An update on Nicaragua's literacy program from Neil Das, a current Program Director:
MPI's literacy program aims to develop reading and writing skills and a love of reading in children from age
six to twelve in the
Cedro Galán neighborhood. This year's program
has grown in two ways both of which center around the long-term
possibilities of the literacy program: first, the long-sought emergence of local leadership; second, a pretty sweet field trip.
This year, all of us have been making an effort to encourage community members of Cedro Galán to be more
involved in leadership of the programs. Having the community help itself will result in more sustainable programs and accomplish a much greater
impact than we can as a small team of Americans. We have been excited to see Olga, who has been helping with the literacy program for a while,
step up and take more of a leadership role. She now teaches her own group and has been involved in the long term planning of
classes.
Every month, we have a party rewarding literacy students with good attendance. In the past, that meant movies and pizza. In February, we
decided to make a more educationally-focused trip, and so we took 15 students on a field trip to UNAN (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua). Two UNAN students who live in Cedro Galán, Denise
and Delmis, gave
our students thorough look at the campus, including their departments, the library, the sports fields, and the dormitories. The kids
especially loved seeing iguanas and turtles in the animal sanctuary. As they learned about university life from the students and even a
professor, we watched as the students start to think about higher education and the importance of studying hard right now. UNAN, one of the top
public universities in Managua, is a real economically feasible possibility for most Cedro kids. We are certainly hoping to see some of our current
literacy students at UNAN in 10 to 15 years.
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THE LITERACY WISHLIST - Want to donate directly to the literacy program? Click here to see a basic Google Spreadhseet list of
the program's current needs.
DONATE TO NICARAGUA - Want
to contribute to another program in Nicaragua? Click here to see another spreadsheet with all of the programs' wishlists.
SPREAD THE LOVE - The success of MPI depends on people like you, talking about what
Manna Project. Our strength builds with every person you share our story with, be it at a church or a party, in the office or the
classroom. Tell your friend/boss/date/dentist about Manna Project!
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