Volunteers at Work:The Makings of Child Sponsorship

One of David and my projects during our volunteering here was to help develop a sponsorship program for the students of the computer vocational school with a dependence on La Chureca. The student’s dependency on the trash dump ranges from living there, working there, their parents working there, or any combination of the above. Nica HOPE charges a small monthly fee of about US$1.50 to adults and non-Chureca students to help ensure student commitment to the program. Fee-based services help program beneficiaries put value on the services they are receiving, as has been demonstrated through a variety of development projects world-wide . These fees do little, however, to actually cover the costs of running the computer center. All students under the age of 18 with a demontrated dependency on La Chureca receive a full scholarship to the school. A sponsorship program would allow individual sponsors to cover the per-student costs of teacher’s salaries, electricity, class materials, etc. that are necessary for each child to receive this valueable training in computers. For a relatively small contribution, a sponsor can help an individual child from the La Chureca community complete their computer education, which can serve them for their future job search, and keep them out of working in the trash.

David and I have had the great fortune of seeing the kids in action. They love computers and love learning. For the sponsorship program each student will have a profile and portrait to be given to their sponsor to know a little more about them. The teachers were gracious enough to afford us some of their class time to fill out their profiles which served as an exercise of the computer skills they are developing. They answered questions like “What is your favorite subject in school” and “What do you want to be when you grow up?” and “If you could have a superpower what would it be?”

I loved to see the kids excited to change the format of their profile and see them beam when they inserted the photo of themselves onto the page. The answers on their profile were endearing. My favorite response to the superpower question was “el poder de salvar el mundo”: the power to save the world.

I feel so fortunate to have been able to get to know these kids. They were very shy towards David and I at first but I feel I have really gotten to know some of the personalities here. Nica HOPE is an amazing organization that offers these children a safe haven from their harsh environment while teaching them a marketable skill. I am confident that once a sponsor sees these profiles they will help these children achieve the bright futures they deserve.

-Liz

Liz Haight
Nica HOPE intern
Wake Forest University

Cyber Café Opening

After spending two and a half weeks here at Nica HOPE, I am happy to announce that one of our main projects, turning the back room into a “ciber café” is finally near completion (thanks to a lot of help!). The idea behind the project is to have a long-term impact on the local economy that is both sustainable and progressive. The name of the project is “Cyber +” or “Cyber y más” (Cyber and more). The cyber café will offer internet, photocopies, black and white as well as color printing, scanning, computer repairs, and more.

Nica HOPE has had the major elements of a cyber café in place for some time now: four computers, a server system for cyber cafés that can monitor computer use, fans, and desks. What Liz, Scott, Gilmar, and I have been working on over the last few weeks is the interior and exterior design, the marketing, and advertising of the cyber café.

We painted the inside, decorated the walls with paintings from the La Chureca art program, painted the logo outside the building, installed a board for community members to post advertisements, announcements, etc., and searched out free tech posters for a vacant wall. We also commissioned Luis and Elizabeth, cousins who are both in the Chureca art program, to paint a mural on one wall of the cyber café’s interior.

We want the cyber café to promote to the humanitarian and social aspects of Nica HOPE, while maintaining the professionalism and advanced services of a cyber café. Indeed, as the cyber gets ready to open we are optimistic the business will reflect well on Nica HOPE’s commitment to sustainable development by providing a service that can help a community transform itself.

-David

David Wescott
Nica HOPE intern
Wake Forest University

A Visit from the Deacs

Hello! We are two new interns at Nica HOPE from Wake Forest University. We are just now finishing up our three weeks in Nicaragua as part of a university service learning program. We have been taking classes in sustainable development as well as Central American society. It's been an amazing experience and we would like to thank Deanna and everyone at Nica HOPE for making our time here so enjoyable and educational. We've experienced the many ways in which Nica HOPE is involved in helping the community of La Chureca; from helping out at the Acahualinca elementary school's feeding program to delivering food on the behalf of Fabretto to La Esperanza inside of La Chureca to sitting in on Nica HOPE's computer classes and jewelry making program. We feel very fortunate to be working with such an inspirational organization.

In addition to helping out where needed, we have been tackling two different projects, a sponsorship program and the opening of the cyber cafe. More on this soon.
¡Gracias por todo Nica HOPE!
-David and Liz

David Wescott
Liz Haight
Wake Forest University