Oaxaca School

Oaxaca School: Building Bright Futures in Rural Mexico

When a nonprofit in Oaxaca, Mexico, needed more classroom space for 150 local children, Andersen volunteers stepped in—combining creative design, recycled materials, and teamwork to bring lasting change to the community of Zaachila.

The Mission

ForwardEdge launched Trigo y Miel (“Wheat and Honey”) to serve families living in poverty in Zaachila, on the outskirts of Oaxaca City. The program provides healthy meals, clean water, tutoring, medical check-ups, and recreational activities for children who might otherwise go without.

Our Partnership

When Trigo y Miel’s staff needed a permanent, safe place for their growing education program, Andersen Construction partnered with ForwardEdge to make it happen.

Our team of volunteers traveled to Oaxaca and, in collaboration with local contractors, built a sustainable four-room classroom building using a mix of new, recycled, and repurposed materials—including two large shipping containers that transported much of the construction material to the site.

Over 10 days, the Andersen team worked side by side with local laborers to complete eight new classrooms, providing students and teachers a secure, inspiring space to learn and grow. The project not only expanded Trigo’s capacity but also strengthened relationships across cultures and communities.

Since construction, the school has continued to thrive—serving more than 80 students and on track to exceed 100.

A few project stats:

• Local laborers paid: $350/week

• Steel installed: 8,320 lbs

• Number of stitches: 3

• Dogs rescued: 1

• Bubble tape chewed: 36 feet

• Ibuprofen pills consumed: 650

This project stands as a testament to collaboration, compassion, and creativity—proof that when people come together with purpose, they can build more than structures; they can build opportunity.

Visit ForwardEdge to learn more about Trigo y Miel and how to get involved.

Watch an update from the project in progress

“This project reminded us that building isn’t just about materials — it’s about people. Working side by side with the community in Oaxaca was an incredible experience, and seeing the joy on the children’s faces made every challenge worth it.”

-Andersen Construction Volunteer