Lifting up through learning

This past week the site visit to the community of El Garabato was a true and inspiring testimony of what helping others really means.  During what would normally be their Christmas vacation, a small team of leaders used this time off to set out for the long journey to El Almendro, Rio San Juan, to share learning opportunities for this remote rural community.  “Being able to make these visits is a very nice experience because I can share, and listen to concerns, suggestions, and requests from the leaders and transmit them to you, interacting with them is satisfying for me because I like what I do, which is to help people with what is within my reach,” commented Petronila, one of the team leaders and coordinator of the site visit.

This small community was discovered in 2019 by W/NP volunteer, Erayda, in a pilgrimage trip where she found a group of women in need. Despite very limited resources, their desire and willingness to move forward and learn new skills is very commendable!

In 2021, Katelin, W/NP intern and UWSP student, conducted needs assessments for the Learning Centers in Nicaragua, including El Garabato and since that time, little by little, volunteers travel to offer support by sharing mini work-shops in response to their requests to learn.  Bakery and beauty provide marketable skills and the classes that were offered in these two areas have produced amazing results. 

The El Garabato Learning Center was determined to move to the next level by building an artisan oven in hopes to have future bakery classes, and here their dreams have come to fruition.   Thank you to everyone who supports these important opportunities that will help improve their community and quality of life.  Happy New Year!