By Irina Sanchez Bustamante | Fundraising
Introduction
It is our honor to share the latest updates on our mission to equip children and young people with essential job skills through the Robotics - STEAM programs under the Technology and Trades pillar. Carried out by at the Boys and Girls Club of Mexico City and the State of Mexico, this initiative is crucial for providing technical and soft skills, preparing new generations for success in a dynamic and competitive job market.
Project Description: Forging Youth Potential
At the at the Boys and Girls Club of Mexico City and the State of Mexico, our commitment is firm: to prepare children and adolescents for a successful future by equipping them with essential job skills. Through our Technology and Trades programs, we offer a STEAM-based education that cultivates both technical expertise and interpersonal skills, empowering young people to thrive in an ever-evolving job market.
Our initiative focuses on hands-on learning experiences, including coding, robotics, digital design, and practical trades. By actively participating in these programs, children and adolescents develop crucial skills such as problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, and adaptability, indispensable competencies for the jobs of the future.
With the generous support of donors and partners, our goal is to expand our reach, enrich our training resources, and generate more opportunities for young people to explore career paths that align with their talents and aspirations. Together, we are forging a generation of skilled, self-confident, and empowered individuals, ready to contribute significantly to their communities and beyond.
Impact: A Semester of Milestones in Robotics and STEAM
The "Children's Job Skills Training" project is making a transformative difference in the lives of children and adolescents in Mexico City and the State of Mexico. By providing participants with both technical and soft skills, we are not only preparing them for the workforce but also empowering them to become agents of change in their communities.
The Club's robotics area has experienced a semester (from February to June) full of achievements and learning. The teams have not only perfected robot construction but also their internal organization and technique. The valuable experience of attending the FIRST Tech Challenge regional as observers broadened their vision, inspiring them with the level of the best teams and reaffirming the 2026 Houston World Championship as a tangible aspiration.
This period saw the incorporation of an administration mentor, optimizing roles and logistics. We launched a crowdfunding campaign and held successful cause-based bazaars. Our alliance with Hacedores is improving our makerspace. Thanks to YTC, we started an Arduino course, immersing young people in electronics and C++ programming, and formed two new FIRST LEGO League teams for younger children. In March, WACHTECH was born, our podcast made by the young people themselves to share their discoveries in science and robotics.
April was a decisive month, with visits to BMW offices and the reception of YTC directors at the Club. In May, at the Boys and Girls Club of Mexico City and the State of Mexico’s charity golf tournament provided us with great visibility. Finally, in June, BMW's visit to the Club solidified a crucial sponsorship, but we still need more resources to ensure our growth. As a culmination, the teams created a functional R2D2 robot, a LEGO model of the Club, and Teotihuacan models with technological integration, demonstrating their preparation for a promising upcoming season.
Challenges: Continuous Adaptation and Strategic Alliances
While the project has achieved considerable success, we face persistent challenges in its implementation and expansion. One of the key challenges is ensuring that our resources and training materials keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology and the job market. This demands constant updates and investments to guarantee cutting-edge programming and access to the most modern tools for hands-on learning.
Furthermore, expanding our reach remains a challenge. As program demand grows, we must intensify our outreach efforts to ensure that children from underserved communities have access to these essential resources. Another crucial challenge is ensuring that, in addition to technical skills, participants develop interpersonal skills such as communication, teamwork, and adaptability, which are vital for their professional success. Balancing both aspects within a limited timeframe is complex but remains a fundamental pillar of the program.
Finally, securing sustained funding and collaborations is an ongoing challenge. To guarantee the program's expansion and long-term viability, we actively continue to seek new partnerships with donors, community partners, and companies committed to investing in the future of these young talents.
Looking Ahead: Connecting with Global Opportunities
Looking ahead, the project focuses on maximizing its reach and impact. Our objective is to increase the number of children and adolescents who benefit from the initiative, ensuring that more young people acquire the essential skills needed to succeed in today's competitive job market. With our sights set on the Robotics World Championship in Houston in 2026, we envision a goal that, thanks to our effort and support, is increasingly closer to becoming a reality.
Expressions of Gratitude
We extend our most sincere gratitude to GlobalGiving and our donors for their invaluable support, which makes this initiative possible. Your contributions not only transform lives but also sow hope and build the foundations for a generation of healthier and happier children and young people, empowered to innovate and lead the way into the future.
By Maricarmen Bonilla | Fundraising
By Maricarmen Bonilla | Fundraising
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