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.