Our Affiliated Site: The Baca Dlo’ay azhi Community School in
Prewitt, New Mexico

 

facts about the Baca Dlo’ay azhi Community School:

  • Grades Served: Headstart – 6th grade
  • Enrollment: 198 students
  • School Facility: Although nearly 20 years old, the school still appears new and modern, with a gymnasium, cafeteria and three playgrounds.
  • Nutrition: The school serves three nutritious meals each day.
  • Faculty: 16 teachers and 30 staff members
  • Education: Curriculum parallels the New Mexico state education standards. In addition to core academic subjects, the Navajo language, history and culture are taught as well.
  • Medical Attention: Students’ health is closely monitored, and medical care is provided as needed.
  • Basic Needs: As with all of our affiliated sites, our volunteer coordinator determines the individual needs of each sponsored child, and those basic needs are provided to them on a regular basis. Items include but are not limited to clothing, shoes, food, bedding for the home, hygiene items, medications, eyeglasses, and school supplies — all which help them overcome the barriers they face coming from impoverished households.

Prewitt, New Mexico is located on Interstate 40, west of Albuquerque and east of Thoreau. The town itself is a very small community of only 1,500 residents, is extremely remote and rural, and lacks many vital shops such as a local gas station or grocery store, making it a “food desert,” an area in which residents cannot access healthy, nutritious fruits and vegetables. The closest town with any real amenities is Grants, New Mexico, which is 20 miles away, making it incredibly difficult for families living in poverty who lack transportation to acquire important resources. With a population that is 79.6% Native American with a median household income around $33,000 a year, 30.1% of the population is living in poverty, and the county has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the state.

For these reasons, the Baca Dlo’ay azhi Community School serves as a beacon of hope for children in need. All of the students at the school are Native American and all receive government funded free or reduced lunch. Thanks to the support of their sponsors, Children Incorporated sponsored children are provided with the essentials they need to receive an education – the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, so that the children may rise above the difficult circumstances they face.