With the animal welfare work I do, I often find myself deep into the communities, far beyond what many eyes will ever see. I am honored, humbled, and overwhelmed. I know and have seen that NicaLove can truly affect a human life with a simple gesture, or just a few dollars. Below are a few of the minor projects NicaLove has supported or is currently supporting with your help, restoring faith and offering a little hope to those who need it most.
English Class
English classes have begun once again with children from the communities of El Zapote and El Jicaro (link to blog). My introduction to the community of El Jicaro was through a friend’s project in 2014. I felt an instant connection and desire to help- somehow. I have had the pleasure of getting to know and watch the children grow and mature with each visit. I wanted to offer a sustainable project that I know could change their futures. Seeing their hunger to learn and interest in learning English – this is how the project began. We have an amazing and experienced teacher who gives his all every week for the 4 hour long class. I have a signed contract from all the students and the teacher vowing their commitment and participation. It is always fun sitting in on a class and seeing their pride and progress. *Sponsors needed to help with teaching salary, email juile@nicalove.org for ways you can help.
Jicaro School (elementary)
The students in Jicaro were very excited about the new school year and I was thrilled to see them. This year there are fewer COVID restrictions and hopefully they will enjoy a FULL and uninterrupted year of school. Hopefully, we all will. NicaLove has been supplementing the school with needed supplies and small school improvements. Thanks to a project sponsor, we purchased and provided the students with needed school supplies, including notebooks, pencils, pens, erasers, sharpeners, crayons, and markers.
Many of the children and their families can never purchase these items and they miss out on creative learning fun.
With our donor’s support, we also purchased items for the teacher to help offset some costs of classroom and sanitization supplies. Items like construction paper, paint, glue, decorations, dry erase markers, tape, bleach, mops, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, soap… just to name a few. Typically, these items are the responsibility of the students, family or teachers. The most exciting thing was the purchase of 10 gallons of paint for the outside of the building. The teacher picked blue and white to show their Nicaragua pride! Project 100% sponsored.
Milagro
Milagro is a beautiful 12-year-old girl who has been diagnosed with a birth defect known as microcephaly. Her family faces hardships daily, it is a struggle just to get her around. The only way of transporting this growing teenager’s body was to carry her in their arms. They do not have a specialized chair or bed. They rely on extended family to help in all ways. Their family lives well below the line in which Nicaragua calls poverty. The struggle is real here. We were fortunate to partner with another local organization to purchase a used, specialized, and comfortable wheelchair to support Milagros’ growing body. With additional funds, we purchased a surplus of diapers and other sanitization products needed for their daily routine. Project 100% sponsored.
Joselito
Joselito is a 5-year-old preschool student at the Jicaro school. While at the school during my trip, I noticed he needed support walking one day while at the school and I inquired about his situation. Jose was diagnosed with Spina Bifida and had 2 surgeries to correct his “disability”. The surgeries left him incontinent and unable to walk without support. We proviede Joselito with a new bike so he could strengthen his legs and be more like the other kids his age. We purchased him a surplus of diapers thanks to a donor. Project 100% sponsored.
Miguel
Miguel (name changed) is an energetic and happy 11 years old who just entered the 1st grade. He can not write his name or even a single letter from the alphabet. He and his 13-year-old brother began school this year, for the first time. Miguel’s father is a hardworking widower, and he raises 4 children single-handedly, none of which have ever attended school in the past. The children all work alongside their father to provide for their family by any means necessary. I can’t fathom this family’s situation or hardships that lead them to not enrolling 4 children in school.
Miguel was so happy and proud to start school this year. Pending my arrival, the teacher had all the children draw me a thank you note. As each came to hug me and delivered their beautiful notes, I asked them to add their names, grade and ages. When Miguel came up to me and introduced himself, I asked him to add the same information to his drawing. He replied embarrassingly that he could not write his name, and before I understood the situation, I looked at the teacher, puzzled. She explained the situation, but it was hard to comprehend it. Miguel can’t write his name, but he is eager to learn, and he is amazing and joyful and intelligent. I want to help and ensure Miguel gains confidence in school, so he stays engaged, proud, and wanting to change his future. I want him to make some substantial gains to build his confidence. We have offered to pay the teacher a small weekly stipend to tutor him and his brother to catch them up.
I want them to stay in school, make a better life, change their past, brighten their future. Miguel stole my heart. This project is 100% sponsored.
Thank you
These minor acts of kindness were made possible because of donors. Thank you NicaTribe for supporting NicaLove so we can continue to make small and huge ripple effects in these impoverished rural Nicaraguan communities! NicaLove is an animal welfare organization serving animals and those who care for them in the most vulnerable communities of Nicaragua.
