Latest News from Fabretto

As we approach the end of the year and I start to dread Holiday Shopping, I am finding it much more pleasant to reflect back on all the amazing things Fabretto accomplished in 2007. Note that I can say this without being boastful because the vast majority of our successes have more to do with our team on the ground in Nicaragua than anything my office has done.

First and foremost of course is that we once again provided a high quality education program to our students at all grade levels. Core classes were supplemented with a strong nutrition program, access to necessary health care services, and all the curriculum extras like computers, arts & crafts, music, and ESL - none of which are offered in the regular school system.

While we take such classes virtually for granted in the United States, our students in Nicaragua are truly fortunate to have such a dedicated team of educators working to provide them with these learning opportunities.

Yet, as has always been true with our staff, they are not content to sit back on their laurels and continue with business as usual. They are always looking for ways to improve our programs, serve more students, and fill any identified gaps in service.

As such, in 2007 they successfully implemented Year One of our rural high school tutoring program, SAT, which has brought a first time access to secondary school education to more than 300 young adults. With successful funding, this program will double in enrollment in 2008 as our current rural community 6^th graders look to continue their education and current SAT students move onto Year Two of the six year program.

Another major accomplishment has been the construction of three new classroom buildings in San Isidro, Somoto and Cusmapa, funded with a USAID -American Hospitals and Schools Abroad grant. Credit for the successful management of these projects goes principally to Peter Schaller, our Director of Operations in Nicaragua. When inaugurated in the coming month, these buildings will allow us to accommodate more students at existing campuses as well as provide new classroom, computer and library facilities to our current students.

Looking beyond the dreaded shopping and into 2008, already I can tell you about some of the things the Nicaragua staff are looking to tackle. As the article on La Chureca shows, we will be entering an entirely new community that is desperately in need of help to keep its children enrolled in school and to get job skills for its young adults. Also, we will be looking to "Go Green" so as to reduce our reliance on the irregular electricity supply that exists in Nicaragua by installing inverters and solar panels, hopefully!, at some if not all of our centers.

I hope that as you wind down 2007, and consider your year end giving, you will remember Fabretto. We certainly could use your help and support as we prepare ourselves for all the work to do in 2008. Supporters for which we have snail mail addresses should receive a letter in the mail in early December. For many of you though, our internet generation friends, we don't have physical addresses. So, if you don't get a letter, please remember us with an online gift at our website or from the link below.

I thank you in advance for your generosity!

And finally, while I know it is still early, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you, on behalf of the children and staff of Fabretto, a very happy Holiday Season and a great Thanksgiving before that!