Mano Amiga is an act of social apostolate by Regnum Christi and the Legion of Christ, which promotes the comprehensive development of people with fewer opportunities, through education as the main driver to break the cycle of poverty, complemented by basic health support and economic growth, in order to achieve a positive transformation in society.

It was founded in 1963 as a mature fruit of the first Legion of Christ school, the Cumbres Institute of Mexico City, where several parents from that school wanted to offer the same education their children were receiving to other children and young people lacking the economic means to do so. They organized and, with the support of the school, opened the afternoon shift, serving in the same classrooms the children of the town of San Isidro, near Cumbres. Thus, the first Mano Amiga was born, which over time moved to its own headquarters in a neighborhood on the outskirts, in San Antonio Zomeyucan. Years later, in 1974, the Irish Institute of Monterrey also provided the means to start a Mano Amiga in the area. The school and the educational model were so well received that other sister schools later replicated it, and thus its expansion across the entire Mexican Republic began.

Today, Mano Amiga is a network of 21 Catholic educational centers with over 50 years of experience seeking to positively transform society through education, benefiting thousands of students and their families.

Mano Amiga in numbers (Data as of 2014)

21 schools.
14,000 girls and boys in the schools.
More than 10,500 families served through the schools.
4,500 sponsors support monthly.
9,000 graduates and counting.

For more information about Mano Amiga Schools, visit their website
: http://www.manoamiga.mx/