An Inspiring Story and a Great Cause – a School for Children and Young Adults with Special Needs. ABC Has Been a Major Sponsor for Ten Years, and Continues to Be

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Twenty Years in the Making

Other than the original land gift from the City of Tijuana, the school relies most heavily upon the generosity of benefactors – and there are some eighteen companies in the Tijuana area that contribute; but ABC and the Kuri family have taken an especial interest over many years, and this includes a very substantial annual endowment to the school, as well as individual scholarships.

Over twenty years ago, back in the early nineties, an idea was born, and it was a really great idea – to establish a very special resource and school, where children born with developmental difficulties, recognized by the medical profession as autism, would have a sanctuary, and an environment of specialized attention, love and kindness, and education; thus enabling children and students the opportunity to develop their capabilities to the fullest extent.

Today, the essence of that idea and vision has been significantly realized; several acres of land within the vicinity of the beaches of Tijuana, and with magnificent views of the mountains and surrounding terrain, have been built upon.

Step-by-step, year-by-year, facilities have been added, with each contribution and addition forming what is today a campus, and a welcoming and vibrant facility that benefits children and young adults as full-time students, each attending classes according to their age.

The school is managed by the President, Sebastian Lanz Paredes, an experienced Engineer by profession, who has done much to design and oversee every element of its planning and construction, along with the essentials of managing many aspects of the school’s growth, including finance, administration and fund raising; and the Academic Coordinator, a Professor of Psychology, Lizeth Osuna Jaime, responsible for all the various special educational programs, and each individual child’s/student’s needs and development, and who has also been involved in many of the day-to-day decisions to create the success that the school has become.

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With specialist educators and dedicated helpers on the staff, and with class sizes set at a ratio of one teacher to every seven or eight students, each young person attending the school has very close and individual attention.

This school caters to the full spectrum of autism, and the children/students have special needs that vary, and each is carefully assessed and accommodated – the objective is to facilitate learning and independence, the development of special talents, and ultimately, to provide the fullest life opportunity possible.

Behind each child is a loving family, each mother and father appreciating the fact that the school exists at all, and that every day the devoted staff give all their skills and attention to help their son or daughter.

And the school continues to think about the future. At the time of writing, the next phase of development is the construction of a ‘Village’, an Annex of three buildings, serving as Halls of Residence, the first of which is complete – each to house eight adults with special needs for two months at a time, so up to 48 a year in each building, the objective of which is to teach advanced life skills, and in particular, employment skills – the Workshop Facility is close to completion, an important part of this campus addition.

This Village Annex is the cornerstone for facilitating the important objective of advancing young adults who have grown up with autism and still suffer, yet have so much to offer, and to enjoy from life, with the appropriate guidance and training; and it is a FIRST within the whole of Mexico – a flagship and pioneering venture.

In addition, the school, and all its resources, are used seven days a week; at the weekends, there are staff available to enable the parents of other children a ‘breather weekend’, allowing an opportunity for a break from the day-to-day routine of caring at home.

Wadih Kuri, President and CEO, speaking on behalf of ABC Aluminum and ABC Architectural, and the Kuri family, and friends of the Kuri family, explained it this way “this venture and this school touches the heart, and we are very, very pleased to have been able to significantly contribute and support, and to participate in such a great cause. We have taken a great interest for over ten years now, to ensure that this remarkable school, and all the staff and children are secure, and have the best possible future.

In addition to the Village complex, with the first Hall of Residence completed, and the adjoining Workshop Facility nearing completion, there are so many other ideas for benefiting the school and the fine young people attending, all of whom appreciate every day that they spend in this caring environment.

Just one of these is the establishment of a web site to feature the school, and permit those interested in this great cause, to add their contribution if they would like to. When online, details will be announced.

Others include the addition of a library, resources for learning a musical instrument, apparatus for games and sports, and materials to promote the arts, along with features to develop other special interests – because history has shown us that many young people with autism are born with compensating unique and advanced abilities and talents, and we want to maximize the possibility of allowing these to be discovered and to flourish.

What has been achieved already is an outstanding success; and our commitment will continue into the future, to help with gradually adding these and further enhancements, and continue the growth of the school so that it achieves even greater heights of accomplishment.

The children and students, and their parents, so appreciate the hard work of all the staff, who make a difference every day to their lives, and the possibilities for their futures. All the management, teachers, children and students are wonderful, and are deserving of the greatest praise, and we are privileged to be a part of this special family that the school and all those involved represent.

Thank you all

Here are some photographs…click on a photograph to enlarge

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CHILDREN IN CLASSES – BY AGE GROUP

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FULLY EQUIPPED APARTMENT – TO TEACH SKILLS ABOUT EVERYDAY LIVING; HOW TO COOK, MAKE A BED, VACUUM AND CLEAN, WASH CLOTHES AND IRON ETC.

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SCHOOL CAMPUS BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

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COMPUTER LAB TO TRAIN I.T. AND AUDIO VISUAL SKILLS

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THE “VILLAGE”: SHOWING RESIDENCE HALL ONE – OF THREE IN THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN -, THE WORKSHOP UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND OUTSIDE SEATING AREAS AND INITIAL LANDSCAPING.

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A VIEW FROM THE SCHOOL AND THE VILLAGE

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MARY COOKS LUNCHES AND OTHER MEALS, AND PROVIDES REFRESHMENTS AND TREATS FOR THE CHILDREN/STUDENTS FROM THE MODEST KITCHEN ANNEX – TO BE UPGRADED.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”3036″ img_size=”large” column_number=”0″ grayscale=”no” images_space=”gallery_without_space”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]For more information about the school, please contact Tim Evans on 858 380 7364.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Die Cast is more than just Molten Aluminum