By Britt Jarnryd—

By November, Huatulco is beginning to welcome back its winter visitors. Restaurants and beaches are getting busier, familiar faces are returning, and the town is settling into another season.

But at El Sueño Zapoteco/A.C. Bacaanda Foundation, our work continues year-round.

The beginning of the school year in August and September is always our busiest period. We welcome and train new community educators participating in our Smart Rural School program. Hundreds of iPads must be cleaned, updated and programmed. Equipment and internet connectivity are checked, and teachers receive training in technology and our Spanish, mathematics, reading and writing programs.

By November, the school year is well underway, and our focus shifts to supporting educators in their classrooms. Our team continues to visit rural communities, some more than three hours from Huatulco, providing teacher training and educational guidance. We also meet with parents because their involvement is essential to their children’s education.

Our Continuing My Dream scholarship program is also in full swing. This year, we are supporting 26 students from rural communities as they pursue their high school education. Each receives financial assistance for enrollment, uniforms, shoes, school supplies, an iPad, transportation and meals.

Beyond this practical support, students receive mentoring in mathematics, English, study habits, emotional and social development, community projects and spelling. Our goal is to help them develop the skills and confidence they need to navigate both academic and personal challenges.

Alongside our educational programs, we continue organizing fundraising events, welcoming volunteers and donors, and developing new projects.

While Huatulco prepares for another busy tourist season, we remain focused on ensuring that growing up in a rural community does not limit a child’s opportunities to learn, grow and build a better future.

But we cannot build this dream alone. Every donation, every volunteer and every person who shares our mission helps us reach more children and young people.

To those who have supported us over the years, thank you for walking alongside us. And to everyone returning to Huatulco this season, we welcome you back with open arms and a special invitation: come and be part of this dream.