Little Things Matter Foundation
Creating Pathways out of Poverty
Fast Facts
Mexico
Phil Jonckheer
2026
Education
How Little Things Matter Foundation Is Making a Difference
Little Things Matter Foundation provides education through The Learning Center in rural Mexico. Their Elevate Learning program addresses rural populations facing educational and economic barriers, with the goal of building long-term community resilience. The model seeks to strengthen academic achievement, build employable skills, and expand economic opportunity, thereby increasing household stability. The program focuses on four levels of age-specific learning – early childhood education for preschoolers, primary education for children, vocational skills for youth, and financial literacy and skills for mothers.
Work of Little Things Matter Foundation
- Addresses the barriers that contribute to poverty in rural communities.
- Provides an integrated solution specifically tailored to four levels of household members, each with distinct needs.
- Employs techniques including the train-the-trainer model, where teens support younger students while developing leadership and job skills; cooperative workforce training for women; and ongoing alumni mentorship and vocational partnerships.
- Uses benchmarks to assess progress in each segment of the program.
- Plans to scale the program, if proven successful, to improve economic conditions in other underserved rural communities in Mexico.
Initiatives Supported by Project Redwood
2026: $30,000 to fund curriculum development, teacher recruitment, salaries for teachers, professional STEAM instructors, and workforce trainers, along with the purchase of books, computers, and essential classroom and trade skill materials.