THE TALENTED CHILDREN PROGRAM OF MEXICO CITY GOVERNMENT

In developing countries, inequity and inequality severely damage children's potential to achieve their own development, specially in the case of low-income families. Most of them are unable to acknowledge their talents. In an effort to overcome this harsh reality for children, who are indeed a great promise of progress for our society, Mexico City's Mayor has created a strong social support system for them. One of its most important programs is the Talented Children Program (or Nin@s Talento), created in order to assist, every year, almost 130,000 children between the ages of six and twelve, with outstanding performance at school, but who's families have very low incomes. These children are provided with the equivalent of $230.00 USD each year ($20 USD a month) and free extracurricular classes, so they can have a good all-round education through improving their artistic, cultural, intellectual and athletic skills. Beneficiaries must live in Mexico City, attend a public local school and have grades of 9 or above (in a scale of 0-10).