Quesería Migrant Camp


Quesería is located on the slope of the Colima Volcano. The surrounding hills, composed of ancient volcanic soils, provide ideal conditions for growing sugar cane. A large sugar refinery is located in the town of Quesería.


Who lives in Quesería?

The men who cut the sugar cane that feeds the refinery are indigenous to the state of Guerrero to the south. They are recruited by and work for several different labor contractors. The contractors provide housing for the families of the cane cutters in barracks at the Quesería migrant labor camp. The housing consists of one concrete room per family, with an attached lean-to for a kitchen. The women usually cook on wood fires. The families speak either Nahuatl or Zapoteca (their native languages) among themselves. Their children must learn Spanish before being able to attend public school.

Project Amigo’s children's services are designed to encourage them to stay in school to improve their futures and help them break out of the cycle of poverty that has trapped their families for generations.


Educational Programs

Project Amigo built a two-room school in the Quesería migrant labor camp for kindergarten through the 6th grade students. In addition, Project Amigo operates a reading program to introduce the children to the wonderful world of fun books. A weekly Homework Club provides tutoring and mentoring to school children, and a scholarship program helps promising students attend junior high and high school.


Medical and Dental Care

Medical and Dental Care consists of dental, vision, and hearing screening and treatment not otherwise available to the children.


Special Centennial Project

When we asked the Quesería migrant labor camp kindergarten teacher how we could help improve sanitary conditions at the camp she replied, "Build me a bathroom at the school so I can teach the children how to use a toilet, wash their hands, and keep the bathroom clean." Start with the kids! Vermilion (Alberta) Rotarian Joe Schrijvers headed a fund raising effort in his district, and additional funds came from Jay and Tina Lamb of Eugene, OR. The Rotary Clubs of Terra Linda, Novato, Tiburon and Centerville-Utah added significant contributions, and the Centennial Project to build a bathroom for the school children was under way. Ground-breaking and construction began with Eugene Southtowne Rotary's work week participants the end of February. Plumbing, electrical, and painting projects were completed by members of the March work week team (including members of Terra Linda, Novato, Tiburon and Cedar Rapids Daybreak Rotary Clubs and individual volunteers from Redmond, WA) completed the bathroom.


How You Can Help the Children at Quesería?

Sponsoring a child at Quesería

If you would like to have a personal relationship with one or more of the children living in the Quesería migrant labor camp, you can become a Project Amigo Sponsor for a minimum donation of $95 US per child per year. We will send you photos and translate letters back and forth between you and your child. Click donate and select Child Sponsorship.

Volunteer Opportunities

Each year volunteers come to Colima to work on Project Amigo projects, play with the children, visit with Mexican Rotarians, and learn more about the people and culture of western Mexico.