Two WCRF board members (Angela McMillan and Jayna Hendershot) recently completed a trip to La Calle Real to meet with key leaders of the community center, where they received updates on WCRF programs. They also provided training in selected programs in which WCRF has been providing long term support through our coordinators in LCR. (Read More)

1. Business loan program. We visited two people who have completed the business course and submitted their market analysis and other paperwork. One was Berta who needs an oven to make her pottery, and the other was Juan who needs to make a storefront to sell his stuff.

2. Followed up on the work for food program. Currently there is no budget the rest of the year for this, but they are looking at projects for the start of January.

3. Volleyball court. Hermes said he would talk to Martha about getting some land to do it. Also we discussed getting estimates in Managua for the materials, which they haven’t done yet.

4. Special needs. Jayna did several home visits to follow up with families. We also attended the special-needs class, which is now divided into two sections. The first group is for more severe students and it’s just a chance for social interaction. The second group is for more advanced kids with special needs, and in this class more teaching is done. This is a new development as of a month ago and it is going very well. Veronica is doing an excellent job, and incorporating other things into the class, like a recent field trip to watch a baseball game for all the special needs kids.

5. English class. There are still two groups taking English at the center. One group is a morning class on Tuesdays and Thursdays and another group is an afternoon class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There are about eight kids in each group. I taught the class the whole week I was there and motivated them to continue working toward a scholarship. Fernando and Roberto were enrolled for their second module. They are progressing nicely and following through on attendance and getting good grades.

6. Nutrition program. We met with some youth Council members who are continuing to do this. The budget will run out soon, but they feel very positive about it. They are also looking at doing a small garden at the center which could be shared with those most impoverished. They also do educational classes when they deliver the meals to the families that have been chosen. Jayna and I talked about using any excess special needs funding to continue to keep this program going.

7. School visits. We visited three different elementary Schools to deliver school supplies collected from an Eagle Scout project that Jayna’s nephew did. We were also able to deliver the remaining uniforms and shoes from a previous Eagle Scout project. All visits went very well and it was a good community outreach activity.

8. I saw some computer classes going on with a couple of students. I was not able to attend them, but I know there is a need for working laptops for this class to continue to be effective.

9. We had the first ever graduating class of our self-reliance course that Hermes taught. About 32 students in our completed the course and developed a life plan. We had a small graduation ceremony and a meal for them. All were awarded with certificates from WCRF. Our goal is to now start the one on one mentoring. Students will meet on Saturdays with air maze at the center and discuss specifics of their life plan and look at each step. We discussed other options outside of the university in Leon, such as technical courses offered in the city. Nicole also mentioned raising money for an education scholarship fund that would help with costs of transportation or other things that currently prohibit certain kids in the area from doing any further education.

10. Literacy and library program. Jayna was able to attend one reading session. She did meet with Naomi who seems to be organizing the library well and coming up with new ideas for the kids. Jayna had the idea of making the back room into a nicer looking library with perhaps a Miral or some tile on the floor.

11. Youth Council. This has become a bit disjointed, but I did meet with three members who are still carrying on with some projects. Their goal is to look for some more older high school students and get them involved in the projects. We committed to monthly training sessions via Skype.

12. Training for Hermes and Juan. Dayanna Rojas and Monica who came last summer, have committed to do monthly leadership trainings with our staff down there. The first one will take place tomorrow Tuesday morning and typically we are trying to hold them every Tuesday morning once a month. This will be a great benefit as they are both involved in businesses in Latin America and have a keener insight on developing programs and businesses within this culture.