Educate a child;
Give hope to the world.
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DONATETo support the great work of Empowerment International, please consider making a donation. Click here to donate through Razoo. For donations made through Razoo 100% of your donation will go to Empowerment International, with no transaction fee deducted. (And good news for those who didn't like having to make a login for Razoo - We passed on this feedback and they have now changed this.) SPONSORTo learn more about the organization and how to sponsor a child, click here. FORWARD TO A FRIENDKnow someone who may be interested? Click here to forward to a friend. SUBSCRIBEWere you forwarded this email? If you would like to subscribe to the mailing list, please click here. FACEBOOKFind us on Facebook! Receive daily updates from the staff by becoming a fan of our page. COMMENTS/QUESTIONS?Please email us.  These photos were taken by Kathy Adams. You can view more of her photos here. This newsletter was created by volunteers Jamie McCaughey and Emma Hill.  | |
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The best year ever
In Nicaragua, only about half of all children finish elementary school. In poorer neighborhoods such as where EI works, typically the number is less. Yet EI finished the 2009 school year with 212 students remaining in school and in the program and a record high 97% retention rate!
A 97% retention rate and a waiting list to get into the program. All because of your help, the hard work and dedication of the local staff, and the sea of change in attitudes toward education in the community.
Felicitaciones a todos! (Congratulations to all!)
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Daily life in the barrio: Shopping
by Emma and Jamie
It wasn't until 15-year-old and EI participant José Juanito gave us a guided tour of the barrio that we realized how much of a miniature economy exists there! What to us just seemed like peoples' houses are also their home businesses. Almost no one has signs advertising what they do - perhaps in part because many people are illiterate, and in larger part because everyone (except us) knows who does what.
A woman stepped out of her house to stop a man riding a bike with many buckets attached. After a short conversation, the man uncovered a bucket, and in a cloud of hot steam presented the woman with fresh, hot tortillas. So hot, in fact, that the woman managed to burn her hand on them. Our appetites were piqued!
A little way along, we found another tortilla-making operation.
Those lucky enough to have mature fruit trees at their houses sell the fruit;
(is everybody salivating yet?)
some families run small pulperías selling various foods and small items; some repair shoes;
some harvest reeds at the lakeshore and make curtains and mats;
even cooked beans are on offer.
Of course, there is a serious side to this picture. This economy relies upon children helping with the family business. Most pulperías are run by children,
and their customers, sent out to run errands, are usually children as well.
When a child drops out of school, or stops coming to afternoon tutoring, it is usually because the child has been needed to help run the shop, or weave rush mats, or do whatever else is needed to keep the family business going. Many children in the EI program have to work long hours for the family, as well as keeping up with school and homework. And these businesses barely make enough money for the family to put food on the table; many families are unable to afford to eat three meals a day.
Empowerment International is changing this. Home visits from EI staff reinforce the idea that education must come as the first priority for the children, and the parents are starting to believe this. And the organization is not just helping children go to school - they are empowering an entire community, using education to break this cycle of poverty for good. While some kids may choose to continue working for the family business when they grow up, others have goals of becoming lawyers, engineers, doctors, or focusing on English and working in the local tourist industry. Whatever they choose to do, the important thing is that they will have the education and confidence to do just that ... choose. | |
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