About Us

Boys and Girls Club of BCS (formerly Gente Joven Por Un Cambio) has a vision that one day, each young person will have the capacity, initiative and confidence to engage and transform their communities

Target Population

Girls, Boys and Adolescents between 6 and 18 years of age who are exposed to different risk factors in the Mexican Republic.

Public Problem

A large proportion of girls, boys and adolescents are exposed to different risk factors that limit their integral development and the effective exercise of their rights in Baja California Sur.

Boys and Girls Club of Baja California Sur (formerly Gente Joven por un Cambio) is a project unlike any other. The union of these two foundations has provided the youth of BCS with the opportunity to learn and socialize in healthy and protected spaces.

The programs are geared towards free time after school, during which the risk of incurring unproductive or criminal behavior rises.

Our extracurricular activities are complementary to current educational programs, helping children and young people achieve success in school, explore vocational opportunities, stay healthy and acquire important skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

Sports and artistic activities are encouraged, as well as managing conflicts in a positive way.

All of this helps the children build their self confidence and self esteem.

Our Mission

To provide our young people with a safe, supportive, fun and enriching environment that inspires them and enables them to reach their full potential.

Our Goals

Provide children with a safe space and a healthy environment where fun and constructive activities can be carried out to help them:

Realize their interests
Gain self-confidence
Define their goals and provide motivation to achieve them
Become agents of change for their community

Our Story

How We Got Started

The story of Gente Joven Por Un Cambio begins with Onagh and Bill Ash. They discovered the beauty of Mexico and Baja California Sur on a visit to the area more than 20 years ago. Their passion was always to help children, so when they actually moved to Los Cabos in 2010, Onagh knew she needed to do something to help the local youth. She drew on her experience from her days in Silicon Valley with ‘Girls for a Change.’ She knew that most of the local children in the Los Cabos community were not provided the opportunity for education and training that would help them to live a life of opportunity and success. Determined to change this, she started Gente Joven por un Cambio (GJC) in 2012.
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In its early years, GJC was able to establish itself as a recognized Mexican foundation that provided local youth with the guidance, direction and education they needed to succeed in today’s world. The GJC after-school programs were designed to give the children the tools they did not receive in school. And each year the number of students participating continued to grow. These students were called “Agents of Change” and they identified initiatives needed in their community to make it a better place to live. These community projects have included violence against women, caring for the elderly, anti-bullying and more.

Six years later GJC has grown to 400 students mentored by 40 volunteer coaches serving children 8-18 years old. The after-school programs offered are helping the youth achieve their dreams by empowering them with a voice, life skills and the freedom to explore. These programs have been so successful that GJC is now becoming Boys and Girls Club of BCS.

Although Onagh’s beloved husband, Bill, recently passed away, his legacy and Onagh’s will be one of love, care and guidance for the deserving children of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Under the new umbrella of Boys and Girls Club, the important programs of GJC will continue to serve more children than ever. less

Where We Are Now

The beginning of 2020 will welcome the first Boys and Girls Club of BCS. Formerly, Gente Joven Por Un Cambio, BGCBCS will continue the important programs and work started by GJC. Currently located in La Playita, BGCBCS plans to expand to the towns of San Jose and Cabo as soon as suitable locations are found. The after school programs will expand to reach children from the ages of 6-18. Boys and Girls Clubs of BCS will be only the 12^th Mexico location for the foundation.