In Tijuana, Mexico, near the U.S.-Mexico border, volunteers from Tzu Chi USA National Headquarters have promoted educational outreach in remote communities for years. In 2023, theya established the Classroom of Hope at the Tzu Chi Tijuana Campus to help children from disadvantaged families strengthen their learning.

Yet many children living in mountainous and suburban areas still face arduous journeys to school. Some of them need to walk several kilometers daily, then transfer to two or three buses to reach their classrooms. Transportation costs have become a major barrier between dreams and reality.

To support more consistent attendance, volunteers launched the School Bus of Love program in October 2025, establishing fixed routes for daily pickups and drop-offs. For many students, this simple ride is turning a long, uncertain commute into a more manageable path to education.

A reliable ride to the classroom of hope

The School Bus of Love program is coordinated by Tzu Chi volunteer Shiu-Yun Tsai. Most students at the Classroom of Hope live in remote areas, and their schools are so far from home that walking is impossible. Many need to transfer between two or three buses just to get there.

“In the past, some children would attend one day and skip the next two. After volunteers visited their homes, we discovered they don’t have the money for buses. Some families have three children, and the mother must accompany them. So we also need to help subsidize the mother’s transportation costs,” Tsai explained.

To address the root cause of the problem, volunteers shifted from temporary subsidies to providing longer-term, stable support. Using the campus’s 16-seat minibus and 22-seat mid-size bus, they set up fixed shuttle routes. “With the school buses, children no longer worry about transportation costs. Their attendance has become more consistent, interactions among classmates are more harmonious, and we can monitor their situations in real time,” she said.

A new direction for Francisco Estrada’s future

Francisco Estrada, the first driver of the School Bus of Love, was originally a quiet and reserved high school student. Due to his family’s financial difficulties, he once considered dropping out of school to start working and help support them. When Tzu Chi volunteer Jessica Su (蘇美娟), General Director of the Tijuana Campus, learned of his situation, she accompanied him multiple times to supermarkets and other places to look for work.

However, Estrada was often turned down because he had not completed his education. Unwilling to see him give up on his studies, volunteers helped Estrada apply for a driver’s license. One of his teachers guided him through the exam preparation, and Tzu Chi covered the related expenses.

Estrada has since obtained his driver’s license and become an official driver for the School Bus of Love on Route 2. This role allows him to continue his studies while also helping with his family’s expenses. For him, this driving route is not just a daily duty but also represents a new direction in life and a chance to give back.

In the morning, I pick up my fellow students for school, and in the afternoon, I drive them home. I can help the students, support my family, and continue my education. I am truly grateful to Tzu Chi.
—Francisco Estrada, Classroom of Hope Student

At the same time, through character education courses at the campus, Estrada has gradually learned to reflect on and appreciate the blessings in his life. “We should be more grateful to our parents,” he said. “They sacrifice so much for us, yet we often overlook it.”

Safe school commutes within reach

With the School Bus of Love now providing transportation, the daily lives of the children who ride it have clearly changed. Student Alison happily shared, “Before, I had to walk 20 minutes to get on a bus to get to school. Now the school bus is more convenient, safer, and saves money.”

Georgina, the eldest sister who usually takes care of her younger siblings’ schooling, echoed this feeling. “Before, taking the bus cost 15 Mexican pesos, and I had to wait a long time for the bus. Now the school bus is punctual and safe, and my siblings no longer have to take risks.”

Rubén lives in the mountains and used to rely on his father or older brother to drive him to the bus stop. “Tzu Chi provides transportation, so we no longer miss classes because we can’t afford the bus fare.” Although the School Bus of Love does not reach his doorstep, he is still deeply grateful.

Student Daisy added, “The school bus really helps us a lot. It’s convenient and safe for getting to and from school.”

Now that the school bus is here, it's much more comfortable. Before, we had to wait a long time for the bus. Now we don't have to wait, and we can get home faster.— Enrique, Classroom of Hope Student

A steadier road to the future

In the past, many Classroom of Hope students attended irregularly. Now, thanks to the School Bus of Love program, they ride to class together each day and arrive more consistently, with a renewed enthusiasm for learning. The reliable bus service has eased the burden of long distances and transportation costs for their families.

“We hope the children can complete high school and find stable jobs in the future,” shared Tzu Chi volunteer Shiu-Yun Tsai (蔡慈璽). For her, the Classroom of Hope is more than just a classroom; it is a place where children can once again envision new paths for their lives.

With the School Bus of Love program now linking remote neighborhoods to the Tzu Chi Tijuana Campus, that vision extends beyond the classroom walls. Day after day, the buses carry students between home and school, along with the quiet support of volunteers who want them to stay in school and move toward a more secure future.

Written by Mandy Lo (駱淑麗) ; Translated by H.B. Qin; Edited by Ida Eva Zielinska

Source: Launching the School Bus of Love in Tijuana, Mexico