September’s Give Back Goes to Sayulita’s Elementary School

This month, Sayulita Life Gives Back is turning its attention to the heart of our community’s future: the children of Primaria Damián Carmona, Sayulita’s public elementary school. With nearly 500 students walking through its gates every day, this school plays an enormous role in shaping the next generation of Sayulita — and right now, it needs our help.

A School Serving Nearly 500 Kids

Primaria Damián Carmona currently has 498 students enrolled, from 1st through 6th grade. It’s one of the largest campuses in the area, and while the school has made real improvements over the years, government funding simply doesn’t stretch far enough to maintain a space this size — let alone build the kind of facilities that make a real difference for students and teachers alike.

Where the Funds Will Go

According to Miguel Valenzuela, President of the school’s Parent Committee, donations will go toward a wide range of general maintenance and infrastructure needs, including:

• General school maintenance and repairs
• Fixing sidewalks, walkways, and garden areas
• Wall and lunchroom bench repairs
• Replacing broken fans throughout classrooms
• Building a teacher’s residence on campus
• Installing play equipment for kids of all ages
• Rehabilitating the soccer and volleyball courts
• Adding protective mesh fencing around the school perimeter to prevent break-ins
• Creating a school garden and small plant nursery

Why the Teacher’s House Matters

One of the most pressing priorities is the construction of on-campus housing for teachers. When the government assigns teachers to schools across the region, many decline placements in towns like Sayulita — the cost of local rent makes it financially difficult, and some teachers who do come end up leaving because their salary doesn’t cover the cost of living here. As a result, the school is almost always short at least one or two teachers.

By building proper housing on campus, the school hopes to make Sayulita a place where teachers want to stay — which means more consistency and stability for the students.

Safety and Growth for the Kids

During a recent visit to the school, the team got a firsthand look at some of the other priorities on the list. Proper guardrails around the play areas are needed to keep kids safe during recess and prevent accidents. The school also hopes to build a garden space where students can learn hands-on lessons about plants, growing food, and caring for the environment — a simple addition that can have a lasting impact on how kids connect with nature.

The Impact

“La escuela dará un giro,” says Valenzuela — the school will turn a corner. Once these improvements are complete, students will have more reasons to look forward to school each day, and teachers will be able to work more comfortably, with more reason to stay committed to teaching Sayulita’s children long-term.

The Goal

The Parent Committee has set a fundraising goal of $600,000 pesos. So far, $45,000 pesos has been raised — including Sayulita Life’s contribution and funds gathered by the parent committee. There’s no strict deadline, but the goal is to begin construction before rainy season arrives, so the work can move forward without delay.

How You Can Help

Donations can be made directly through the school’s Parent Committee, by bank transfer or in-person deposit. If you’d like to contribute, you can reach out to Miguel Valenzuela, President of the Parent Committee, to coordinate.

Every peso helps bring these improvements closer to reality for the 498 kids who call Primaria Damián Carmona home for six years of their lives.

Sayulita Life Gives Back is a monthly initiative supporting local organizations that make a difference in our community. Follow along in El Sayulero and on our social channels to see where next month’s donation goes.