Education Plus: A “love-based” organization nurturing children and their families in Nicaragua

Excerpted from a blog originally posted on TravelStruck by guest blogger Emily Crichton, who took a 6-week trip exploring and volunteering Central and South America.

When Jim offered to take me on a tour of Pantanal – one of Granada’s poorest barrios – I was simultaneously excited and nervous. I didn’t feel unsafe so much as unworthy. Surely the locals would think I was just another privileged gringa volunteer invading their turf. Jim, on the other hand, had earned their respect and acceptance. Though the American expat’s 6-foot plus caucasian frame towers above his neighbors, and he speaks less-than-fluent Spanish (“it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks and I’m a very old dog” he proclaims), Jim knows every man’s, woman’s, and child’s name that we encounter in the community. He greets everyone with a giant bear hug and beaming smile. When he asks someone “Como estas? Todo bien?”, he genuinely wants to know the answer. In turn, the people of the community allow Jim, along with his small team of volunteers and his limited resources at Education Plus, to provide food, education, health-checkups, and activities (including, but not limited to, book club, sports, yoga, field trips, a peer-elected student council, and service club) for their children in order to “eliminate malnutrition, instill core values, and give them the resources and opportunities.”

“1 in 4 children in Pantanal live on less than $1 per day”

Education Plus Nicaragua was founded on November 12, 2012 as an after-school program in the home of 8-year old Prisila Castillo. Forty children from the neighborhood came that first day to take classes from three volunteers, while Prisila’s mother and aunt cooked food for them. Today, the school has grown both in staff and students, relocated to a dedicated space in the community, and been renamed to Casa de los Sueños (“House of Dreams”). It remains a safe and nurturing place where Pantanal’s children come to attend classes, eat, play, receive periodic medical attention, and fulfill their potential. Additionally, children are provided with filtered drinking water throughout the day, sanitary flushing toilets, and a handwashing station – luxuries that many homes in the community are lacking.

“The median income of the poor in Nicaragua covers only 24% of the cost of the basic food basket. – World Food Program”

Though rich in natural resources and culture (with no shortage of safe and beautiful tourist destinations), Nicaragua is amongst the poorest of countries in the Americas. It also has the highest primary school dropout rate in Central America, highest rate of teen pregnancy in Latin America, and has a history of political unrest.

 Jim’s students believe that going to university and overcoming the obstacles their families face is within their reach. During my brief time with the organization, I helped teach their English-language classes and sat in on a few others, where the kids engaged in everything from art and acting to reading and math. When class wasn’t in session, we did what every kid wants to do… put puzzles together, swung on the monkey bars, tossed a ball around, and danced (and did we dance! Every school in the world should have a weekly dance party. It really feeds the soul). At the end of the day, my facial muscles hurt from smiling so much. I can’t remember another time that I’ve received so many hugs in one day. I can only imagine what it feels like for the kids living in Pantanal to experience that energy. How magical.

“In Nicaragua, only 4 in 10 children will make it past 5th grade. In impoverished areas like Pantanal, that rate is much lower. – UNICEF”

It’s hard to reconcile the fact that Nicaragua has such enormous hurdles to overcome with the country’s beauty and the warmth I was met with at CDLS. Perhaps it’s this dichotomy that makes volunteering there so gratifying. I can’t wait to go back and do check-ups & health education with Education Plus once I get my California nursing license. If nothing else, there will be smiling faces, lots of hugs, and someone eager to learn English or get pushed on the swings. And don’t think for a second that I’m not going to dance like nobody’s watching.

Volunteering at Education Plus

Education Plus is open from 9:00am – 6:00pm daily. The organization operates with the help of a small staff and volunteers, along with support from various partners and donors. They welcome volunteers from all cultures and backgrounds. They offer a one-day volunteer experience or 1/2 day neighborhood tour. Spanish is not required, but it is extremely helpful. There is a nominal fee of USD $40.00 per groups of 4 people or less for the one-day tour, which contributes to school supplies and services for the children.

Follow the links to find out more about volunteering at Education Plus or sponsoring a child.

E-mail: info@eduplusnicaragua.org