotillos, built trenches and stone terraces to stop water erosion, and hired locals (mainly women) to trim and clean paixtle (parasites) from trees. They are also starting to use maguey leaves to feed animals and lessen overgrazing that leads to land deterioration.
This fragile beginning needs reinforcement, and we can help with fencing. A small grant of 15,000 pesos will provide for adding posts and barbed wire to the original structure and keep the new plantings from grazing animals. So far 9400 pesos was donated by hiking group guides and participants.
In the future, everyone participating in our re-opened public hikes will have a chance to visit and contribute to these projects and show our gratitude and support to the people of the ejidos and lands we walk on.
Right now, you can support these very well- run NGOs working transparently and successfully on this necessary and valuable project. Click on this link to donate any amount link to a fundraising platform
Video on YouTube Restauración en Las Tinajas, Guanajuato, México - Restoration at Las Tinajas, Guanajuato, Mexico