SAN DIEGO. – The Institute of Mexican Nationals Living Abroad (IME in Spanish) launched a national fundraising campaign aimed at collecting scholarship funds through donations made by text messages (SMS) today.
The initiative belongs to the IME scholarships program launched by the Mexican government and will span the next 3 months during which any mobile phone user will be able to donate either $5 or $10 USD through a text message.
Mexico's Consul General in San Diego, Remedios Gómez Arnau, accompanied by representatives of educational institutions and students favored by the program, invited the community to join the "Por una Vida Mejor" fundraising campaign ("For a better life") that helps college students and adult education programs.
Since its beginning in 2005, IME scholarships have gone to more than 30,000 Mexican nationals living in the United States helping them get a higher education. Locally, 14 educational institutions have received $300,000USD in donations which have assisted over a thousand students.
One of those students is Maritza Rodríguez, a Distrito Federal native who is currently working on getting her bachelor's degree in International Business as well as taking Italian classes in the USD.
To receive economic funding from the government she complied with a series of requirements, one of which was writing an essay where she expressed the love she has for her heritage now that she lives immersed in a different culture.
Rodríguez said that the financial support received plus an additional scholarship she got from the school helped her achieve her dream of studying the career she desired and that, in the future, she would like to work for the Embassy or a Mexican Consulate.
Regarding the issue, Consul Remedios Gómez emphasized that the initiative hopes to consolidate the education of Mexican citizens living outside of their country so they can have better opportunities in their future.
She explained that, starting on Tuesday, any person who wishes to help can do so by sending a text message from a mobile phone with a service provider from the United States. They should text "BECAS" to 20222 to donate $5 dollars and "ESTUDIA" to donate $10 dollars.
The diplomatic official explained that, in addition to what the campaign collects, the government will donate $10,000,000 Mexican pesos to be distributed throughout the United States.
On her part, Guadalupe Corona, representative of Alliance University, applauded the effort made by the Mexican Government to support their compatriots; she considers that "lack of money should not be a factor" for young people to not fulfill their dreams.
"The only reason why students don't want to go to College is lack of money, that shouldn't be a concern".
Donations made by mobile phones will be collected by the Mobile Giving Foundation and they will be channeled by the Hispanics Scholastic Funds Consortium, said consular authorities.
When the 3-month-long campaign ends, the amount of money collected will be made public in a transparent manner as well as which organizations will be receiving funds.
Students who wish to apply to receive financial help can do so through the schools themselves. They can call to 1-877-639-4835 to know which universities are involved.
Original Text: Alexandra.Mendoza@sandiegored.com
Traducción: Karen.balderas@sandiegored.com
