Established in 2017, American English Tree Institute is a language learning school based in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The school teaches English to Mexicans and Spanish to English speakers both in-person and online. Students range in age from 3 years old to adults. One goal of our business is to give back to the community. We have a scholarship program in which we offer free English language lessons to disadvantaged students in and around our area. These are called “beca” students (beca means scholarship in Spanish). How it works is that for each Spanish student enrolled in classes, we sponsor a Mexican student, giving them free English language lessons. Changing lives with education is our mission. We are excited to be partnering with students in the United States who will speak English with our “beca” children on a weekly basis to aid in their English language skills.

The Vallarta Abuelos are a group of Mexicans and expats in Puerto Vallarta who create and support educational and cultural projects for at-risk children. Most of these low-income kids live with a grandmother or a single working mom. Selected children are sponsored by an expat ‘abuelo’ or ‘abuela’ who meets special needs and covers educational expenses. Currently, twelve outstanding teens participate in a year-long scholarship program that develops leadership and job skills. Our ‘Safe House’ offers a safe alternative for the streets, where children can study, play, eat, watch tv, and hang out.

Transformación Ballet (registered as a 501c3 in the U.S. under Transformation Ballet Inc.) views ballet as a tool to reach out to the community. We strive to grow children’s self-worth and determination through the art of ballet. We offer ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop, afrobeats, and rhythmic gymnastics to children of all socioeconomic backgrounds, including two local orphanages, on Lake Atitlán in Sololá, Guatemala. We challenge and motivate our students on an individual level while teaching them how to create and attain goals in a healthy, supportive environment. As ballet is not prevalent in this area and not widespread across the country or Latin America, we are able to share this particular art form with children underrepresented and unreached in the dance world.

Aside from in-studio dance classes, we also provide community outreach events, academic support through our scholarship program, workshops on faith and health, cultural experiences through our penpal program and field trips. We also travel to give group dance classes to children living in children’s homes. Aside from classes at the children’s home/orphanage, we also provide the opportunity for students to integrate and join the in-studio dance program.