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Showing posts from October, 2020

The Sanitary Project begins with Rafaela Herrera

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 When I was in Ometepe earlier in the year we identified the water and sanitary facilities as in need of overhaul and improvement in several of the schools. Because of current challenges, we have been unable to obtain a grant or raise the full cost.  However having paid for school uniforms and set aside the cost of the university courses as promised. it seemed best to use funds to make a start on the project.  We have therefore now sent $1200 to begin improving the facilities at the Rafaela Herrera primary school.  The materials ae being collected and work on digging new latrines has begun.  Some repairs to the tank and plumbing were undertaken in February and more of this work can now be addressed. Bill from builders' merchant Digging the latrines, all done manually!  Some paid labour is being used plus voluntary work from parents. Materials being collected ready! More photos will be posted when the work is completed, and we will then update the budget for the next school in need.

Uniforms and more!

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 At this time of year we start to organise the school uniforms for the new school year.  This is a long process of seeking out the poorest families in all eight schools according to their total numbers and gathering information on their ages, parents and family circumstances, to ensure we are addressing highest need. Marvin and his wife Sylvia have coordinated all this information and obtained the costings from the local shop. We are funding 98 uniforms/shoes this year.   We have allocated £1000 this year.  El Corozal asked for shoes from their part of the budget because some of the poorest families receive a donation of uniform from elsewhere or they are passed on to them. The children continue to receive incentives and rewards for their achievements, from the boxes of goods we send.  Here they are receiving sports bags, collected from the Rotary depot at Farnham, excess promotional materials, that were not needed.  As you can see they are very much appreciated on Ometepe.