Understanding the value education can bring to economically disadvantaged youth, Little Things Matter partnered with Jóvenes Adelante to provide first-generation San Miguel de Allende youth scholarships. Lack of funds is the most significant barrier to entry to university education in Mexico. Scholarships open the door, and Jóvenes Adelante

Since 2016, LTM Foundation has partnered with Ojala Ninos to provide after-school learning programs in this community where education is meager and reading levels are low. This year, we initiated Barry's Learning Garden, which includes an educational curriculum for children ages 3-12 and a rainwater harvesting system that will serve as a teaching tool for the community. The curriculum covers the topics of nutrition and health, psychosocial, intellectual, and emotional development, agroecology and sustainability, through 26 learning activities that can be taught during the four seasons of the year. In the coming months, plans include; establishing chicken coops; building integrated learning and community space, and installing a playground area.

We continue to educate and equip a women's cooperative, Manos y Coraz6nes de Otomies, to help mothers in the rural Otomi community of San Miguel Viejo learn business and creative skills, build community, and provide economic opportunities. LTM Foundation then showcases these artisanal creations through the Common Project Artisan Market. The women have made a range of products from colorful fiesta flowers in the Mexican tradition, delightful pom­pom wreaths, and ornaments to soy-based candles. Their income is significant in a community where the average household income is $425 per month.

We partnered with Mariposas Mexico to provide much-needed laptop kits to girls attending college in Puebla, Mexico­. Access to these tools allows girls to stay engaged and achieve greater academic success. In addition, Mariposas Mexico provides educational programs for young women from marginalized communities in Puebla, Mexico. Their programs empower girls and help break the cycle of poverty caused by a lack of educational opportunities and limited access to educational services.

Lastly, we partnered with a local non­profit, Bachman Lake Together, (BLT) to launch a new program, Learning is Everywhere. This program promotes early learning at home, increasing parents' confidence in engaging their children in early education with materials they already have around them. The Bachman Lake neighborhood identifies as 60% Hispanic, with over 90% of public school children qualifying for free or reduced lunch. In addition, about 37% of area kindergarteners, or 3,000 young children, do not meet kindergarten-readiness standards. BLT focuses on kindergarten readiness because of its outsized impact on education, income, and health outcomes. In addition, area families face many day-to-day challenges that naturally impact their children's education. These challenges include learning a different culture and a new language while earning an income sufficient to support their growing family.

In addition to these project investments, we sponsor the children's chorus at La Biblioteca, San Miguel de Allende's public library. As a free activity, children have the opportunity to engage in music, learning and performing a repertory of sacred music, as well as traditional Mexican and Latin-American songs. The sense of community is at the core of the chorus of the Biblioteca, building friendships, developing musical skills, and engaging parents in supporting the outings as chaperones. It is such a pleasure to see these children singing together, happy and empowered.

Little things can make an even bigger difference in times of hardship. The COVID-19 pandemic impacts food security and education in the community of San Miguel Viejo, Mexico. This community resides on the outskirts of San Miguel de Allende. Little Things Matter partnered with Ojalá Niños to provide food, eggs from our farm, and educational activities to children while after-school programs are suspended.

Little Things Matter supports small-scale investments that generate long-term impact such as organic gardens and chicken farming. These projects provide nutritious food in addition to needed revenue to support the programs and communities.