First Steps to Cultural Understanding for US Teens

This past year after being contacted by the Wautoma school district about a donation of desks, students in Wisconsin, who have traveled to Nicaragua or hosted Youth Ambassadors from Nicaragua, helped to transport the desks to the W/NP warehouse in Stevens Point.  Special thanks to all who helped make this possible, including Larry Pingel’s generosity to take several days of transportation, time and much gasoline for the truck/trailer combination to haul all the desks back to Stevens Point, and for being a great mentor/example to the kids.  (See photos down below under the Report “Youth do value education!”)

Since that time, on October 2, 2011, Youth Coordinador of the Project “Give a Hand to the Education”, Lilliam Perez  provides this update:

Today, an important step was given for: "giving a hand to the education".  We delivered 47 tables and 37 chairs for the kids of the school Zoila Aurora (in Nicaragua).  We had the participation of parents, kids, teachers, Lion partners from Managua and a representative of the ministry of education. 

This event was an alive example of : ·Working together, we make a difference".
We also made a raffle during the event and gave sandwich and coke.. :D

It’s important to recognize the effort of so many who dedicated time and work to succeed in this activity:
-Coordinator of the project: Harting Briones
-Managua Decano Lions club President, Ivan Morales
-Lion partner,past governor Gilberto Alcocer
-Lion Partner Jose Ignacio Aleman
-Lion partner Eduviges Somarriba
-WNP director in Managua: Mirna Angulo
-youth volunteers: Francis Vargas, Zaida Vargas, Xochilt Perez, Amalia Aguilar, Ella Ortega, Carolina Marcenaro, Karla Pérez.

Also I want to remind you without our sponsors, none of this could be possible.   
As pictures speak more than a thousand words, I attach some of them, so you can see what we have done together.  Special thanks to the Lions club, the director of the school, and all the parents who are supporting and encouraging their kids involvement - it is really great to see the willingness of the youth both in Wisconsin and Nicaragua to stay involved and help out in ways they are able to, long after their initial experiences.  

These are people who truly understand the value and spirit of volunteerism – thank you!

Links:

• More info and photos about project on Facebook

Cultivating opportunities for leadership roles and development is an important objective within our youth programs.   Below is an update on the most recent activity.  The school children who are touched by this youth project will forever be grateful to their Nicaraguan peers who recognized their need to have improved conditions/motivating activities at the school and came up with a plan to meet this need.  We appreciate your support as you join in this necessary and worthy endeavor.  The title of the youth project, "Giving a Hand to the Education" could not be more appropriate as the creators (Nicaraguan youth) know well the challenges and value in getting a good education.  We look forward to welcoming Lilliam, youth project coordinator and stellar volunteer, to Wisconsin as she shares with teens her age what she is doing for others in her country and how volunteerism has become a way of life for her.

“Being a volunteer is a hard job, but it is worthwhile!  "Giving a hand to the education " started a few months ago, this is a project in which I work almost every day to keep going by doing collections, raffles and teaching English. Being part of Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners has definitely changed my life, I don’t know if I would be able to do this without them, I have more experience and I feel prepared to take challenges.  I have to say that sometimes I´ve felt disappointed, when I fail doing something, when I can´t find people to collaborate or when an activity doesn’t go how I expected.  But I´ve never given up and I´ve tried to encourage the Volunteer youth team as much as possible so we can work together and progress in this challenge we´ve taken. 
 
After many efforts, we´ve finally accomplished the first activity for the kids of the school.  We took them a piñata full of candies, we gave the kids some cookies and juice and we gave prizes for the best students too.  Also we gave t-shirts to the teachers of the school.  There was music, the kids were singing, dancing and they were really excited about the activity.  When everything finished many kids went to hug us! That was the best part of all, it was so gratifying to receive all those hugs and to see the kids so happy, all the effort we put into this project is worth it.”               - Lilliam Perez   Managua, Nicaragua

Links:

• More photos on Facebook link

The youth exchanges between Wisconsin and Nicaraguan youth have cultivated an abounding and contagious spirit of volunteerism!  

“As I have said before, being a volunteer is a lifestyle, I learned that in the workshop I attended in Paraguay and since the very first day (in 2008) when I got involved with Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners” - Lilliam, Nicaraguan student

Lilliam, along with her Wisconsin and Nicaraguan peers, have demonstrated ingenuity, hospitality, resourcefulness and creativity throughout all of their activities.   Through some brainstorming and combining ideas, five Wisconsin youth had a once in a lifetime experience in Nicaragua and forever changed lives…..  “I certainly learned a lot on this trip not only about another country's culture but also the way people can act toward one another with so much kindness when they do not even know someone. This trip has without a doubt changed how I look at life.  Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity, I will never forget it.”  - Erin, Wisconsin student

In addition to opening their hearts and homes to their peers from Wisconsin both last year and again this August, the Nicaraguan students continue to mentor the younger generation in their own country by volunteering at the lending libraries and with projects like GIVING A HAND TO EDUCATION.   By way of experience and being older students, they lead by example as they know firsthand the value/importance of education and as well as the challenges that can go with it.  In talking about the current project Lilliam (Nicaraguan project leader) explains, “it requires a lot of effort and commitment to work in a project like "giving a hand to the education".  It is not just about asking money to buy materials for the project, is about activities, work, lot of time, organization and very important is about making people aware of why this is a really important and NECESSARY project. These kids are trying to learn in very bad conditions, they don’t have the supplies and the motivation to keep studying.   Many thanks to all for their participation, with their aid we will help that 95 children of the school zoila Aurora have an education of quality." 

Thousands of miles away, you can be one of the friends from all over the world who are joining in to collect the resources needed for projects taking place in Nicaragua that promote continuing education for people of all ages.    A cooperative effort indeed makes it possible, as there are those who are making monetary donations, schools who are sharing their desks, students and families in Wisconsin that are collecting school supplies, Spanish class students who are making books, volunteers who are picking-up and preparing donated items for transport, and so much more.   Your involvement makes a difference!  Thank you!