For Francisco Mieres, CEO and president of Mexican Ford dealer Automovilística Andrade, education is the real social mobility engine for the country. Committed to serving society, the Mieres family began sponsoring Ford School 151 twenty five years ago. The company also now sponsors Ford School 171; both in Mexico.

The Mieres family’s elementary school sponsorship is part of the “Educación en Movimiento” education program by the Ford Civic Committee and its 212 dealers in Mexico that’s continued for fifty years. Ford school 151 became part of the state of Temascalapa’s community growth and development due the Mieres family´s engagement with the community’s educational needs. 

Building a kindergarten enabled the community’s youngest children to learn basic concepts, so that they would be ready to enter into basic education. To make sure children’s educational development and growth in today's increasingly competitive society, technology access is a priority. Ford School 151 became one of the first educational facilities with a computer room within the education program. 

“Childhood is our priority; they are our country´s future. Our best social contribution is to provide our elementary school students with the greatest opportunities and supporting their development,” said Francisco Mieres, recalling the little ones’ excited faces when the computer classroom was inaugurated. Although technological literacy is increasingly important, the family values engagement ​​is essential. For that reason, Cristina Mieres headed the family values workshops given to students and their families. 

The Workshops´ main challenge was encouraging mothers to share vulnerable family situations within their homes. “Since very sensitive family issues were addressed during the workshops, we really have to study and prepare ourselves. At the beginning, children´s mothers were afraid to speak, accept ideas or situations opposite to their education background”, mentioned Cristina Mieres. However, given the workshop success, many mothers shared their knowledge in other region´s schools.

Due to their great commitment to society, Francisco and Cristina Mieres were awarded with "Salute to Dealers", Ford's global program that recognizes the corporate social responsibility actions the company's dealers carry out. “During all these years, education based on family values ​​has been the engine that has moved us to encourage community´s development. We are confident that academic training without values ​​is not for a real education”, concluded Francisco Mieres.

If you want to know more about other CSR efforts from part of the dealers in Mexico, click here.