Build A Miracle COVID Response
BAM LEADERSHIP PANDEMIC PLANNING
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, schools and businesses were closed in Mexico. As food and other essential items were in short supply in the United States, the same was happening in Mexico. The BAM leadership team immediately stepped up to come up with a plan of action.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT DURING PANDEMIC
Believing so strongly in the importance of education to break the cycle of poverty, a few months into the pandemic, Build A Miracle leaders and education directors implemented small, grassroots learning cells at several BAM homes.
SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM GROWS DURING PANDEMIC
Despite the global pandemic, our new business building across from the Community Center, Plaza San Jose, had its grand opening in August 2021!
BAM Leadership Pandemic Planning
When the pandemic hit, the BAM leadership team came up with plans to help families in the community with a variety of resources and programs:
Reaching Out
Personally reaching out to and spending time with people so that they don’t feel isolated
Activities for Teens
Hosting activities to motivate teens and young people to stay healthy and focused in school
Offering Supplies
Providing access to food, supplies and clean water at the Community Center
Parental Involvement
Creating opportunities for moms and dads to be be involved in the Community Center
Learning Cells
Setting up learning cells in multiple communities for kids to continue their education
Building Homes
Continuing the home building program with additional safety precautions
Health Resources
Offering health information and resources
Small Business Training
Growing the training program for small business
Classes
Creating more classes at the Community Center to keep people safely connected
Community Outreach
Reaching out to help families not currently part of the BAM Community and inviting them to our programs
Academic support during a pandemic
During COVID, schools in Mexico were closed. Unfortunately, most students that we work with do not have access to the technology they would need to continue their education at home. Furthermore, it is hard for their parents to help them with schoolwork because many parents in the communities that we work in do not have high levels of education. We created learning cells to provide a way for our students to continue their education during this time.
El Florido Learning Cell
In our learning cells, students meet in small groups of 8-12 for classes taught by our teachers and our college and high school students on scholarship. The program has grown to 29 learning cells, set up in BAM homes in the surrounding communities, with over 600 children receiving classes each week!
Scholarship Recipient Tutors Child
Precautions were taken to ensure the safety of all students and teachers involved. Our 20 leaders and subleaders have worked hard to make sure that the 29 learning pod homes have everything they need for a successful learning environment.
Terrazas Learning Cell
Our leaders set up tables and chairs with tarps overhead for the students. By going door-to-door throughout the community when the learning cell program first began, they were able to spread the word about the program, reassure parents of the safety of the environment, and encourage the kids to participate. If kids don’t show up to class, they follow up with them and find out if there is anything we can do to help.
Small Business Program Grows
The new BAM Business Building contains several spaces for small businesses, places for artisans and other vendors to sell their goods, a sewing school, a beauty and barber school, and classrooms for business education as well as for adult elementary, middle, and high school programs.
Small Business Program
Our Small Business Program continued to grow as the world shut down. In 2022, we celebrated the first 37 graduates from our new 6 month long business course.
Microfinance Loans
Small business owners can apply for small loans from the BAM Community Center. If they pay back the first loan, then they are eligible to apply for a larger loan for their business. These investments have allowed many entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.