Dear Friends,
We have great news!
Neighbors to Nicaragua runs only two fund drives a year. Our mid-year appeal will shortly be on its way to you. Our focus is on food which requires a significant portion of our annual resources ($62,000 last year).
What makes this summer drive so special for us and for our community is that through the generosity of Dr. Anand Panwalker, every donation dollar up to $25,000 will be matched. Our goal is to raise $25,000 and to have it matched. This will cover the majority of our food needs for 2024 and into 2025!
Please help us make the most of this generous gift. If you know anyone who would like to receive a copy or if you would like multiple copies to share, let us know. We are always grateful for the opportunity to expand our family.
Our thanks to Tony Ross for his designing wizardry and to Nancy Day who tirelessly assembled and mailed our campaign for us.
In the meantime, enjoy the official start to summer!
With gratitude always,
Chuck
Celebrating Our Children
El Día de los Niños (Children’s Day) is celebrated on June 1st in Nicaragua. Each teacher had fun to share in the classroom and a treat to enjoy. We wanted to post a few pictures of good times for our great children.
Our Youth on the Move
Our thanks to our donors for the gift they provided our youth group members. Maycól, our general director, and Gian Carlos, our program director, worked to prepare them for the Earth Day event in Managua. Our students took full ownership and did beautiful work with their presentation, their learning opportunities, and their behavior. It was a milestone for them to represent themselves admirably among peers from all around the country! This adventure sounds small, but in a setting where students have no opportunities or resources for leaving their daily narrow, familiar setting, this was like an international trip for them. Thank you again!
Preparation
Presentation and Education
And, of course, the BEST part of Earth Day for our boys?
SNAKES!
Neighbors to Nicaragua: In the Background
Johanna del Socorro Lopes
Several times a day, every day, our director, Maycól receives requests for emergency help from our neighbors. It’s difficult to say “no,” because nearly all the requests are valid. Perhaps the most difficult part of his job is determining which requests are most urgent and how to regretfully turn down others when the need for housing, food, medicine, and medical care are all endemic to our barrio. Each month, we spend $2,300 in emergency aid, helping as we can.
*****
Meet Johanna del Soccoro Lopez. She’s 44 years old, the mother of 3 children. Johanna was never able to learn how to read and write when she was young. She wanted better for her children, and she sends her oldest daughter to our center where she’s doing beautifully.
Recently, Johanna suffered a diagnosis of breast cancer. Neighbors to Nicaragua helps with her medical treatments and transportation. She is an excellent mother who, with her partner, does everything possible to ensure a good life for her beautiful family.
When It All Comes Together: José Santos Larios Muños
José came to us when he was 10. He couldn’t read, write, or solve simple math problems. Yet he was in an accelerated public school to get “caught up,” trying to complete two years (1st and 2nd grade) in one year. It wasn’t working.
First Darling, then Jenny worked closely with him because he was dedicated to learning. After three years, he graduated from our program, and this school year, he entered secondary school, self assured and grateful.
He came back to visit recently to say thanks, not only for the knowledge but also for the values he gained through being with us.
José, you make our day! Congratulations.
Age 10 and Age 14
