The primary objective of the Punta de Mita Foundation, is to make Punta de Mita a better place for all who  spend time here, be it the short-term visitor, the winter snowbird, or those who live here year round. We want it to look good, to offer amenities that we can enjoy with our family and friends, while at the same time bettering the lives of those who live in Nuevo Corral del Risco and Emiliano Zapata.

 

To do so the Foundaiton has been built upon three pillars:  Supporting non-profit organizations (NPOs) in the area by funding projects that are in alignment with our strategic priorities, undertaking projects that are needed an no other organization is doing, and lobbying the municipal and state governments for infrastructure development in the region.

 

Our stretegic priorities have been defined according to the problems that were brought to our attention by the Smart Growth Report. The report outlined the primary issues and challenges the communities are facing and some of the potential solutions. With a vision of achieving sustainable development in the area, where our actions can reduce social imbalances and the unequal relationship between rich and poor sectors, the Foundation focus its time and resources to fund project under these four main streams:

 

Emiliano Zapata and Nuevo Corral del Risco are two towns that have become trapped between development and marginalization. The primary employer has been the construction industry, however the downturn that has faced over the last year has impacted the local economy. Wages are quite low with 50% of the heads of the household earning less than $5,000 pesos per month.   The second option to improve the local economy is tourism, especially considering the location and proximity to fishing, diving, snorkeling, whale-watching, surfing, etc, but they have lost much of their appeal because of a lack of physiognomy and identity. The loss of beaches as well as a growing number of migrant workers has created “dormitory” towns for construction projects. Many problems arise because of the lack of permanent and well-paid employment. As a result, what is seen is the combination of negative environmental impacts with the social and economic issues. It is necessary to consider the provision of infrastructure, both social and educational, recreational and health, as a basic theme in the planning of development. Without accounting for such a balance in urban planning, the environmental, social and economic aspects of our quality of life will deteriorate.

The Smart Growth Report showed how education facilities have been lacking for some time, but especially so during the past five years because of the increase in migrant workers who have been bringing their families with them. There are not enough classrooms to service the youth population. It was found that more than 50% of the community has an education level no higher than the primary level. Many children are forced to leave school because they family cannot afford it and they need them to work.
The Foundation obtain founding to provide 4 new classrooms to two different schools.   Two were built at the Kinder Garden of Emiliano Zapata and benefited the 90 children that attend.   The other two were built on the Primary School of Emiliano Zapata with a total population of 245 students. 

Besides infrastructure, the report also showed the poor quality of education children in the area are receiving.  The Foundation has been supporting programs to improve the quality of education through other organizations, it is a long-term commitment.

Public health and social services only reach 33% of the population in the area, it is necessary to invest in building a better health clinic that can care for the size of the population, in the meantime, the Foundation funded a health and hygiene project  project that took place at the five public schools in the area: Corral del Risco (Kinder Garden and Primary School) and Emiliano Zapata (Kinder Garden, Primary and Middle School) and consists of three different components to impact the health and hygienic conditions for children:

1) Restrooms remodeling. Renovating and remodeling all restrooms at public schools in the area was a priority. Water pumps, electricity, toilets, sinks and accessories were fixed or restored according to the needs of the schools.
2) Maintenance. Providing basic cleaning supplies and staff to keep the facilities clean was the second step. The sustainability of the project relied on cleanliness in the restrooms. Ongoing supplies and support staff dedicated to maintaining the restroom facilities are being provided.
 3) Education. Parental educational meetings as well were given as were hygiene classes to children, where the importance of establishing routines and maintaining good hygiene practices were highlighted. Signs for bathrooms were done in English and Spanish in order to educate and remind the kids to flush the toilet, wash their hands and not to waste water.

The Foundation consists of a Board of Directors with twelve members, five of which also serve on the Executive Board. There is an Advisory Board, consisting of individuals who can provide extensive expertise which will meet less frequently than the regular board. An Executive Director, along with an assistant, make up the administrative staff for the Foundation.

An integral and important part of any non-profit organization are volunteers. The Punta de Mita Foundation and its partner NPOs can always use more people to assist with their endeavors. There are many ways to help out. If you are interested, please contact our office.