It's been several weeks full of celebration at Colegio Verbo in Veracruz, Nicaragua! On September 15 the school participated in a grand parade full of musicians, traditional dance and costume, that wound through the town of Veracruz to celebrate Nicaragua's Independence Day, a day shared by Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala as well. The children attending Colegio Verbo practiced dancing and playing their instruments for several weeks before the day-long celebration.
Then on October 5 the primary school-age children (elementary school grades in the U.S.) took their final school exams and enjoyed a huge celebration with their families afterward at Verbo's team complex. The kids and their families joined in games, singing songs, several skits, a great meal and a pinata! Each of the children also received a box of gifts from Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child project; Verbo is a site coordinator for Operation Christmas Child in Nicaragua.
The secondary students are still in school and we look forward to our next celebration - high school graduation on December 16th. Please pray for the kids that they would end their school year well, that the teachers would feel greatly appreciated for all their hard work over the past year, and that the school would continue to receive the financial support it needs to make such a positive difference in the lives of these kids, families, and the community!
With $20,000 in grant assistance from ORPHANetwork VNDF is working with Colegio Verbo to expand the school's infrastructure and eventually enroll more students from the local community of Veracruz. Heberto Ramirez, Verbo's chief engineer, is overseeing the school's newest project - to add an open-air auditorium which will be used for school-wide assemblies, community events, and more. Heberto has been training some of the older boys living at Verbo's adjacent Casa Bernabe orphanage to help with the construction project. The goal is to have the auditorium completed in time for the school's graduation ceremony in December!
According to global estimates more than 90% of children with disabilities in developing countries are deprived of any education. In Nicaragua only 38% of all disabled children attend primary school, 10% attend secondary school and only 2% go to university or technical high school. Disabled children in Nicaragua don't attend school for several reasons including poverty, a lack of access, poor teacher training, and negative attitudes within the education system and in the community.
However Colegio Verbo in Veracruz is changing that for one middle school student named Daniel. Daniel is one of this year's new students at Colegio Verbo. Daniel is wheelchair-bound as a result of an infection he sustained five years ago; he has not attended school since. His father asked if he could enroll Daniel at Verbo and the staff Directora Nolvia Morales enthusiastically agreed. Previously he was right-handed but lost use of his right arm and now Verbo teachers are helping him learning how to write with his left hand.
It's not just teachers that are enjoying. According to Directors Morales, "the students all love him very much and he is their favorite student. All of them have learned a lot having him in our school." Last week the 7th graders surprised Daniel with his first birthday celebration. The students brought a pinata to school and enjoyed having his family celebrate with them. Daniel's father is thrilled with the school and says that being there has improved Daniel's self-esteem.
According to Nolvia, "Daniel is a great example for all of us that God can heal!" 100% of your donations to VNDF through Global Giving go to help Colegio Verbo help special students like Daniel - thank you!
