Sponsor a Child Today

Month: November 2013

John Primm

 Board Secretary

Having a Tiger by the Tail

John Primm grew up outside of St. Louis in Clayton, Missouri.  John studied at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas and Colorado College, where he was a member of the varsity soccer and lacrosse teams. Entering the business world after first his time in U. Mo Law School and The United States Army Reserves, most of his career was spent in the investment business as a municipal bond trader for N.Y.S.E. firms.  As  a member of the Colorado business community, John has served on several nonprofit boards and has taught Blind and Adaptive skiing for 25 years on a volunteer basis.  In 2006 he retired to Costa Rica, where currently resides and works as an ESL instructor.

John Previously spending his breaks volunteering at an orphanage in Cambodia and found it very rewarding.

Looking for something closer to home, John became interested in Education Plus after a visit to the school as a volunteer during one of his semester breaks, where he was inspired by the children and the organization’s mission.  Since then he has been a steadfast supporter and repeat visitor to Education Plus, providing the organization with endless support and key operations advice.  Education Plus is grateful to John for his expert opinions, constructive critical feedback, and steadfast guidance.

 

John with the kids

John with the kids

Yamileth Castillo

Chef

IMG_2848Yami is our hard working full time chef.  Yami wakes up to go to the market at 4am in order for us to get the best prices on our vegetables, and always makes delicious food that the children love.  Yami has previously worked as a cook in restaurants in Granada.  She is the mother of three of our students, Prisila, Gabriela, and Diana (pictured left).  We are very grateful to Yami for all of her hard work!

IMG_6340

 

Joel Lindenberg

Board Treasurer

IMG_8570A dynamic executive, Mr. Lindenberg brings more than a decade of business and corporate development experience to Education Plus. In his professional life, Mr. Lindenberg has been instrumental in driving high level strategy in both private equity and entrepreneurial capacities.  His financial expertise and networks have been an invaluable asset to Education Plus.

Mr. Lindenberg began his career in venture capital, financing a portfolio of early stage tech and bio tech companies at Trautman Wasserman’s San Francisco practice. He honed his deal making skills consulting for tier one private equity firms such as H.I.G. Capital and The Jordan Company as an origination associate at Dinan and Company. Early stage investment banking at Growthink Incled him to his first tech start up where he oversaw all aspects of corporate development from capital formation through joint ventures and the eventual exit of cloud based, IT services provider, Artistforce Inc. Joel holds an MA in economics from the University of California Santa Barbara.

Joel leads Education Plus Nicaragua’s Board Meeting and assists in its fundraising campaigns.  He is continually mining his corporate contacts in an effort to expand support for Education Plus internationally.  Joel has spent over a month working with the children as a volunteer Education Plus in the past and has never forgotten his time with them in Pantanal.

 

Joel serving Pizza to the kids on Thanksgiving day, 2012

Joel serving Pizza to the kids on Thanksgiving day, 2012

Diana Castillo

Diana Castillo, 3

Diana Castillo, 3

Name: Diana Adeliah Castillo

Birthday: November 2010

Grade: Preschool

Home life: Diana lives in a tiny one room wood home with her mother and two sisters (Prisila and Gabriela).  She shares a bed with Gabi and her mother.

Favorite school subject: playing

Likes to do for fun: play with the volunteers, eat, dance bachata (or at least what she calls bachata!)

What she wants to be in the future: undecided

Where she would like to travel if she could travel anywhere in the world: Germany, to visit Anja (former volunteer)

What would she wish for if he could have one wish: that Anja would come back to Nicaragua

Short story about Diana, October 2013, by former volunteer Anja

Actually the story isn’t really about a child of the Education Plus Program, but for me it is. It’s about Diana. Diana isn’t a student, but she is the youngest girl of the Pantanal family. So she’s living in the house where the school is. By the time I was in Granada, she was just starting to talk a little more. And being only two years old she was so cute. Her normal day was perfect when there was enough food and action. She was always running around or watching the class. And after two or three weeks, she knew and trusted me. I think I was the first volunteer who really had a friendship with this cute little girl. So every time I came to the school in the morning, she ran outside the house to say Anja, Anja, Anja – over and over. Even though she didn’t know the names of any of the other volunteers, she knew mine, and every morning she would ask her mother if I was coming to see her. At the school, she always wanted me to pick her up and carry her around. Even if I was busy I couldn’t say no to her – never. And then there was the day when she got a new haircut, made by her mum. She looked so funny with this short hair, maybe like a boy? Well the important thing about the haircut story is, that the family, some other children and especially Monica started to call her “pelon” (baldy)– poor Diana! When I was still in Granada, I was like: “how can they call this cute little girl (my best friend in Pantanal!) pelon”??? But back here in Germany it is actually so cute that I started thinking of her as “my pelon”! She just is my “pelon” and I will never forget her. She is reason enough for going back to Pantanal! See you next summer my pelon!

We Love you Anja, especially Pelon!!!!

Anja and "pelon"

Anja and “pelon”

Diana cleaning the front porch of the school

Diana cleaning the front porch of the school

Diana, during Christmas 2012 art project

Diana, during Christmas 2012 art project

"Pelon", with her little boy's haircut

“Pelon”, with her little boy’s haircut

 

 

 

Luis Navarro

Luis Navarro, 12

Luis Navarro, 12

 

Name: Luis Alfredo Navarro

Birthday: 27 June 2001

Grade: 2

Home life: Luis lives in a one room home with his 5 siblings (including Esperanza, Wanda, and Estiven) and grandmother

Favorite school subject: Math

Likes to do for fun: play soccer

What he wants to be in the future: a police man

Where he would like to travel if he could travel anywhere in the world: USA

What would he wish for if he could have one wish: to have a good job

 

Short Story about Luis: November 2013

IMG_339518 year old German volunteer Leonie Hohnholz runs a literacy program with volunteer Inga Plum in tangent with our regular English program. Leonie and Inga are working hard so that no child is forgotten – at Education Plus, we believe that every child, not just the top performers, has equal potential and deserves an equal amount of attention.

One of Leonie’s students is a 12 year old boy named Luis.  Luis lives with his grandmother and 5 siblings in a one room home without floors, windows, or a functioning door.  His mother disappeared five years ago during a work trip to Costa Rica, after which his father abandoned the family.  His grandmother, toLuis’s embarrassment, constantly refers to him as slow in front of the other children. However, he has had several impediments to learning which are not his fault. Luis is behind other children his age because was taken out of school for a few years in order to harvest coffee to support his siblings.  His cousins give him a hard time about studying to read instead of playing with them in the streets because it’s just not cool.  But Luis, with the support of Leonie, has surprised us all!  Leonie tells us:

“Yesterday I was working with Luis and, because he didn’t show up for reading class for a long time, I thought we would have to repeat again, but we actually made a very big progress. When we first started he didn’t even know letters. But he actually remembered this time and after an hour of working with him, at the end he could actually start to read! We started with syllables and then we finished he was reading real words. I was so happy about it and he was very happy too! When I told him that he really made progress he was very proud, and you could see it on his face. The next day I told him I wanted to take a picture of him reading and put it on the internet to show everyone because I was so proud of his progress, and he was so happy! You could really see it in his smile.”

We are so proud of Leonie and Luis, and look forward to updating you on his progress over the coming years!
Update : March 2014
Luis is now reading by himself and will often jump into other children’s reading classes to help out and show off his skills.
Leonie and Luis reading together

Leonie and Luis reading together

Luis studying hard at Edu+ with his fellow "Tigers"

Luis studying hard at Edu+ with his fellow “Tigers”

 

Volunteer Spotlight

Volunteer Spotlight

Volunteer Sean teaching the kids how to play chess

Volunteer Sean teaching the kids how to play chess

Education Plus could not operate without the dedication, sacrifice, and hard work of our Volunteers.  Our spotlight this month shines on not one, but all of our very talented and very special current Vols.

We have quite a few Vols that are with us for several months, which gives the children a sense of continuity and security.  It also gives the Vols an opportunity to develop relationships that will last a lifetime.

Our current Vols come from many different parts of the world including Belgium, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Nicaragua, and the US.  They are all involved to do the grocery shopping, feeding, cleaning, teaching, counseling, tutoring, keeping track of attendance, home visits, event planning, accounting, and much, much more.

Because we are a small grass roots organization, it is very easy to add components to our program.  If a Volunteer comes up

Inga and Leonie during reading class

German volunteers Inga and Leonie teaching reading class

with an idea, we can try it out and see if it works.

That is the case with our new reading program which was conceived and implemented by Leonie and Inga, two of our Vols from Germany. The reading program appears to be on its way to great success. Leonie also came up with the idea of an Eco Day, where the students collected plastic waste from around the neighborhood and learned about recycling.

We also have an entire family from the US, the Walsh family from the Seattle area.  Jerry, the father, has been a great help in the construction of our new latrine, Annissa, the mother, is a nurse and along with many other duties, takes care of any medical issues that the students may have.

Daughter Keeley, 18, is our “Executive Intern” as she wants to start her own educational and social project someday.  Keeley is involved in many administrative duties and is wise beyond her years, with a work ethic that we are sure her parents are very

Annissa Walsh reading with the children

Annissa Walsh reading with the children

proud of.  Younger daughter Erin, volunteers at the program when she is not in her own classes, helping with mealtime and keeping things clean and orderly.  Not to forget little Dex, who has made friends with many of the younger students and is usually found playing games with them, despite the language barrier.

Sean, a recent high school graduate, also from the US, has become quite the teacher and is a great role model for our boys.  He has a natural gift for communicating with the students on their level has been an all around big help with day to day operations.

Dissa, a native of Indonesia who has traveled the world and has a Master’s Degree in Accounting, has put her skills to good use by handling our accounting and finances.  She has also volunteered to continue working with us remotely, via computer, after

Volunteer Joyce Dubuc from Canada

Volunteer Joyce Dubuc from Canada

she departs Nicaragua in late November.

Joyce, a wonderful Canadian woman with a huge heart and love for children, volunteers with us part time as she is involved with several organizations in Nicaragua.  Joyce has supplied our students with dental supplies and shoes along with her smile and her gentle way with them.

Most recently, we have also added Luna from Belgium, and Laura-Ann, from Germany, who are still becoming acclimated to our program and to Nicaragua.  They are both showing great potential and we are sure that their ideas, contributions, and work in the next several months will make a big difference in the lives of our students.

Next week, we welcome Karoline, also from Germany, to Education Plus. We will have to wait and see what talents and ideas she brings, but we are sure she will be a positive asset to Education Plus.

Volunteers Keeley, USA, and Dissa, Indonesia

Volunteers Keeley, USA, and Dissa, Indonesia

This tribute to our current Volunteers would not be complete without Valeria, whom we call our “Voluntaria Número Uno”.  She is the 21 year old daughter of the family that most graciously gives us the use of their home to operate Education Plus.  Valeria has been working with us for over a year and can be found helping to prepare meals, washing dishes, or reading with the children.  Valeria is also attending English Classes in Granada, courtesy of one of our donors, and is scheduled to graduate from Computer School in December.

And of course, a special thank you to Monica and Jim, or fearless leaders who dedicate their time to making Education Plus run.  Together, our Volunteers truly are an international family, one that is giving valuable time, effort, and most importantly, love, to the most impoverished, yet so very special, children of Nicaragua.

A Really, Really BIG THANK YOU to:

Leonie Hohnholz and Jerry Walsh, working on our new latrine

Leonie Hohnholz and Jerry Walsh, working on our new latrine

Past Volunteer Spotlights

Annissa
Dex
Dissa
Erin
Inga
Jerry
Jim
Joyce
Karoline
Keeley
Laura-Ann
Leonie
Luna
Monica
Sean
Valeria

This post was written by Education Plus Development Director Jim Durham

Education Plus Weekly Volunteer Meeting

Education Plus Weekly Volunteer Meeting

Medical Brigade Comes to Pantanal

S0385061On Friday, 8 November 2013, our lovely barrio, Pantanal welcomed a medical brigade team from Bless Back Nicaragua. With a help from our long-time friend, Naomi Heidorn and her organization, Los Rayos de Esperanza, more than twenty doctors and nurses visited our school that day, to provide our children and their families a better access to health services. We are very grateful for this opportunity and judging from the number of people who came, the barrio was very thankful as well.

We set up our school to fit six consultation tables. A team of approximately two doctors and nurses attended each table. Our volunteers prepared a list of our children and their family members’ name. Based on that list, we called our children to come with their family, so that everyone could get examined and received medicines when it was needed. We measured their height and weight as well as asked them to write down their health concerns. After the examination, our children received a banana and a goodie-bag prepared by the team of doctors.

Sounds easy enough? Apparently not really. Although our volunteers had been informing about this opportunity to the children and their family member from couple days in advanced, there were many children that came alone. Some of them told us that their parents were working and some told us that the parents did not want to come. However, as a precaution, the doctors refrained from giving medicines to the children if they came alone. Therefore, our volunteers accompanied the children who came alone, listened to the exam and later informed the family directly about the children’s condition.

Teresa

Teresa

That is when I realized that the children are like family to us volunteers. When some of them were nervous waiting in line, we held their hands and told them everything is going to be okay.  Accompanying them during the exam has also helped us to learn about their health condition that they never share before. From the session, we figured out that Moises, our 12-year-old English class student told us that he only eats once in a day, which is with us at dinnertime. The doctors gave him vitamins and packaged potatoes.

We also listened to some heartbreaking stories. One of them came from Teresa, one of our pre-schoolers. She came alone to the examination and had to be accompanied by one of our volunteers. After the examination, our volunteer, Laura, went to Teresa’s house to explain to her parents about the medicine that Teresa needs to take. Laura then found out that Teresa’s sister is autistic. However, since the family does not have sufficient knowledge about autism, they always refer her as “crazy”.  At the moment, with the help from Los Rayos de Esperanza we are looking for special school that can accommodate her needs.

We are very thankful for this opportunity. Bless Back Nicaragua and Los Rayos de Esperanza have helped us to provide health aids to more than 100 children and their family members that day. We received medicines, check ups and other medical attention needed by our community. The children and the family in Pantanal are also grateful for the visit. Some of the children even told us that they would like to be doctors when they grow up, when we asked why, one of them answered, “Because they make my mom feel better and put a smile on her face.” Yes, there were a lot of smiles that day.

Parents and their children waiting to be seen by the doctors

Parents and their children waiting to be seen by the doctors

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