In the past year, we have been in discussion with educators in Yelapa, Mexico to launch a new education project in this village located within the Bay of Banderas (Puerto Vallarta region). We have sent two volunteers to assess the situation and capacity of the school and its supporters and believe that there is an opportunity to begin a partnership in the coming year. 


Yelapa is one of the few remaining “Communidas” in Mexico, a population of approximately 2,000 that is located on the coast line south of Puerto Vallarta. Accessible only by boat and water taxi, there are no roads into the village and people still rely on horses, mules, wheelbarrows and more recently ATVs for transportation. It was not until 2001 that Yelapa was able to access electricity for the first time bringing with it communication (telephone) and internet connection that significantly shifted the way villagers lived their lives. 

Yelapa remains a small, unique and diverse community. There is a strong and vibrant population living along the Tuito river, which divides the town from the beach and river neighborhoods. Like all communities, it has its disparity, not only in the standard of living and opportunities available to children and families but also barrier to accessing resources for learning and higher education due to its geographical isolation.