April, 2012

Another dream come to fruition as our high school students at Nueva Esperanza had their first computer classes.  So many people contributed to making this possible, but the driving force behind it all has been volunteer Ryan Olson.   Ryan did the computer purchasing, configured them all, designed the furniture, trained the teacher and shared his passion for computers with all.

Our last Builders Beyond Borders group (at this time!), the C4 group came down from U.S.A. and completed the two extra classrooms they have built at Pablo Antionio Cuadra.  These extra classrooms mean that high school students now will be able to complete five years of high school without having to find another school after their third year.  This is a fantastic achievement by the B3 group.

Once again a big thank you to George Berenschott who opened his  beautiful colonial home for these young students from Connecticut to stay while they labored at the school each day.  A wonderful contribution from George.

Natalia Jones made a great video of one of the English classes – check this link: www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=119075354893281  – look at them sing!

The weather is really hot here now, we had a big rainstorm a couple of weeks ago, but the rainy season hasn’t really started yet.  Everyone is feeling the heat with daily temps of 35 celsius.

A request for help from our U.S. treasurer Rachel: Calling all U.S. Volunteers!!!   Rachel Sklar, our U.S. based treasurer and non profit liaison, is looking for someone to join her team.   She needs a combination of moral support, technical support, and help with things like generating thank you notes, staying in touch with donors and developing a more strategic accounting system.  If you are looking for a way to stay involved and have experience with any of these tasks (particularly in the area of accounting or non-profit law/tax consulting), please contact Rachel directly at rachel@viaparenting.com.

Lots of donated goods brought into the office, Susan Sanchez and Harry Laski brought lots of games, C4 group from Builders Beyond Borders who filled our office tables with lots of school supplies, Betsy and Mark Lennon brought games, Carmen Chapell Elkin’s parents brought books and things from Spain, and Marcia Bernbaum brought in a highchair, stroller and lots of baby needs which we will use for an attendance raffle on Mother’s day.

It’s a time of some hard goodbye’s at the moment, with quite a few long term volunteers who have left or are leaving soon.  Jenny Opitz, Maren Mylneck, Juliana Damm, Michael Sugue all of whom have been here from Germany for six months or more,  then next week we have to say goodbye to Tona Roig (here since December) Vanessa Colada, Christine Coakleyand David Drezner (here since January).  Always sad to see people like these leave.

Other volunteers here at present are Lynda Smith, Mary Pearce, Linda Heatherly, Irmgard Schnall, Carmen Chapell Elkin, Oliver Quix, Nuria Terrones y Hernandez, Svenja Fillet, Barbara Krainer, Julia Laski, Madeline Laski, Alejandro Real Peguero,  Isabel Navarro Blakemore, Ingrid Pichel, Scott Brenneman, Sandra Spijkman, Jeanine Langkamp, Jack Langree, Aaron Brink, Katrina Fralick, Natalia Jones and Asa Borgas.

March, 2012

So much achieved this March.  Equipo Cambio from Builders Beyond Borders completed two classrooms and a large technical classroom to be used for training in electrical work, at the new San Ignacio high school.  We spent an exciting week with these high school students from Connecticut, U.S.A.  It has a tremendous impact on the high school students here that others high school students are helping build their school, and for the young people visiting the week here would have made a lasting impression.  Their hard work here was the finale of a whole year of work and fundraising that they all did in order to come here and build, and they could justly feel proud of their efforts.

Georgetown University came down for their third year running and laid big paving stones in the road to the high school in a part that becomes impassable during the rains.  And carpentry students from La Chantier in Montreal, Canada repaired over 160 desks for the primary schools.  The children from Jose de la Cruz Mena put on an impromptu thank you presentation that was so touching, there were few dry eyes.  All the guys put their sunglasses on.

Of course all our longer term volunteers were hard at work throughout the month.  Watch for our blog in the coming weeks as it features some interviews with our volunteers talking about their lives in Granada, what they do, why they came etc.

Volunteers here at present are Maren Mlynek, Juliana Damm, Lynda Smith, Michael Sugue, David Drezner, Colleen Kelly, Vanessa Gancedo, Tona Roig Saumell, Maria Garcia Robles, Christine Coakley, Irmgard Schnall, Oliver Quix, Nuria Terrones y Hernandez, Svenja Fillet, Barbara Krainer, Julia Laski, MadelineLaski, Fernando Quentrequeo, Alejandro Real Peguero, Isabel Blakemore, Ingrid Pichel, Scott Brenneman, Sandra Spijkman, Jeanine Langkamp, Mary Pearce, Jack Langree, Aaron Brink, Katrina Fralick and Natalia Jones.

Some wonderful news this month is that Project Pulsera have chosen to collaborate with La Esperanza Granada with Nueva Esperanza Secundaria, helping us fund the technical classes.  They have made an initial donation of $5000 to be used to fund teachers and/or teaching materials.  There is a great fund raising opportunity too for people at colleges and high schools in the U.S. where they can raise funds for La Esperanza Granada as well as supporting the artisans here in Nicaragua working through Project Pulsera.  This is an exciting new concept for us – their web site is: www.pulseraproject.org/

Terry Leary from Hotel San Francisco found another great way to help that applies to people living in Nicaragua – currently Claro are offering a free netbook computer to anyone taking a new internet contract.  So if your contract has run out, you can cancel it and take a new one – and like Terry did, donate the netbook computer for us to use in the schools.

Jostien from Norway brought us a used netbook computer too, plus many other material donations brought to the office this month.  Builders Beyond Borders brought bags of things to help in the schools, as well as volunteers Irmard, Svenja, Ryan, Hayley and Andy, the Carpentry Group, Thomas Bullock, and Arzn Serbes.   Through former volunteer Royce Chang’s efforts we received six One World soccer balls, these are unique in that they are supposed to last forever.  People can buy on and another will be donated to where you chose, here is a link: www.oneworldfutbol.com/index.cfm?method=pages.showPage&pageID=c6cc458f-2264-112b-b1fe-62d793d2a054

Pablo Fernandez brought us a donation of $350, Colin Sims gave us $20, Mary Coiner Collier sent $25 and the pub quiz at O’Sheas raised $153.  And we received a second donation from the Gloucester Presbyterian Women’s morning coffee group, in Australia who sent through $200 which will be used to purchase desks for Jose de La Cruz Mena.  Despite all the desks we were able to repair for various schools there are still some children sitting two to a desk (this means sharing the chair too).   Karin van Eijk sent through $95, her and Tom are constantly working at supporting  La Esperanza Granada – currently they are practicing to go on an 80 km walk in The Netherlands and will ask people to sponsor them, it is called the “Kennedymars” and will be held in early July.

Our volunteer Ryan Olson put in a great effort and has now completely rebuilt our website using WordPress which will allow us to edit more easily.  So much happens that it is hard to keep the whole site up to date.  Colleen Kelly who is doing an internship with us is currently revising the pages for us to edit on line.   Colleen, here for an internship in Communications and Promotion has been doing some great work too, including a new brochure we have available.  We will have a link to it on the website soon, but in the meantime if anyone would like to print some, just send us an email and we will send you a .pdf copy.

The Nicaragua Dispatch has published another article by our ‘resident journalist’ Lynda Smith:

www.nicaraguadispatch.com/community-news/u-s-volunteers-help-local-high-school-go-online/3102

And finally we had another home improvement happen this month – thanks to a donation from Joan and Graeme Mount who contributed $1300 to make a family’s dream come true.  Their son Franklin won the raffle with all the children who had perfect attendance getting a ticket.  It is a great incentive to send children to school every day, even though they live in an area where school attendance is not taken very seriously by many.

February, 2012

True joy this month, on Monday 27th we held the inauguration of the new high school in San Ignacio – Secundaria Nueva Esperanza.  The ceremony was so moving, 130 people attended including all of our volunteers and the first year high school students.  The dancing displays were wonderful, the speeches short and pertinent.  One of the mothers from the community, simply dressed said a few words, her eyes brimming with tears, a young boy attending the school spoke on behalf of the students, donors Karin van Eijk and Tom Daniels, Jeff Pluta from Amped for Education, along with other local dignitaries spoke too.  The ceremony was also dedicated to Westfield State University and Builders Beyond Borders who have contributed so much.   It was a very special day.

January  31, 2012

Westfield State University visited for their second time this January, and it was a great success. Their students had raised over $7000 which they used to build a computer classroom for the new high school in San Igancio. 26 students from the university along with their three leaders, Kathi, Kelli and Theresa arrived on 3rd, they were hard working and lots of fun. Their visit culminated on the 17th with a big party at the primary school complete with music, dance competitions, games, and delicious food. Fatima and the other ladies who help in our houses started cooking at 3.30 in the morning to prepare chicken and vegetables and rice for more than 250 people. Imagine doing all that over an open fire! Westfield students carried down for us 15 of the computers for the new highschool – we just have 15 to find a carrier for. They also brought down lots of donations of school materials. We look forward to an ongoing partnership with Westfield, it was a great visit.

Amped for Education sent through $1500 towards putting electricity in the high school too. Plus we have been busy in the last week or two preparing for Builders Beyond Borders visit in February when they will construct two regular classrooms and a technical classroom.

With all this focus on the high school we haven’t lost sight of the young children though. Summer school is still running, the volunteers and our ayudantes have been doing a terrific job, with 114 children attending each day.

Donations this month included friends of Iren Nauta who raised $130, Lane Haywood sent $100, Mary Coiner sent $25, Nigel Smith’s family sthrough Klikex Trading $50 and from Reginald Smith $60, Nancy Maher sent $150, Ginger Lawrence sent $125 and Global Village Project sent $680, and Mark Turner sent $500. We also received $3600 from Grupo 2013 in Spain to cover university costs of $400 per year for 9 students.

Four new ayudantes have joined us, with university scholarships – Maria Angeles and Scarleth sponsored by Lowell Smith, Jaqueline sponsored by Desi Mcaul, and Mario sponsored by Nick Lewis. And a wonderful end for one of our ayudantes Donald Alonzo – Donald is now officially our Volunteer Coordinator, bringing our employee total to two. The experience and dedication of these two young local people, both Donald and Karen is invaluable to the future of La Esperanza Granada, and it is a pleasure to work with them.

Lots of wonderful visiting volunteers here too – currently Anna Fink, Katrin Hiss, Maren Mlynek, Juliana Damm, Lynda Smith, Sonja Eltrich, Michael Sugue, Jenny Opitz, Elodie Moutengou, Tamara Kazakova, Dimitry Cheshev, David Drezner, Diana Diez Rogdriguez, Jana Moyano Lozano, Kas Eccles, Colleen Kelly, Michael Geissler, Magdalena Zettl, Mike Burusco Unciti, Vanessa Gancedo, Christine Coakley, Nabila Amarsy, Hanna Hodel, Johanna Nilsson, Annika Gustafsson, Nigel Smith, Peter Kitchen, Maria Garcia Robles, Montserrat (Tona) Roig, Mary Pearce, Saskia Belcher, and David Waldl.

A bit of a get together with some former volunteers too, shared memories and drinks with Christy Meyer, Nigel Pedlingham and Doug and Barb Christie – they were all here some years ago and it was great to catch up.

Good to see Bill and Linda Wayman back in town too with their mission group from New Orleans. They provide the dental clinics that we take our schoolchildren to – through their generosity we are able to take the primary school children to the dentist (about 24 children a week) and pay only for their transport and materials used. Bill also brought down a $300 donation from his local Kiwanis Club which will cover quite a number of dental visits.

Four ladies on an Iguana Tour, Diana Gibbon, Aline Frey, Marilyn Ryan and Virginia Eggleston brought large bags of children games and toys, and rolls of stickers to help in the schools. Dave and Rachael came in with sporting equipment, Kas brought a big bag of toothbrushes and pencils, Christy brought craft supplies and stickers, Helen Roys sent pencils and colors, Vanessa Gancedo brought books and plasticine, Janny brought pencils and sharpeners so lots of things to work with in the schools. Just great how many people want to help.

Lastly here is the photo link for January (sorry not many this month as we had some camera problems):
https://picasaweb.google.com/laesperanzagranada/Jan12pics

December 31, 2012

I’m sure that people everywhere had a busy month in December, and here at La Esperanza Granada we were no exception – most of it is in the pictures – some of the highlights were the graduation ceremonies at the beginning of the month.

We had 13 sponsored students who graduated from Colegio Diocesano after completing five years of high school.  What a wonderful event that was to see these young people who had reached that goal.  Sounds so ordinary in our worlds, but when you consider that less than 10% of Nicaraguan students make it that far, you can have some idea of what it means for them.  Also 10 students graduated high school at La Epifania with their proud families watching on.

Primary school graduations were big events too, and it is wonderful to see that the numbers are steadily rising of children who are staying all the way through to complete grade six.

We have scholarships for three of the high school students to attend university and receive a stipend to work alongside our volunteers, and we have sponsorships for 37 students to attend high school which is great.  Six of the high school sponsorships will be hosted by Amped for Education, who have collaborated in the building of the new high school in San Ignacio.  Jeff and Sara visited this week and met with their students.

The final part of our year long project ‘medio ambiente’, which was funded by The Body Shop Foundation was an award for the cleanest school yard, won by Jose de la Cruz Mena, and all the children who took part in the program received a special certificate.  The school was awarded a special plaque for the honor.

Children attending summer school had a big day on 23^rd, the volunteers had organized a special day,  with games, piñatas etc. and a wonderful lunch for 114 children was cooked by Fatima and Chilo.  Volunteers here   Anna Fink, Katrin Hiss, Maren Mlynek, Jalle Damm, Lynda Smith, Sonja Eltrich, Alba Luis Ramon, Michael Sugue, Jenny Opitz, Elodie Moutengou, Tamara Kazakova, Dimitry Cheshev, Ineke Indorf, Frank Krueger, Cesar Callebaut, Iren Nauta, Mary Pearce, Miranda Maher, Montserrat Roig, Maria Garcia Robles, Diana Diaz and Nigel Smith.

Nigel from Australia biked some 7000 kilometers before arriving here, and while here is going to help with install solar lights made with coke bottles in the San Igancio community and teach others how to do it.  He has sent a request to his friends to help with some of the costs and we received donations from Callum Smith and Kim Goodwin – you can check his website www.browsinaboutonabike.com

Another volunteer Lynda Smith from the UK wrote some great articles which are on our website under press releases www.la-esperanza-granada.org

And another very good read is Lauren Slater’s blog, many former vols will identify with her write up about working here: lovepeacegratitude.tumblr.com/LEG

A must see this month is a fantastic You Tube video made by Sandra Sikman featuring lots of of our volunteers:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=avxcARIR0Cc  and a Spanish version:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xyOdYo0I0o

And to help us promote La Esperanza Granada locally Rae Ann Hickling, Frank Krueger and Emily Tapia all colaborated to produce a really good flier which we have printed and will distribute around the town.

Nice to see former vol Nigel Pedlingham back for a visit, Vishal Haynes has been in town too.

Lots of donations came in this month, Mark brought down mice and netbook batteries, and a new laser printer for us, Anette Plassen brought toothbrushes and toys, Amped for education brought calculators, pens, colored pencils and backpacks, Thom Bullock brought balls, and the Smithson family brought a big suitcase of toys, crayons colors, paints, and notebooks.  The Smithson’s with their daughters Stefanie and Britney spent a day in San Ignacio and contributed $300 to help the family Cano make some improvements to their house.

We had financial donations too from family and friends of Lauren Slater $521, the Turner/Reale family $200, Hotel San Francisco $40, Thom Bullock $100, Kelly Lake $500, Dara Stillman $50, Mary Coiner $100, Friends of La Esperanza in Northern Ireland, Margaret and Geraldine, sent $1000 that they had raised holding car boot sales, volunteer house El Martirio raised $21 selling Christmas cookies, Rae Ann, Lee and Pauline $30 in the Finca Mercado, O’Shea’s Bar $50 from the pub quiz, Denton and Terry Sparks sent through $760 so we reached our goal of 30 computers for the high school,  plus James and Lorianne Cochran sent a check for $1000.  To be part of an organization that attracts this kind of support is simply wonderful, and I am often humbled by how many people contribute, including all the volunteers who give so much of themselves.

A little sad news is that Jim Buckley our handyman is ‘hanging up his hat’ – Jim’s eyesight is failing, and he feels he can’t keep up with all the repairs on the volunteer houses.  As a parting gesture Jim has purchased and donated 16 bicycles for volunteers to use – and these are being rented for 20 cordobas (90 cents) a week by two of our ayudantes who are maintaining the bikes.  So we have Nigel as a stand in for now, but if there is anyone keen to take on the handyman role, just let us know.

Now for the last link of this very long newsletter, our December photos:

https://picasaweb.google.com/laesperanzagranada/December11pics

November 30, 2011

The 2011 school year is all but finished.  Schools are still officially open just for preparing report cards etc. but after today there will be no more classes.  Not quite the same for students here, very few look forward to vacation time.  It either means a time to work, or a time with nothing at all to do other than carry water for washing, look after young siblings, sweep the yard etc.

For the children in San Ignacio it will be different, they will have summer school starting next week.  There will be math, reading, writing, computers, art and craft plus sports and games.  Should be lots of fun for volunteers and children.  We will also be offering some classes to the students who will attend the new high school we are building in San Ignacio – working mainly with computers we will help them lift their level in both math and reading, as well as some extra English classes.

We are so proud of Karen O’Campo.  Our young administrator.  Karen has gone all the way through University sponsored our generous donors, and volunteered in our ayudante program, until earlier this year when we employed her. She has now received her University Graduation Certificate and is officially a Licenciada – a long hard road for a girl from a poor barrio, but she made it.  An inspiration for our nine ayudantes with sponsors continuing in the program next year, with a possible three more to be sponsored new university students.

So much excitement in the past weeks with the school excursions.  500 grade three and four children went to the zoo as part of their year long  environmental protection program, funded by The Body Shop.  The gave the children the opportunity to learn about native animals and their habitats, as well as the thrills of lions, tigers and other exotic animals from around the world.

As part of our ongoing school excursion program all the grade two children we work with went on a trip to a lakeside park, and grade six children visited one of Nicaragua’s many beauty spots, Las Isletas in Lake Nicaragua.

Some volunteer celebrations with non Nicaraguan holidays in November – starting with Halloween, and towards the end of the month Thanksgiving when 28 volunteers of 10 different nationalities cooked and ate together and shared their gratitude all the blessings we have.

Volunteers at the end of November are Heath Gabrysh, Anna Fink, Katrin Hiss, Bev Forsythe, Ana Serrana, Conor McMullen, Viktor Nesheim, Anette Plassen, Maren Mlynek, Jalle Damm, Lynda Smith, Sonja Eltrich, Alba Luis Ramon, Michael Sugue, Jenny Opitz, Sandra Sikman, Elodie Moutengou, Leo Revillot,

Amelie Suermann, Lauren Slater, Tamara Kazakova, Dimitry Cheshev, Carmen Munoz, Ineke Indorf, Emily Tapia, Frank Krueger, Cesar Callebaut, Andres Lindstrom, Iren Nauta, Ginger Lawrence and Mary Pearce.

Things donated in the office this month include a lap top computer from Steve O’Connor, crayons, story books from Carmen Munoz, and whiteboard markers from Pluma.  And we received financial donations too – more money for high school computers from Jeanine Rickson, $200, Angie Brekke, $200, Laura Miller, $50, Trisha McGovern, $50, Shawna Peters, $50, Chris Roe, $50 and Courtney Allen $65.   How wonderful that all these people are willing to support the children here.  As well we received $50 from former volunteer Sara Regan, $94 from O’Sheas pub quiz, and $41 from selling home made lime marmalade and chicken liver pate – thanks to efforts of Rae Ann and Lee Hickling.

Also in the news two new babies born to former volunteers, welcome to the world and congratulations to the proud parents, of Ivor born to Julia Steward David and Amine, and to Luca born to Paula and Gonzalo Garcia Broto.

Our photo link for November: https://picasaweb.google.com/laesperanzagranada/Nov11photos

October 31, 2011

Lots happening here in October.  Thankfully Granada has been spared the flooding that has occurred in many parts of the country, though there has been a lot of rain and several school days were cancelled.

A couple more families in San Ignacio have been spared the problems of a wet muddy house due to two home renovations that took place this month.  One raffle was won by a grade three girl, and her house received a new roof, walls etc. thanks to Rick Weismiller and Kathryn Sachs.  Rick and Kathryn were here for a short holiday from the U.S. before moving to Australia, and wanted to do something useful.  You will see some great pictures in the link.  The second house, of the Mesa family was done by the local builders and the family, and paid for by Mark Turner our director.  Melvin, from grade 5, who won the raffle is 15 and has recently returned to school, he works several miles away on a coffee plantation each morning and still managed have a perfect attendance record at school, so good.

A change from the news last month – Builders Beyond Borders will be constructing two extra classrooms at Pablo Antonio Cuadra instead of Jose de la Cruz Mena.  This is a new school for us, but badly in need of help.  The Ministry of Education advised that they wouldn’t be able to put extra teachers at Jose de la Cruz Mena, but took us to visit Pablo Antonio a large school (680 students) in Pancasan a very poor barrio on the northern side of Granada.  This school currently has 12 classrooms, used morning and afternoon for pre-school, primary school and high school – at this time though the high school students have to find somewhere else to go if they wish to continue after third year as all the classrooms are full.  Now with the help of BBB and our collaboration these students will have the opportunity to complete high school without having to try and find a place to accept them at a school in town.

Wonderful news from Ryan in his update on the high school computers: We now have 23 paid for – aiming for 30.  We sent the funds to Ryan for 15, then he has added to this seven more, including one from himself, $260 from his parents, and through his friend Jay, Paul Douglas $190, Patrick Francis $190, Bill Schlueter $15, Jordana Green $65, Larae Rogers $65, Nancy Gustafson $25, and through his company Outside Sales Technology $225.  Each computer is costing about $200 to include the extras and transport, then Ryan is installing all the programs and setting them up to network and protected for school use.  So now we are only seven short of Ryan’s target of 30 lap top computers for the new high school.

In other donations this month Sophia Pfeifer, former volunteer in Germany held a fiesta and raised 200 Euro, plus O’Sheas Irish Bar contributed $100 this month from the weekly pub quiz.  Checks were received from Ginger Lawrence, $25, Jeff and Shea Brasier $300 and Ron and Mina White, $100.  Anette Plassen brought games and colored pencils and crayons with her, plus Amber Dawson came in with school supplies.  Former vol Ginger Lawrence is back working with us again and brought lots of children’s clothing for the sales, and another former vol Kat Coiner-Collier brought in two bags of school supplies today as she passed through on a flying visit.

A student group from Leapnow College were here for nearly two weeks this month, as part of their semester of study in Latin America.  A great bunch of young people, they worked first in Nueva Esperanza, and the following week at La Epifania.  They did lots of painting at both schools, plus spent time helping older students the first week, and kindergarten the second.  They finished up the trip taking 37 preescolar children on an excursion to a play park at the lake, plus special treats of pizza and ice cream.  The group made a big financial contribution too of $880.

More volunteers here now so heaps of help for the children – at present working with us are Nicola Quan-Leach, Heath Gabrysh, Anna Fink, Katrin Hiss, Bev Forsythe, Luisa Sulimma, Theresa Tripler, Ana Serrana, Conor McMullen, Viktor Nesheim, Anette Plassen, Mark Milan, Maren Mlynek, Jalle Damm, Lynda Smith, Sonja Eltrich, Teresa Martin Herrador, Alba Luis Ramon, Michael Sugue, Jenny Opitz, Sandra Sikman (returned), Elodie Moutengou, Sara Griell, Maria Miralles Alfonso, Berta Rodriguez, Eleonore Revillot, Amelie Suermann, Ignacio Arriero Garcia, Lauren Slater, Justin Leonard, Ginger Lawrence and Mary Pearce.

We raised 3200 cordobas in the clothing sales to help the schools with their graduations – you will see photos in the link below and many other pictures, have an abundance this month:  https://picasaweb.google.com/laesperanzagranada/October2011photos