A Visitor to Mexico Befriends Its Children Todd G. Dickson - Las Cruces Bulletin
go to original July 14, 2012

Bill “Memo” Bradley talks about his experiences in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. (Las Cruces Bulletin/Todd Dickson)

Five years ago, Bill Bradley arrived at the coastal Mexico city of Zihuatanejo to do what most American tourists do during their stays – enjoy the beach, shop the local market and eat in the restaurants.

But as the retired human resources manager got to know the people, a school teacher asked him to help teach English to her students. What he found there changed his life, and now Bradley is helping change the lives of several children, including putting one young woman through college.

When he first arrived at the Octavio Paz school, it was barely a shelter – a roof with no walls and a dirt floor. By his visit the next year, the school had been made official by the Mexican government and had walls constructed.

Bradley then chose to help another school, the poorest in the city, called Las Joyas. In an open air shelter similar to the first school, he taught the children English, often with chickens roaming under foot.

But Bradley – called “Memo” by the children – did more than just help teach. He began to help raise funds for school supplies by using the Internet to make others aware of the children’s needs, and by having the students set up a store at the school with the money made helping supplement their teacher’s meager $100 a month salary.

To make sure the children didn’t become dependent on his charity, Bradley always searched for ways they could earn his help.

About two and half years ago, Bradley moved from California to Las Cruces, and published a book about the experience called “Journey to Zihuatanejo.” The book was complemented by a blog. Bradley shared photos from his trips to Zihuatanejo and told his story. He told not only stories of the children he met – some whom have flourished with his help – but also others who have disappeared or even perished, such as one boy who hung himself to escape an abusive home life.

But Bradley said he felt he was able to help improve the lives of the children he met, some of whom he supports regularly as a sponsor through an organization called Friends of Niños Adelante. By telling his story, Bradley said he has shown a light on conditions that have brought support and volunteers from all over the world, from Los Angeles to Denmark and England.

With other volunteers and supporters, Bradley estimates that they helped the children of Zihuatanejo get 5,000 hot lunches at the two schools, $3,000 donated for school supplies, more than 2,000 pounds of clothing– including more than 100 school uniforms – and 300 books. Bradley estimates he taught more than 200 hours of English and tutored 11 students and teachers on the Rosetta Stone English learning program.

Bradley stopped blogging in May and said he doesn’t think he’ll return to Mexico any time soon. He said he felt he had done as much as he could do and has limited finances to do more.

There is one young woman he is helping to complete her business college studies at the University of Guadalajara. Originally, the woman could not afford to work full-time to support her family and go to school’ “I made a deal with her,” Bradley said. “I would ‘employ’ her. I would pay her tuition if she would write me an email every week, in English, describing what she was studying,what she was learning and how she might use it in future jobs.”

The informally adopted daughter is doing well with her studies, and has applied for an exchange program the University of California in Los Angeles.

During his talk at Branigan, Bradley urged those attending to get involved.

“You don’t have to go to Mexico,” he said. “Volunteering doesn’t have to be at the edge of a jungle at the end of the world. Look around you. We’re all neighbors.”

If anything, Bradley said he hopes his story will inspire others. He recently learned of a pastor using his story for a Father’s Day sermon as an example of a modern day good samaritan.

“He said one definition of a father is someone who sees a need and fulfills it,” Bradley said. “That’s what happened to me.”

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