The KKIS Project
Promising students want to graduate.
Let’s help them!
Every Child Deserves an Education
Many students living in Mexico do not attend public high school because there is a cost.
It costs less than $2 USD per day to provide a year education to these promising students. ✨
Join KKIS donors and volunteers who are working to expand the number of high school and university graduates in the Riviera Maya! 🇲🇽
Our success is driven by the generous support of individuals and corporations who share our values and vision.
KKIS Vision
Improving lives through education.
KKIS (Keeping Kids in School) works to build stronger communities in Playa del Carmen by eliminating financial obstacles to public education. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn and succeed, and we are dedicated to making education accessible and affordable for promising students in our community.
KKIS Mission
KKIS provides programming that improves graduation rates for promising students and prepares them for life success by offering financial aid, community connections, and educational support. In addition to academics, KKIS helps students develop essential language, life, and work skills to build a stronger community.
Recognizing that education is often unaffordable for many families in Mexico, we remove financial barriers to keep kids in school through generous donations from individuals and companies who share our values and vision.
Our success is driven by the generous support of individuals and corporations who share our values and vision.
Latest from KKIS Events
Kappa Alpha Psi Mentoring Session 2025
May 3, 2025 – Aloft Hotel – Playa del Carmen How Career Mentoring Supports Students in Playa del CarmenEmpowering Students Through MentoringThe Mexico Alumni Association of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. hosted a dynamic career mentoring session in Playa del Carmen...
Randstad Canada & KKIS: Providing Education Access Through Transportation
March 28, 2025 – Secrets The Vine – Cancun How Randstad Canada Supports Education Access for Students in Playa del CarmenEmpowering Students Through Education and AccessEnsuring education access for students in Playa del Carmen is at the heart of everything we...
NOMMO Fest 2025: Celebrating Community, Culture & Giving Back
March 1-22, 2025 – Tulum – Mexico The Story of NOMMO Fest: A Gathering of Souls It all started with a vision—a simple yet powerful idea: a concert for the community, benefiting the community. In 2024, Aware Musica brought people together in Tulum, where music became a...
Latest from the KKIS Blog
There is a whole lot going on at The KKIS Project! The KKIS Blog will keep you up to date on the latest news and events. View all posts »
KKIS Launches 2025-2026 Scholarship Application Period
As part of our commitment to transparency and community impact, The KKIS Project is proud to...
5 Reasons Monthly Giving for Education in Mexico Changes Lives
Monthly giving for education in Mexico is one of the most impactful ways to create lasting change...
How To Use a Colectivo in Playa del Carmen
If you want to get around like a local, Playa del Carmen offers a circuit of colectivos that...
KKIS PROJECT
Testimonials
“The English Conversation Club, is not only an opportunity for students to interact and practice their English with native English speakers, but also, is an opportunity for them to learn about different cultures..”
“KKIS has changed the way I view my life. This opportunity is a legacy of motivation and service to others. 1 am ready to embrace a future of infinite possibilities.”
“The support that KKIS provides, allows our students to dream of a life without limits. By providing the tools necessary to study, students are given the hope of making their dreams a reality.”
Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t find the answer you are looking for here, please contact our team »
Who is KKIS?
KKIS (Keeping Kids in School) is a non-profit organization based in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, dedicated to increasing high school and university graduation rates by providing financial assistance, educational opportunities, and community connections to Mexican children.
What does KKIS do?
KKIS provides financial assistance to deserving students so they can stay in school and graduate. Starting in grade 10 public high school has costs. That cost is often too much for low-wage earners to afford to keep their promising students in school.
How does KKIS find students to give scholarships to?
Students can apply for a scholarship in the spring for the next school year. We offer both high school and university scholarships. Students find KKIS through their administrators, our posts on social media, and through friends and family.
What is the process to getting a scholarship?
To qualify for a KKIS scholarship, students must fill out an application. Much like a college application, they need references, a good GPA, financial need, and parent approval. Once selected, each student and parent must sign a contract with KKIS. This is one reason we have an 86% graduation rate among our students.
Does KKIS give scholarships to all students?
KKIS has a very stringent selection process. While we would like to provide scholarships to all students, we do not have the funds to do so. For the school year 2023-2024, we had over 90 applications and awarded 32 new scholarships. Students who do not get a scholarship are encouraged to apply for the next school year.
Does KKIS only provide scholarships in Playa Del Carmen?
KKIS provides scholarships to deserving students in Playa del Carmen and Tulum. We provide backpacks to students throughout Riviera Maya.
What percentage of donations go to administration costs?
Like all non-profits, there is a cost to providing our services. KKIS tries to keep our administration fees low so we can provide service to more students. Our 2022 annual report shows that about 8% of revenue is spent on administration.
What is the Backpack program?
KKIS hands out over 3000 student backpacks filled with age-appropriate school supplies each year. Each backpack filled with tools for education costs $25 USD. We receive many of our backpacks from giveback events from corporations that come to the Riviera Maya for corporate retreats and team-building exercises.
I want to volunteer, how can I do that?
KKIS offers several volunteer opportunities. We also take suggestions for other ways to include students in education and eye-opening experiences. The best way to learn more is to send an email to KKIS asking your question or asking for more information about volunteering: info@kkisproject.org
What is the English Conversation Club?
We take volunteers into a classroom, and the students practice their English. There is no curriculum or special directive. You just show up and talk. Many people coming to Playa say it was one of the best experiences they had while visiting. For more information, send an email to: ecc@kkisproject.org
Some of Our Amazing Sponsors
