One Town At A Time Projects

Apples for Classrooms

The program, kicking off now until March 23, 2012 will raise funds to purchase and hand-deliver Apple technology to children’s classrooms in the Cabo Corrientes area of Jalisco including Apple computers, MacBooks, iPads, iPods and more.

Steve Jobs inspired the world through his innovative thinking and technologically advanced creations. At the forefront of technology, he aimed to educate and inspire and perhaps most importantly, he challenged the world to ‘think different’.

Our goal is to make a difference in a child’s life, through education with the use of computers. Most of the children in these villages have never had contact with a computer.

“A primary benefit of introducing computers and computer games into the primary school classroom is that students start learning how to use a computer at an early age,” said Founder and Creator of One Town at a Time, David Simmonds. “Students who have computers in their classroom learn about various aspects of the technological world at an early age, allowing them to become comfortable with more advanced computer related concepts as they get older.”

The proven benefit of introducing computers to students is that students show an increased interest in learning and education. Many concepts they learn in the classroom are presented in the form of computer games. The student believes that they are playing a fun, interactive game when, in reality, they are learning important educational concepts that will help them in the
future.

“The ability to interact with other kids worldwide in the digital age opens up opportunities and imagination, creating a learning atmosphere far beyond village life,” said Simmonds. “It creates hope and a chance at a better life – something we all want.”

Please join us in our ‘Apples to Classrooms’ Campaign by making a tax-deductible online donation now. Your donation will go straight toward the purchase of a new Mac computer, iPad or iPod for a classroom in the identified area of Mexico. No donation is too small, (but we encourage you to ‘think big’)!

Rain Water Collection Systems for Homes

Mexico has a very diverse environment, ranging from parched deserts of Sonora to the tropical rain forests of Chiapas. One thing they have in common is that there are many months when there is no rain at all. Water is an essential, but finite resource.
The Villages of Cabo Corrientes receive roughly 60 inches of rain per year, but the majority of it falls between mid-June through mid-October. During the winter months the residents rely on infrequent water delivery by truck. Harvesting and storing rainwater provides much-needed water for the community year-round. Just one-inch of rainfall on a 1,000 square foot roof generates 600 gallons of collectible water. The cost to install a system for each house is minimal compared to the many life-enhancing benefits.

Click to enlarge map | View Cabo Corrientes Photo Gallery

Web Pages for Villages

“Many argue that because tourism is often driven by foreign, private sector interests, it is not well-placed to contribute much to poverty elimination. However, work on pro-poor tourism has identified several reasons why tourism seems to be particularly relevant to poverty reduction and to achieving the Millennium Development Goals”.
–International Institute for Environmental and Development

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, creating huge economic growth in developing countries. The travel and tourism industry accounts for more than 10 per cent of worldwide gross domestic product (GDP), creating more than 230 million jobs. Mexico tourism was a $13.3 billion industry in 2008, ranking it third behind oil and remittances from Mexicans living abroad.

Tourism is a productive means of reducing poverty. One Town At A Time identifies small, rural villages within day-trip distance of established tourist towns. We build web sites for them, explaining to travelers why they should visit. We promote the towns, the wonderful culture, and nearby attractions … whatever makes the place special. This helps to build a permanent tourist business base. A restaurant opens to cater to the new visitors, someone opens a small hotel, another person starts a guide business, another person starts an adventure travel company. Local arts and crafts are sold. Pretty soon, there is more money in the area and lives are forever improved. And not only do the villagers benefit, so do the travelers, as they experience a slice of Mexico apart from mainstream tourist locales.

Special Projects

Each village has unique needs. As we identify these we will post them on this page and you can choose one that you would like to support with your donation. Example projects are:

Solar Panels – a basic solar panel kit, providing a house with enough energy for all of their basic needs, can be purchased for less than $500. The quality of life is immediately improved.

Sun Ovens – using the sun as energy to cook, thereby eliminating the need for expensive propane and natural wood, a depleting resource in many areas. The ovens cost less than $200 each.

Portable Farms – an Aquaponics System self-contained unit that can grow 3,600 vegetables and 1,400 pounds of fish in a year.

Sun-heated Water Tanks – simple, but effective way to produce hot water year-round at no cost.

School Construction and Teacher’s Salary– many young villagers have to quit their education because there is not a school nearby.