Fundación Alberto Baillères

Alberto Baillères Foundation and Grupo Bal promote reconstruction of schools

Following the earthquakes of September 2017, 10 states registered damage to education facilities; the State of Mexico registered nearly 30% of all schools that suffered total damage.

Primaria Amado Nervo (Primary School) and Preparatoria 94 (Upper Secondary School), located in the municipality of Ecatepec, were the institutions selected to undergo complete rebuilding.

More than 1,800 students will benefit from the reconstruction project.

The total investment for the reconstruction of the two educational facilities will be provided by the Alberto Baillères Foundation; following reconstruction, the schools will be a boost to the Ecatepec community.

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September 11, Mexico City: According to official government data, the earthquakes of September 7 and 19, 2017 damaged thousands of residential and service buildings. The country’s school infrastructure was one of the hardest-hit sectors: a total of 16,136 educational facilities were registered as damaged across 10 states, 276 of which suffered total damage. Although Mexico City was the most severely affected state, the State of Mexico reported around 30% of all schools that sustained total damage.

In the context of, the Foundation and Grupo Bal asserted their commitment to supporting the reconstruction of public schools in order to contribute to the strengthening of the affected education communities and the reincorporation of children and young people into the classroom dynamic. The school reconstruction project has entailed an extensive and in-depth 10-month process of evaluation, documentation, and official authorization, the result of which is an innovative architectural proposal in line with the quality requirements needed to face the challenges of the 21^st century.

Within the framework of the first anniversary of the September 2017 earthquakes, a formal event was held at which the Alberto Baillères Foundation and Grupo Bal reaffirmed their commitment to reconstruction, both with representatives of municipal and state authorities of the State of Mexico and representatives of the education centers to be benefitted: Primaria Amado Nervo (Primary School) and Preparatoria Oficial 94 (Upper Secondary School), in the municipality of Ecatepec.

The event, held at 6:30 p.m. on September 6 at the headquarters of Grupo Bal, was presided over by Alberto Baillères, President of the business group, with the participation of Alfredo Del Mazo Maza, Governor of the State of Mexico; Alejandro Fernández Campillo, state Education Secretary; and Indalecio Ríos Velázquez, Mayor of Ecatepec de Morelos, as well as various education sector representatives, including Ramiro Montoya Espinoza, Laura Mozo Citlalpa, and Orlando Grada García, principals of the schools benefitted.

“The reconstruction project is guided by the firm commitment and recognition that Mexico and its inhabitants are models of resilience and, above all, of blazing hearts able to overcome any obstacle out of love for our families, our community, and our beloved country,” said Alberto Baillères, President of Grupo Bal.

All resources needed for the complete reconstruction of the two education facilities will be entirely provided by the Alberto Baillères Foundation. The installations will be donated free of charge and the facilities will continue to function as public schools managed by the state education authority. Speaking on the topic, Dr. Rosa Isela Gluyas, Director of the Alberto Baillères Foundation, said that “Mr. Alberto Baillères and his tireless commitment to Mexico and its development has oriented his social arm toward creating projects whose sole purpose is to support our education communities through the essential driving force that is education.”

About the Alberto Baillères Foundation

The Alberto Baillères Foundation believes that education is a powerful instrument that offers Mexico’s children and young people access to improved opportunities for well-being and personal development. For this reason, the Foundation proposes to develop education initiatives with a positive impact on development in Mexico and on meeting Mexican children’s and young people’s formative and educational needs.