One of the biggest challenges that exists for us in Empowerment International Nicaragua is how to convince impoverished children and parents to put forth the effort to attend school regardless of the daily obstacles or issues that arise.  In a country where 50% of the kids that start first grade drop out before completing 5th grade, we have our work cut out for us.  To date, we have had a rate of 80% retention annually in all grades.  This is something we are very proud of, but we can not rest until we are doing even better.





Last year, we started a photography program and this year we have seen that it has had a significant effect on increasing the school performance of the students that enjoyed the program. This year,  volunteer Patrick Chiapetta decided implement a fairly sustainable program in baseball to capture the interest and attention of other children at high risk of dropping out. One of our new parents, is very passionate about baseball and has volunteered to continue the program after Patrick leaves.  So far the kids are loving it.  We have many kids not in our program, asking to be involved.  It seems with baseball and photography Empowerment International program is becoming a great place for the kids to be involved.  Of course, with each activity there are requirements on school attendance.



 
It was quite a surprise to all of us when we received a call from the embassy asking us to participate in a baseball event.  We agreed without really knowing what was involved. It turned out that Cal Ripken Jr. and Dennis Martinez were coming to Nicaragua to set up  clinics for kids.  We were,  and still are,  honored to have been able to participate in such an event and the kids will have lasting memories for years to come. 
  
Cal Ripken is one of the most respected names in baseball. He has had a successful 21 year Major League Baseball career and retired in 2001. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame last year and was appointed American Public Diplomacy Envoy by the US State Department in 2007. He was on a five-day trip (Nov 13-18) with Dennis Martinez, a native of Nicaraguan who played with Ripken for the Baltimore Orioles.  Martinez won 245 games with five big league teams over 23 seasons and is often known as "El Presidente". 


 
Both Ripken and Martinez instructed youth coaches and kids on the game while connecting with them and spreading goodwill in Nicaragua. The kids were overjoyed to have these two baseball greats among them.  Since most of the kids chosen for the event are too young and small to play baseball, they learned to play Quickball - a game developed by Cal Ripken, it is  especially suited for all kids, especially little ones. The balls are bigger and lighter (made of sponge) and bats wider and easy to swing. The bases are closer together and rules are simpler as well.  Cal, Dennis and Tim made the game so much fun that even those with less ability enjoyed.  If a child was not able to hit a ball after a few pitches, Cal would throw the child a handful of balls so the chances were greater of hitting it.  Cal also offered any child 5 bonus points if they could hit his 'bald head'.   If that was not enough fun and excitement for the youngsters, they  were interviewed by various TV stations!



At the end of the day Cal and Dennis visited the kids in the barrio and Cal left Empowerment International 200 pounds of school supplies and a check to help us with the new school year coming up.    



This day was really was a dream come true for so many people here. Baseball is the Nicaragua's national sport and the EI kids have met not only the local but an international hero of the game!