Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – In the heart of Volcanes, one of the poorer colonias of Puerto Vallarta, an after-school program provides opportunities for its children – the Volcanes Kids Education Program. This initiative has been instrumental in shaping the lives of countless students, offering them a pathway to a brighter future through education.
Meet Diana Lopez: A Passionate Teacher Dedicated to the Volcanes Community
Diana Lopez is one of the incredible English teachers at the Volcanes Kids Education Program (VKEP). Her journey to teaching in Volcanes is a story of resilience, passion, and a profound commitment to the community. At just 17, Diana took a bold step and moved to the United States as an au pair, where she embraced new challenges and the opportunity to study. Her hard work and determination led her to earn an ESL teaching degree, igniting her path in education.
Diana joined VKEP two years ago, bringing with her a unique set of skills and an unwavering positive attitude. Her enthusiasm for teaching and her students’ well-being quickly made her a beloved figure in our classrooms. She doesn’t just teach; Diana constantly goes above and beyond, helping solve any problem that arises, and putting her heart into supporting each student. Her love for her work shines through in everything she does, making a genuine difference in the lives of the young people she teaches.
One of the most beautiful parts of Diana’s story is her recent decision to move to Volcanes to be closer to the community she serves. Her choice to live among the families of her students speaks volumes about her dedication. She is deeply committed to understanding their lives, challenges, and dreams, becoming a valued neighbor and friend to many. Her bond with her students has only deepened since she brought her first child, Hunter Steven, into the world five months ago.
Every day, Diana brings Hunter to school, and their presence brings warmth and joy to everyone. Balancing motherhood and teaching is no small feat, but Diana embraces it with grace, grateful for the opportunity to share her work and her life with her students. Her caring nature, coupled with her commitment to teaching, makes her an inspiration to all who know her.
We are incredibly lucky to have Diana Lopez as part of the Volcanes family. Her journey, resilience, and dedication are inspiring, and her love for the community is evident in everything she does. Diana’s story reminds us all of the impact that one passionate teacher can have on a community. Thank you, Diana, for your commitment, kindness, and the countless ways you make Volcanes a better place every day.
Every single teacher in the Volcanes Kids Education Program (VKEP) is nothing short of remarkable. These educators are the heartbeat of our program—they inspire our students to come to school, stay in school, and dream big. Our teachers don’t just teach; they nurture aspirations, foster resilience, and shape futures.
Aranza is the perfect example, her journey with the Volcanes Kids Education Program (VKEP) began four years ago. When Aranza joined us, she faced challenges due to a learning disability and a speech impediment. Fortunately, our teachers and VKEP’s nurturing environment offered her the support she needed to thrive.
Aranza’s progress has been nothing short of inspiring. She began with a GPA of 6.4, but thanks to the encouragement and dedication of our teachers, she graduated from 6th grade with an impressive GPA of 9.0. Today, Aranza radiates confidence. While she still has a slight speech impediment, it no longer holds her back or causes her any embarrassment.
A true go-getter, Aranza is now an active member of the Volcanes Band, where she plays the trumpet. She has big dreams, too her goal is to become a lawyer someday.
We have countless stories of how our teachers have transformed students’ lives. Just one teacher in our program has the potential to change 100 lives at a time.
Without this dedicated team, VKEP simply wouldn’t exist.
Our teachers are the most valuable resource we have, and they need your support to continue their vital work. By supporting Volcanes Kids Education Program, you’re not just helping a program – you’re empowering the very people who make it all possible. Please join us in investing in the future by investing in our teachers.
“This program definitely changes people’s lives. Working here has been such a joy. The way we treat the kids here you can’t see it in any other place. We take care of them, we care about their needs, their families, their safety among other things. VKEP has been one of the best places I’ve worked in. And I’m so thankful for being part of such an amazing team. I’m glad I had the chance to do what I love the most which is teaching a second language that will help the kids in the future.” – Miss Diana
ABOUT VKEP
Volcanes Kids Education Program is an after-school program that centers on education in the community of Volcanes. We provide English, computer, music (35-member orchestra), and Spanish basic reading-writing skills, as well as, basic math, for over 400 students. We have a scholarship program with 100 students enrolled, and 20 who have graduated from university, four of them working in our program, six of them helping in other capacities.
We also have a variety of clubs with different interests led by volunteers from the community, such as Book Club, Cooking Club, Arts and Crafts Club, Butterfly Club, and Sports Club. We also provide adult education through INEA (GED) for students who for some reason did not finish their primary and junior high school.
If you want to know more about our programs, or how you can help, please contact us at mayrafumerton.vkep(at)gmail.com, or visit volcanesproject.com.
