13 years breaking this cycle of poverty in Nicaragua
Education Plus Nicaragua program was founded in 2012 to help an extremely vulnerable demographic sector, providing them with love, nutrition, education and emotional development .
We believe that our programs and our
students are successful because we apply all of the following components individually
and holistically with unconditional love and absolute respect.
1) Nutrition and Health
Access to food is a basic human right
and that no child should suffer from preventable hunger. Thanks to you, our donors, and our
nutritional partners, all of our students have received at least one hot,
nutritious meal, one banana, and one glass of milk or fresh fruit juice every
weekday since 2012. For 20% of our
children, this may be the only meal they receive on any given day. This provides the nutrition that children
need to learn, grow, and develop. In the
same way, we attend as much as possible to the medical needs of our students: parasite
prevention , dental and vision check-ups, surgeries and specific emergencies.
2) Education
Education Plus believes that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty in Pantanal. This is why we provide supplementary
education incorporating critical thinking skills for all of our children, the education they need to lift themselves out of poverty. Our goal is to prevent school dropout providing the school supplies they need to study and stay in school, monitoring progress through periodic testing and report card checks and offering encouragement and a supportive learning environment. Our students receive classes in Spanish and literature, mathematics, English and computer science. In addition, they have library space and new technologies where they can do their school homework with support and follow-up.
3)Character Development
At Education Plus we believe it is just as important, if not more important, that all of our students grow up to be a good, caring people as it is for them to be well educated. Many of our students come from broken and/or abusive households. We teach them that their small, yet bright lives matter. Our 10 principles are the basis of our daily work: God, family, honesty, respect, share, encourage, smile, dream, love. More than anything, we give the children unconditional love and guidelines to become responsible and successful adults in life, that they might otherwise not have in their lives. Hence, our principles and regular seminars and workshops on behavior and emotions as well as our “Values Week” which we have every April featuring intensive study of ethics, values, self esteem, self discipline, and morals.
4)Mental Health Service
Due to the environment in which we
are located, cases of abuse, violence, drug addiction, alcoholism, mental
problems, emotional damage, are part of our students’ lives. At CDLS, our
students and their families find the psychological attention necessary to
overcome these difficulties and move forward in their lives in a positive way.
In addition, this program includes classes for parents where they find spaces
for emotional exchange and learning about important issues for them and the
students. A majority of our parents come to the classes as they are very
interested in what they do.
5)Home visits program
In
order to follow up and accompany our students, we have a program of home and
school visits carried out by our social workers to get to know their reality
and needs in depth. By getting closer to them we will be able to help them in
the best possible way.
6)Special Needs Program
At CDLS we promote inclusion and
respect for differences. That is why since 2022 we have a Special Needs Program
providing care to 50 students with physical and/or menthal disabilities. We attend cases of autism and
cerebral palsy that otherwise would not be able to receive their specialized
therapies due to the lack of accessibility of their homes and the limited
economic resources of their families.
7)Extracurricular activities
Independence and autonomy of students is achieved by stepping out
of their comfort zones and living new experiences. That is why at CDLS, we have
activities that take place outside of our facilities with different educational
and social purposes: fieldtrips, cultural and natural activities, exchange with
other organizations and schools, professional visitor presentations,
sports activities, etc showing the students that there is a better, much different life out
there. We also have several clubs for extra curricular activities: Bible Club, Art
Club and Dance Club.
8)University Program
Having our students complete their
college degree is the proudest thing we can feel! After high school graduation,
and if they have completed the necessary requirements and averages, our
students enter college life with all the financial and emotional support they
need to achieve their dreams.
