The Guild is Soon to be 30!
EAST CAPE GUILD IS SOON TO BE 30!
At 29, the East Cape Guild is the oldest non-profit organization on the East Cape. We will celebrate our 30th year in 2026! Many locals know the Guild well, but with the influx of new people to town, we thought we ought to let you know who we are and what we do.
The mission of the East Cape Guild is to provide educational benefits for the students of the East Cape, BCS.
The East Cape Guild was established in 1996 to provide scholarships to local students to attend high school. The Mexican government pays to send kids to school only through the secundaria level (9th grade). After that, parents must pay tuition, transportation, and other costs (uniforms and supplies) to continue their child's education. These costs can approach $500 USD annually, depending on the transportation costs, and are difficult for some families to pay, especially if they have more than one child at the high school level.
The process of awarding the much sought-after becas (scholarships) begins in January when the Guild distributes applications to the secundaria and preparatoria schools. The students must submit the applications in Spanish and English, as well as provide proof of their grades and a letter of recommendation from a teacher or other non-related person. Becas are awarded based on academic achievement and financial need. Scholarships are awarded based on the ranking and on the amount of money the Guild has raised each year. To receive a scholarship in year one and subsequent years, the student must maintain at least a level of 8 (out of 10) in each of their classes. In May of 2025, we awarded 190 high school and 80 college scholarships.
The East Cape Guild is an entirely volunteer organization that raises funds by holding community fundraising events and through cash donations. Donations can be tax deductible under US law by donations through the International Community Foundation.
The Guild serves a variety of towns and communities in the East Cape, with its service area ranging from Mira Flores in the south to El Triunfo in the north. It provides scholarships to students from the larger towns, e.g., Los Barriles, La Ribera, Santiago, Mira Flores, El Cardinal, and San Bartolo. It also provides scholarships to children from smaller towns and remote ranches.
The Guild members and board include Mexican, American, and Canadian citizens. The Guild meets once a month to discuss its fundraisers and activities. Membership is $50 per year. We welcome you to join this meaningful organization.
The Guild is known for its FUN FUNDRAISERS. This year’s fundraisers include the recently concluded Parade of Homes/Poker Run, Tamale Day at the Los Barriles Concha on February 1, and the Nashville Songwriters VIP dinner and Concert on March 6 and 7, 2026. Keep an eye out on the Los Barriles Facebook pages and the Baja Pony Express for ticket information.
Since its inception, the Guild has raised over $1,363,888 and funded over 3992 scholarships. Your town mayor, your builder, your architect, your engineer, your restaurant or spa owner, and your Mexican neighbors may have been scholarship recipients. The Guild, with humility and appreciation for the community that supports us, submits that it has provided academic and professional opportunities to the citizens of the East Cape that did not previously exist.
So, that is who we are. Please consider joining the Guild, attending our fundraisers, or financially supporting the deserving students of the East Cape.
THANK YOU!