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Checking in with the Fundacion de Rene Ferguson, A.C. and The Cooking School at Z.
By Catherine Krantz

Last season we ran an article about the release of the Zihua-inspired novel, The Cooking School at Z, by Dan Kennedy. Not only an entertaining novel about one couple who tossed everything and ran away to Zihuatanejo, but a book with a social conscience. Proceeds from the Mexico sales of the book support a local educational foundation that grants scholarships to motivated Zihuatanejo women to continue their education. Every $1,000 USD in proceeds from the book sales provide a year of education for a young woman in Zihuatanejo. The books are available locally at Galart in the Hotel Villa del Sol; Cococabaña, the gift shop at Coconuts; Amuleto; Club Intrawest; Hotel Las Plamas; Villas San Sebastian; Villas Carolina; Casa Iquana; La Quinta Troppo; Restaurant 100% Y and available for sale on-line at amazon.com.

The Foundation is a tribute to Rene Ferguson, an ex-pat, part Maori from New Zealand who was co-owner with her husband, David, of the small boutique hotel, la Quinta Troppo, in Zihuatanejo. Says author Dan Kennedy on the book’s website, www. cookingschoolatz.com, “Growing up in New Zealand, Rene’s own educational opportunities were cut short much sooner than she wished. She went on to be a great success in business, in life, and in all the ways that count…she made it a point to encourage young people whose progress was blocked by lack of opportunity or resources.” Ferguson died in 2003 and in her memory her husband David established the non-profit educational foundation, Fundacion de Rene Ferguson, A.C., which is fully recognized in both the United States and Mexico. They also have a mirror organization in the U.S. for people who would rather donate to a U.S. organization for tax or matching – grant purposes.

The foundation raises money to provide scholarships to Zihuatanejo women for the full term of their university or technical school education, with no set criteria for subject matter. They approach the principals of Zihuatanejo’s public schools and ask them to recommend two of their most impressive female students to interview. They look for young women who have very high scholastic aptitude and have shown perseverance in overcoming difficult circumstances to continue their education. When asked why they choose only women not men, David Ferguson, an economist by training, answers by quoting an old adage among Developmental Economists: “If you train a man, you train a man. If you train a woman, you train a family.” And beyond that they realize it is just that much more difficult for young women and they want to support industrious young women who have overcome great odds to get themselves ready to attend university.

Their plan, based on their financial situation at present, is to have up to five students attending school at one time, starting a new student each year until there are five, and staying with them until they finish their education. When one student graduates another student will start. The scholarships cover tuition, books, transportation costs associated with going to and from school and a small stipend for out of pocket expenses. They anticipate being able to send all five students to school with an annual cost of around $7,000.00 USD. A dollar amount that is surprisingly low considering the inflated education costs in other parts of the world. “A little bit of money can make a hellava impact here,” says David. To cover the complete expenses to send a young woman to college in Zihuatanejo requires only $1,500 USD a year.

Since we last spoke to Kennedy and Ferguson great progress has been made. The Cooking School at Z, has been selling very well and the Fundacion de Rene Ferguson, A.C. has sent its first scholar to school. Leticia Sanchez Garcia was born in a small village in the mountains of Guerrero, the eldest of eight children. She attended school in her village as far as was available and then moved with a brother to Zihuatanejo so they could continue their education through high school. She and her brother worked nights and weekends in a hotel bar to cover their expenses, and she also received a scholarship from the school her last two years that allowed her to finish her course. With a grade point average of 9.8 out of 10, she proved herself to be an able and disciplined student and she was selected by the foundation to receive their first scholarship. She is now enrolled at the Technical Institute of Petatlan, a forty-minute commute from Zihuatanejo, where she is studying accounting and business administration. She hopes to transfer to the Technical Institute of the Costa Grande in Zihuatanejo, at the end of the first semester or as soon as a space opens at the school here. The scholarship will continue to pay for her until she finishes her education. David Ferguson looks forward to the day when the foundation can grow to starting more than one student per year a year and says he would love to help a student who wants to continue even further into higher education. All things that are possible with a little help in the right direction.

“Zihuatanejo is one of the beautiful places in the world,” says Ferguson, of his favorite residence since 1990; and with so many great community projects like this one going on here, we do agree.

For more information about The Cooking School at Z, or the Fundacion de Rene Ferguson, A.C. you can contact the author at cookingschoolatz@yahoo.com or contact David Ferguson at La Quinta Troppo Tel. (755)-554-3423 or e-mail: troppo@prodigy.net.mx,

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