This is Juanita.

Juanita wasn't planning on going to high school, Escalera's scholarship paid for her school fees and now dreams of going to university. Since 1998, Escalera has believed that school changes lives and has made it our mission to motivate students to go to high school.

Our Mission

Escalera's mission is to creating educational opportunities for indigenous youth in Chiapas.

Our Vision

We envision a world where indigenous youth have the opportunity to take the next step to a better life. Through partnering with schools and communities, Escalera affirms the dignity and potential of these youth by supporting them as they access high school and develop skills to build a better life for themselves and their families.

Our Progress So Far

69,000

Students from Chiapas have received a high school scholarship from Escalera

3,000

Youths developing technical and social skills for entrepreneurship

193

Classrooms built across Chiapas

33,750

Young women supported on their access and quality education.

Our Students

Here are a few success stories of ours.

Our History

It all started in 1997 when Jan and Bryson Garbett, Escalera’s founders, had planned a trip to Disney World. They were ready for their Florida vacation when they heard about a service trip to help students in Mexico. After asking their eight children what they wanted to do, they chose to cancel their trip to see Mickey and his friends.

Since then, Escalera’s work in Chiapas has evolved from working primarily in the Los Altos region to around the state. Our programs have changed based on the knowledge and experience we’ve gained over 20 years in the state. Year after year, we continue to seek new ways to motivate students to stay in school and follow their dreams.