We built two schools for over 100 students in
Siuna, replacing an old wooden shack with two new, beautiful
schools. Cost for the two schools was $16,696. Both Omar and
Muriel were on site every day to monitor construction and
supplies. NGO’s working in the community can accomplish
more for less money than government to government, where most
of the given money never reaches the people it was intended
for. We monitor every project and account for every
cinder block and bag of cement used. We
have over 200 photos of the projects, so choosing only a few
was
The original wooden school
that we replaced. |
very difficult.
The workers were men from the community with
children in these schools, and since we did not pay them money
for their labor, twice a week the foundation gave each man and
his family food, and at school time, gave each of their children
a knapsack with the required school supplies. The cost of this
is part of the $16,696.
Students eating a meal in the
classroom. The funding for this food comes from FAO,
another NGO. For some of these poor students, this is
the only meal they will get for the day. |
We also dug a well for the casa materna in Siuna. Before the
well was put in, the pregnant women had to walk 3 miles to the
river to fetch water in buckets. Now, just steps from the front
door of the maternity clinic, the women have plenty of fresh,
clean water. The water passed quality tests by the Minister
of Health
Omar Espinoza, head of projects for Nicaragua,
drank the clean , cold water from the well.
The well also has a motor which keeps the cistern full. The
water from the cistern flows down into the clinic to supply
the toilet and showers. There is enough water to also supply
the examining rooms, the pharmacy and the offices. The well
is enclosed in a building that includes a shower and a place
to wash clothes.
The well was dedicated by one of the pregnant
women from the casa materna, who fell while carrying water
from the river. She safely delivered a healthy baby boy and
on behalf of all the women who have suffered in the past,
carrying water from the river, she dedicated the well. Now
women have water just steps from the clinic.
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