Caminito de la escuela

How much do Mexican children walk to school? Elders from Maneadero recount that as children they had a walk of a few hours to attend the only elementary school in town. To date, some children have to walk to school if they can not afford the public bus or because they live in a neighborhood so far away that bus routes are not available. The big yellow school bus that for many Americans is synonymous with school does not exist for the children of Maneadero.

But distance is not a challenge for those with a strong will. If they want to go places, they need to walk.

Some students struggle with school; some struggle to make it to school. Attending school is an achievement for several reasons, such as poverty, distance, work, and even parents considering school a “waste of time and money.”

Successfully attending school has benefits other than just academics.

Walking is associated with dopamine secretion. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter our brain produces every time we achieve a goal. Dopamine is our brain’s way of rewarding us. When our students walk to school, their brains make them feel better for achieving a goal. It is a satisfying feeling both biologically and socially, as students recognize the triumph of overcoming challenges to make it to school.

Our scholars are going places, literally.

At BajaEd, we work to help our scholars to achieve all their goals. We dream of a time when attending school is no longer an achievement, but a right. We thank our sponsors for paving the road for our scholars. We know it’s a hard path, and we thank you for making it easier.