The Joy of Back to School—When It’s Possible
There’s a special kind of magic in the air when school starts again. You’ve seen it: kids laughing in store aisles picking out new backpacks and fresh notebooks, parents proudly snapping “first day” photos, and the air filled with dreams.
Back-to-school season means hope, growth, and opportunity—a new beginning.
But what if your family couldn’t afford it?
In Playa del Carmen and across Mexico, many students don’t get the chance to return.
The Hidden Crisis: Why Students Drop Out After 9th Grade in Mexico
Here’s the truth: public high school in Mexico isn’t free. After middle school (Grade 9), students must pay for:
- Tuition
- Uniforms
- Transportation
- School supplies
For families living paycheck to paycheck, it’s too much. The result? 1 in 2 students drops out after middle school.
Imagine being 14 and told you can’t return to school—not because of your grades, but because your family can’t afford it.
Back to school, for these students, becomes a painful reminder of dreams slipping away.
The Emotional Cost of Being Left Behind
Without school, students like José or Ana face a future defined not by potential, but by limitation.
They lose confidence. Hope fades.
Instead of learning science or preparing for university, they take low-wage jobs just to survive. Poverty becomes a cage, not a phase.
Two Very Different Back-to-School Experiences
For some: excitement, structure, and a bright future.
For others: silence. Isolation. A dream deferred.
While one child sharpens pencils for algebra, another watches from home—learning instead that poverty can steal opportunity.
You Can Help Students Stay in School in Playa del Carmen
At The KKIS Project, we believe no student should be left behind due to money.
Your donation provides:
- Tuition assistance
- Backpacks and school supplies
- Uniforms and bus passes
- Support and mentoring
But more than that, you give confidence. You tell a student: You matter. Your dream is still alive.
The Ripple Effect of Education
One student staying in school impacts entire families and communities:
✅ Siblings are more likely to stay in school
✅ Parents feel pride and hope
✅ Communities benefit from skilled, educated leaders
Education doesn’t just change one life—it multiplies hope.
Why Now? The Back-to-School Moment Is Critical
Each August, while children around the world head back to school, thousands of students in Mexico are left behind.
But you can change that.
- $25 USD = A new backpack and supplies
- $325 USD = One semester of high school
- $650 USD = Full year of education, including tuition
Every donation is an investment in a future leader.
If It Had Been You…
You remember the feeling of a new school year—shoes tied tight, notebooks crisp, ready to learn.
What if you’d been told you couldn’t go?
That’s the reality for students like —unless someone like you says: “I’ll help.”
Be the Reason a Student Stays in School
This back-to-school season, don’t scroll past those hopeful faces.
Be the reason a student in Playa del Carmen returns to school. Be the reason their story doesn’t end at 14.
Donate now. Give more than just school supplies.
Give confidence, dignity, and opportunity.