"Raising children out of poverty through housing, infrastructure, and education to provide a chance at a better life through learned skills and career opportunities."
This is more than a building. It’s a bridge to opportunity. Help us build it.
Sisters of Mary World Villages for Children, Girlstown, Chalco, Mexico
Little Way Children's Foundation is constructing a fully accredited Technical Nursing School in Chalco, Mexico, for the benefit of the Sisters of Mary World Villages for Children at the Villa de las Ninas Girlstown School helping girls from the poorest regions of Mexico. Many would not otherwise have access to higher education or a path out of poverty.
More than 3,200 girls from some of the most impoverished communities in Mexico are given a rare opportunity to attend an all-girls full-time residential education and care program in Chalco. Many come from families who survive by selling goods on the streets or scavenging landfills. These girls face serious risks, including gang violence, domestic abuse, human trafficking, and the drug trade.
They often lack access to nutritious food and basic health care, and they are at high risk of disease, malnutrition, and violence. Their mortality rates are significantly higher than the national average.
This opportunity for a better life is made possible through a foundation established by the Venerable Fr. Aloysius Schwartz and the Sisters of Mary World Villages for Children, Girlstown, Chalco, Mexico. The Sisters travel in pairs to remote and underserved areas to identify girls in the most desperate situations and invite them to attend Villas de las Niñas, a tuition-free boarding school.
The school provides housing, nutrition, health care, mental health services, religious formation, and a full academic curriculum. Students study language, chemistry, physics, calculus, computer science, and the arts. They graduate with a high school equivalency and vocational training in trades such as accounting, culinary arts, electronics, and fashion.
Students also participate in soccer, field hockey, taekwondo, basketball, dance, and other sports, often earning national recognition. Many graduates receive scholarships and go on to earn university degrees in fields such as engineering.
Our visits to the school have shown us there is a strong interest in nursing and dental services among students. Currently, there is no academic or vocational path available for them to pursue that interest. Building a nursing school along with a dental services program on the campus is our next step.
Help us meet this need. Your gift today supports a dedicated nursing facility that will prepare students for meaningful careers in health care and dental services.
The students at Chalco represent some of the most vulnerable children in Mexico and around the world. The school offers a proven approach to identifying children in greatest need and supporting them with long-term educational and emotional care.
The school accepts only one child per family, allowing it to serve as many households as possible. In turn, graduates often return to support their families and communities, extending the impact of their education.
The school’s program is led by the Sisters of Banneux, who serve as caregivers and mentors. They work alongside skilled teachers, doctors, therapists, and coaches.
By building on this existing infrastructure, projects funded by LWCF maximize impact. Funds raised go directly to the nursing school’s development, not to duplicating systems that already work.
Donations to this project are used efficiently and effectively, thanks to a strong foundation already in place. Every dollar helps build the school and staff its classrooms.
The nursing school will open a new path for young women to pursue stable, respected careers in a field where there is high demand. It will also contribute to improved health outcomes in underserved areas.
Support for this project will have long-term benefits. Graduates will enter the workforce with practical skills and the opportunity to pursue additional training in Mexico, the United States, and other countries.
Since January 2025, LWCF has worked with the Sisters of Banneux to identify needs and draft design documents for a 30,000-square-foot, three-story nursing school.
LWCF has launched a campaign to raise US$4 million to fund construction.
We developed and published bid documents, assisted with contractor review and selection, and contributed to construction contract development.
Construction is scheduled to begin May 15, 2025, and finish by Dec. 15, 2025. LWCF will provide an on-site construction manager to coordinate with the contractor and the Sisters during the project.
After construction, we will help commission the new nursing school including building systems, labs, and simulation spaces to make sure they are operational. This includes preparing classrooms, equipping skills labs, setting up technology and faculty spaces, and regulatory and safety compliance so the facility is ready for students
Join us in providing a life-changing education. Your support will help create a professional path for the next generation of nurses and dental professionals.
To speak with a donor advisor about making your gift, email:
kristin.smith@littlewayfoundation.com
