The Forgotten Children of the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes

 In December we received the wonderful news that Jordy had graduated from his university course.  He has worked so hard, studying at his English on a daily basis.  When I first met him he lacked confidence to try but now he is fluent and using colloquial phrases.  It is a joy to converse with him on the phone and to receive his well constructed messages. He has passed his teaching practices and in February 2022 will receive his final certification meaning he can take up a teaching post. he plans to work in the local community. In January 2022 we paid the next year's fees for Linda, who is also studying hard and getting good results.  Her studies are at the local university in Ometepe.

 In October funds were sent to El Corozal;  this is a small school in a very remote location between the Maderas volcano.  The school had asked for some cleaning facilities and help with their water supply.  We were able to support the local community in building a water tank and a sink for their cleaning tasks. This achieved another stage on our improvement of the sanitary facilities in the schools. A thank you from the staff and pupils makes it all worthwhile and we know these facilities will make their day to day activities a little easier! Santa Teresa was the last of the schools to have improvements made to their latrines, in November.  We hope to start working around the handwashing facilities soon, but so many other priorities keep arising!

 This year planning began well ahead.  Elections were to take place in November 2021, and just in case there were any political activities, preventing the collection of uniforms from Managua, or indeed causing big price rises, we began planning in September. As usual Marvin, Jordy and Sylvia worked in their house, storing, then sorting the uniform, checking that everything had arrived and matching to their list of children and sizes.  Jordy and Sylvia made environmentally friendly packages, tying each set with string, following the example I had set on my last trip. The uniforms were finally distributed in January 2022, at the start of the school year.  Most schools attempted a video call so that I could be present virtually.  There were many smiles, waves and thank yous from the children and their parents.

We were pleased to see how much joy the stage has given to pupils in El Corozal.  They have used it to the full, during the recent three days of celebrations for independence. Pupils in Rafaela Herrera, also undertook dance and music presentations and their band used the instruments purchase with the help of Billingshurst Rotary Club. Sylvia has begun sorting and packing the uniforms we have purchased for the schools.  This is a long and complicated task with around 100 uniforms to pack and collate.  We purchased them early this year as elections take place in November and sometimes there is a certain amount of public activities which prevents the shopkeeper going to the capital city. These are the latrines that we repaired at the secondary school.  Some of the students had approached Marvin and the teachers and headteacher too to say that it had become embarrassing for the teenage girls to use the facilities in the state they were in.  

 During these months we have continued to support several schools on Ometepe, whilst also continuing with payment of the monthly allowance for internet and sundries to Rafaela Herrera. It was very important to me tio address the sanitary facilities ibn all the schools where we identified deficiencies.  We still have more to do. El Corozal needs new doors on their latrines and we need to review the handwashing facilities in all schools.  I am also aware that we have done nothing for Santa Teresa and Los Ramos recently. Many items have been packed for sending to all of our schools on Ometepe via Peace and Hope but Nicaraguan government restrictions are delaying transportation. The grand opening of the staging area at El Corozal on 2nd July.  This is a remote and rural community which is very poor;  for some time they had dreamed of a staging area for their cultural events and parental meetings.  Marvin is cutting the ribbon, before the stage is put to use wit...

  The primary school football team are kitted out in the uniforms which were the first item we bought for them four years ago.  They have cared for it well and it is sill in use.  The children have got through to the first stage of the tournament . Marvin and Ervin collecting the damaged chairs for repair from the secondary school and Tilgue.  They are pedalling in the hot sun using their bicycles and carts behind.  I can't believe how hard they are prepared to work sometimes.  Three stages of the new latrines at Sintiope. Cleaning materials purchased and distributed to all eight schools.  The teachers, parents and children clean the school with particular effort after the holidays.  The atmosphere is very dusty with the volcanic dust and many rooms have no windows or they do not seal. They new latrines at Rafaela Herrera.

 We are pleased to have been able to distribute uniforms to nearly 100 children across the eight schools.  Marvin, Sylvia and family have diligently made brown paper bags so as to avoid the plastic I have deterred them from using!  What dedication.  Marvin and Jordy have sometimes Sylvia too, have visited the schools to ensure all were distributed;  those that were not collected in school were retained at his home for collection.  From each school, where wifi  and signal permitted, a video call was made so that I could share in the proceedings.  It was almost as if I was there! Instituto Secundario Tigue Sintiope Santa Teresa and Los Ramos Children collecting from Marvin's house. Tilgue Shoes for children at El Corozal Rafael Herrera We have also distributed a broom, mop and rake to all teachers who have to clean and take care of the school with the help of pupils and parents.  There is normally a big clean up before term starts, as, due to t...