Costs of constructing and operating an autonomous, indigenous school for one year in Chiapas, Mexico
2006 / 2007 school year budget estimate produced by Schools for Chiapas
Note: This assumes that an autonomous, Mayan community has decided to donate all labor, to donate some materials, to donate land for the school buildings and garden, and to supply food for two education promoters throughout the school year. It also assumes that the regional Zapatista government has agreed to provide two education promoters with medical care, training, and other forms of support. Construction and operating costs increase dramatically in remote communities far from urban centers. (Important additional notes follow this budget.)
- Construction of a 5m. X 6m. concrete-block classroom with dirt basketball court (concrete floor, tin roof, metal door, four windows, unpainted, wood backboard, all labor donated) - $4500
- Construction of education promoters living / study space and wood fired kitchen @ 4m X 4m (adobe block, dirt floor, two small windows, tin roof, wood door, all labor and some materials' expenses donated) - $2500
- Construction of an above ground composting latrine @ 2m X 3m (for education promoters' use only. Students must use other community facilities.) - $250
- Lights and electrical installation in classroom, education promoter dwelling, and latrine (four low power bulbs in classroom, one light inside, one outside light, four plugs, two fuses, a connection to community power) - $350 (Solar supplement @ $1200)
- Water installation (rainwater collection system, 500 liter plastic tank on a permanent elevated 3 meters high wood stand, one concrete sink / cloths washing board for promoters, a shower head with wood enclosure, one faucet at latrine, and one faucet for students near school door, all drainage ditches, connection to community water system, all labor donated) - $500
- Inflation, monetary devaluations, and unexpected construction expenses - $400
Subtotal for constructing one autonomous school - $8500 - Two beds, 4 blankets, one table, and two chairs for 2 education promoters - $150
- Kitchen equipment for education promoters (one hand-turned corn grinder, one large pot, one small pot, one frying pan, two large bowls, four plates, four cups, four glasses, a can opener, a knife, one large stirring spoon, two forks, two spoons) - $125
- 25 student desks, one education promoter desk, one filing cabinet (desks of local wood construction, delivery, filing cabinet metal from China) - $350
- One large classroom blackboard delivered and installed with five boxes of chalk - $150
- Tools and seeds for the education promoter school garden - (Two machetes, two sharpening files, one planting stick, one shovel, one hoe, seed packages) - $100
- 25 annual student packages (4 notebooks per student, pencils, colors, and paper) - $150
- Classroom library, sports center, and audiovisual center (two dictionaries, twenty-five copies of Zapatista education instruction guides, two basketballs, jump ropes, one CD / tape player with AM/FM radio and five CD's of Mexican, indigenous, and European classical music) - $125
- One Chinese bicycle with repair kit for education promoters' transportation - $250
- Annual budget for replacement of education materials, basketballs, plus the two education promoters medical, transportation, and clothing expenses - $600
Annual Subtotal for autonomous education infrastructure - $2000
Costs for beginning and operating one autonomous school - $10,500
Note: For small donors
It is very important to understand that most autonomous, indigenous schools in Chiapas, Mexico are established with far less resources than even this modest budget suggests. Often classes begin meeting in individual homes and a tiny, very rustic room is donated for education promoters housing. In many communities, education promoters have no way to begin growing food, no access to transportation, and teach without using books, pencils or papers. Therefore donors who cannot reach this level of support should realize that even a small financial donation makes a large difference in the lives of Mayan children.
Note: For larger donors
For individuals/organizations who can consider a larger scale, one-time or multiple donations, please understand that during the last ten years Schools for Chiapas has been raising funds and supporting projects thought-out Chiapas while maintaining organizational infrastructure on bare-bones, grassroots driven budget with no government or corporate support. A school for Chiapas regularly delivers specific donations to Chiapas for individuals and organizations without taking out anything for our own overhead or operating expenses.
While Schools for Chiapas is committed to always facilitating such "pass-through" grants at no cost, we ask that individual donors and granting organizations also consider dedicating a percentage of their donation monies to help cover Schools for Chiapas overhead expenses. Such support will allow us to remain solvent and to continue our work supporting the autonomous, indigenous communities in Chiapas, Mexico.
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