Why We're Different


  • Worldfund is a targeted pan-regional platform that finances and facilitates proven education initiatives that transform lives
  • Worldfund builds alliances to expand proven education models throughout Latin America
  • Worldfund partner schools and after-school academic programs provide impoverished students with the competitive skills necessary for academic and professional success
  • Worldfund programs target gifted youth, teachers and principals, who can have a significant impact on their  communities 
  • The level of coursework is significantly higher in the schools and programs that Worldfund supports
  • Worldfund operates with a private sector-mindset formed by its staff and board’s extensive corporate work experience

 

Francisco Rivera

 

Francisco grew up in a poor neighborhood located two hours outside of Mexico City. From the time that he was very young, his father who is a brick layer and his mother who was functionally illiterate made his education one of their top priorities.

In fact, Francisco’s mother arrived at 5:00am on the school’s application day to obtain admission for him. He was accepted and excelled in his classes and activities. His mother also benefited from his enrollment by learning to read in one of the school’s programs for parents.

Sadly, Francisco’s mother died during childbirth when he was 11 years old. Francisco’s ensuing devastation manifested itself in his markedly poorer performance and behavior in the classroom. The school’s principal arranged for him to receive counseling, and his teachers supported and encouraged him until he graduated first in his class in 2005.

Today, Francisco is studying engineering on a full scholarship for academic excellence at Anahuac University in Mexico City. His daily four-hour commute on buses does not deter him from pursuing his dreams. In this photo, he is speaking to 400 guests at Worldfund’s 2006 gala dinner at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City. He concluded his speech by saying, “I know I will have all of the opportunities to succeed in life that my mother dreamed for me. I also know that I will be a successful engineer and help support my family and honor my mother’s memory.”