School Buddies
Sponsor a Child's Education in Mexico | School Buddies
Help children at St. Innocent Orphanage go from the classroom to a calling.
School Buddies is Project Mexico's education sponsorship program for children living at St. Innocent Orphanage in Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico. Sponsors help fund tuition, uniforms, school supplies, tutoring, and transportation from elementary school through university. Annual tuition runs from $2,700 (high school) to $4,200 (university), and gifts of any size help. Donations are tax-deductible through Project Mexico of the Orthodox Church, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Why Education Changes Everything
Every child who comes through the doors of St. Innocent Orphanage arrives carrying a story of loss. Many have known poverty, instability, or life without a family. What they find here, a home, a community, and a faith, changes the direction of their lives.
Education is at the center of that change. In northern Baja California, the average resident completes only an 8th-grade education, and the schooling available often falls well below what children in the United States receive. The children in our care deserve more. Through School Buddies, supporters across North America cover tuition, uniforms, supplies, and tutoring, giving each child the tools to pursue the future God has prepared for them.
Your gift is the difference between a child who graduates and a child who doesn't. In a region where education is often the only path out of generational poverty, that difference is everything.
Give any amount. Every contribution goes directly toward a child's education, and many sponsors give toward tuition alongside others. Tuition figures cover tuition only; uniforms, supplies, tutoring, and transportation are funded by School Buddies donors as well.
Primary School Buddies (Grades 1 to 6, $3,400 a year)
Our youngest children attend elementary school, and watching them grow is one of the greatest gifts of this ministry. When Alejandro arrived at St. Innocent, he could not name the letters of the alphabet or solve a simple addition problem. Today he volunteers to read aloud in class and works confidently through multi-digit multiplication, beaming with the pride of a child who has discovered what he can do.
For children who have known instability and loss, the classroom is proof that the future is open to them. Primary School Buddies help cover tuition, uniforms, and supplies, giving children like Alejandro the stable foundation every child deserves.
Sponsor a Primary School Buddy
Middle School Buddies (Grades 7 to 9, $3,500 a year)
The middle school years are as challenging as they are full of possibility. Week by week, we watch our students learn to resolve conflict, take responsibility, and find the subjects that light them up. One has developed a passion for mathematics. Another has found his voice in class discussions he once shied away from.
At St. Innocent, middle school is about formation as well as academics. Our staff walks alongside each child as they grow in confidence, faith, and character. Middle School Buddies fund the tutoring, extracurricular activities, and school resources that make this season as rich as possible.
Sponsor a Middle School Buddy
High School Buddies (Grades 10 to 12, $2,700 a year)
Our high school students are each enrolled in a program chosen to match their gifts and aspirations. Three will graduate in spring [YEAR], a milestone built on years of commitment, faithfulness, and donors who believed in them before they believed in themselves.
Adrian hopes to study medicine and already asks questions that reach well beyond the classroom. Brandon earned straight A's in [term and year], a reflection of his own hard work and the structured, supportive environment St. Innocent provides. For these young men, high school is not the end of a chapter. It is the beginning of a vocation.
High School Buddies cover tuition at specialized schools, exam fees, transportation, and the extra tutoring that helps them compete and thrive.
Sponsor a High School Buddy
University Buddies ($4,200 a year)
For graduates who go on to university, tuition is $4,200 a year. Your support carries a young person from the classroom to a career and turns a hard-won diploma into a lasting future.
Sponsor a University Student
What is the School Buddies program?
School Buddies is Project Mexico's education sponsorship program for children living at St. Innocent Orphanage in Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico. Sponsors help cover tuition, school uniforms, supplies, tutoring, and transportation from elementary school through university.
How much does it cost to sponsor a child's education in Mexico?
Annual tuition is $3,400 for Primaria (Grades 1 to 6), $3,500 for Secundaria (Grades 7 to 9), $2,700 for Prepa (Grades 10 to 12), and $4,200 for university. Those figures cover tuition only. School Buddies donors also help fund uniforms, supplies, tutoring, and transportation. Gifts of any size go directly toward a child's education.
What does my sponsorship cover?
Your gift helps cover annual tuition, school uniforms, supplies, tutoring sessions, transportation, and exam or graduation fees. Children attend schools selected to match their individual strengths and aspirations, from local primaria through university.
Can I give less than a full year of tuition?
Yes. Every level of giving matters, and many supporters contribute toward a child's tuition alongside others. To discuss a specific giving level or set up a recurring gift, call 619-426-4610 or email info@projectmexico.org.
Can I sponsor a specific child or school group?
To learn about sponsoring a specific student or school group (Primary, Middle School, or High School Buddies), contact our team at 619-426-4610. We are happy to connect you with updates on the child or group you support.
Will I receive updates about the child I sponsor?
Project Mexico shares regular updates about our students through our newsletter, annual report, and the Stories of Hope podcast. To receive personal updates about a sponsored student, contact our office at info@projectmexico.org.
Is my donation to School Buddies tax-deductible?
Yes. Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law, and you will receive a donation receipt for your records.
Can I make a one-time donation instead of a monthly gift?
Yes. One-time gifts are gratefully accepted and put directly to use. Give online through our secure DonorPerfect giving page, or mail a check to PO Box 120028, Chula Vista, CA 91912, with "School Buddies" in the memo line.
Can I donate school supplies instead of money?
Yes. The School Buddies Amazon Needs List lets you buy items for the program. On the Amazon list page, check "Share your default address with recipient" so we can personally thank you.
Where is St. Innocent Orphanage located?
St. Innocent Orphanage is in Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico. Project Mexico's U.S. office is in Chula Vista, California, and is open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm Pacific time at 619-426-4610.
Is School Buddies connected to the Orthodox Christian faith?
Yes. St. Innocent Orphanage is an Orthodox Christian ministry, and the children in our care are raised within the life and worship of the Orthodox Church. We welcome donors of all backgrounds. For Orthodox Christians, School Buddies is a tangible way to live out the Church's call to care for the orphan.
How can my parish get involved with School Buddies?
Many Antiochian and Orthodox parishes have adopted School Buddies as a parish mission project, sponsoring one or more children's education together. To learn how your parish can take part, email info@projectmexico.org or call 619-426-4610.