Top School in Mexico! 

Our hope and prayer is that through education the students of El Vaquero will rise out of poverty and return to help others in their community as you have helped them. They are taught outstanding teachers who could teach elsewhere for more money but feel they are “called to teach where the need is the greatest.” And teach they do with love and discipline this school has scored #1 in their state in academics for over 10 years in a row and twice they have been 1st in the entire country of Mexico out of over 33,000 schools!

Where is El Vaquero?

Main Events

2023, Covered Area by Community Center

2022, WELL REPAIR

Rusted water suction pipe shuts down the only well in the area, called the Mendoza well. Build a Dream with financial assistance from the Carpentersville, Illinois Rotary Club, provides the funding for new pipe to get the well up and running again.

2021, PATRoNato

A patronato is like a board of directors. These good people representing all of the local areas we serve, are our eyes and ears to the communities, students and their families. They also purchase and deliver the monthly food packages for those most in need.

2020  FOOD DELIVERIES

As the world suffers from the Coronavirus Pandemic, we begin delivering meals and supplies to the neediest.

2019, Students build sidewalk

2019, water harvesting tankS

Additional water harvesting tanks are built at homes, funded by Carpentersville, IL Rotary Club. Roof water is collected to provide drinking water to the family.

2018, growING vegetables in the dessert. 

Jesica, one of our college students, teaches local families how to grow vegetables in the dessert. They build a screen enclosure to reduce the intensity of the sun and use a drip irrigation system. Richer soil is brought down from the surrounding mountains.

Jesica with our translator and vice-president Luna

2018, Water Harvesting Tank

Students build 1st Water Harvesting Tank, as an experiment, next to Community Center to collect drinking water from roof.

2017, Community Center IMPROVEMENTS

New fence and gate are installed to protect Lenny’s community center from ranging animals.

2016, Community Center

Community Center built in memory of Lenny Thennes whose son Jack is a dedicated friend of Build a Dream

2016, BREAKFAST IS SERVED

Immediately upon learning that children were arriving at school hungry, vice-president & translator, Luna, initiated our breakfast program to provide a nutritious hot meal every day at school.

2015, first college graduate

Delia has the honor of being our first college graduate, #1 in her class. She is now a teacher.

2014, FIRST HIGH SCHOOL

The first ever high school in the area, called “Las Americas”, is started, co-located with the middle school.

2013, Home repairs

Part of every visit is to see the homes most in need of repair. For $300 they can replace roofs or install much needed windows and doors.

2012, NEW Roof

A new roof is installed over outdoor assembly area.

2011, 501 (c) (3) Certification.

2011, Water AT school

Water pipe is brought to school for first time and celebration when the cistern is filled.

2010, Christmas show

Students earn 1st place in annual Christmas show!

2009, Desperate need for water.

2008, Emiliano Zapata Middle School

This was our first visit to Emiliano Zapata middle school in El Vaquero, Mexico. This was the first middle school in the area providing students the opportunity to continue their education beyond the 6th grade.

2004 to 2005, Claudia's home

In 2004 we made our first visit to Matehuala, Mexico, to complete this home for Claudia and her family. Prior to our arrival, her home had no windows, no doors, no floors or roof. We hired a local crew to add a second floor while we completed the first floor.