About Us

Our Purpose

Project Amigo Canada Society helps lift youth out of poverty through education. We focus on supporting the youth of lower-income families in Suchitlan, Colima, Mexico.

Without support, these youth would have difficulty achieving even a basic, education.

We ensure they have access to a continuous education from elementary to technical school or university levels and the ability to achieve their highest potential.

Our History

Project Amigo Canada Society was first registered as a Canadian Society through the Alberta Societies Act on September 17th, 2009.

Today’s Board of Directors has fiduciary oversight of the Project in Suchitlan, and individual members of the Board contribute time, talent, resources and fund raise to support these children living in poverty and provide them with the opportunity for an education and much needed social assistance.

Project Amigo History

Project Amigo has existed since 1984 and is committed to transforming lives through education, the only sustainable way to break the cycle of poverty that many families have been in for generations.

During a vacation in Mexico, Founder Ted Rose enjoyed an ‘accidental’ visit to the village of Cofradia in Colima, Mexico when taking a wrong bus after seeing the volcano. He talked with the children in the village and seeing a child’s home, turned out to be a life-changing event. He and his wife Susan Hill sold their office equipment business in Eureka, California and moved to Colima, Mexico devoting all of their time to help disadvantaged children learn skills and develop visions to improve their chances for a better future.

The annual Christmas Fiestas began with 45 children. Today more than 350 children benefit annually.

The visitor programs began in 1986 and every year since then, volunteers come to assist with many programs.

The first scholarships helping with school fees, uniforms and books to graduating primary school students started in 1996 with seven students in 6th and 7th grades.

In 2002, a few high school graduates expressed their desire to continue on to college. The first college scholarships were given that year, and since then, many students have graduated with University degrees. Over the years, accommodation has been available for those attending post-secondary education giving them the opportunity to live during the week at Casa Amiga, near the University of Colima and Technical Schools.

Implementing ideas and expertise of staff and volunteers, service-oriented Rotarians and others have been invited to visit Project Amigo in Mexico on humanitarian volunteer service weeks. Project Amigo has continued to grow with the creation of weekly "homework clubs" offering tutoring, counseling, emotional support, and distribution of scholarship funds. A school was established for children of migrant sugar cane workers at the Simon Bolivar labor camp in Queseria.

Ted and Susan have retired, and Project Amigo is led by a talented, dynamic group of staff members. The program has been sustainable since the beginning and continues to grow and evolve. Their legacy truly lives on.

The program has proven to help end poverty through education. Graduates have been able to improve their lives in many ways; build better houses for themselves and their families, raise their children with more opportunities, put their siblings through university, and give back to Project Amigo by sponsoring and supporting other students.