Adriana Munos Garcia – Deutsche

Adriana Munos Garcia, 10

Adriana Munos Garcia, 10

Name: Adriana de los Angeles Munos Garcia

Geburtstag: 30 Januar 2003

Klassenstufe: 4

Wohnsituation: Adriana lebt in einem 2-Zimmer-Haus, zusammen mit ihren Eltern, ihrer aelteren Schwester und 2 Bruedern.

Lieblingsfach: Math

Lieblingssaenger: Selena

Hobbies: fernsehen, kochen, tanzen und lernen

Traumberuf: Aerztin

Traumreiseziel: Deutschland

Wichtigeste Sache in ihrem Leben: arbeiten zu koennen

Adriana, at the window of her home with her two little brothers, Brian and Andi

Adriana, at the window of her home with her two little brothers, Brian and Andi


Andi Garcia – Deutsche

Andy Munos Garcia, 7

Andi Munos Garcia, 7

Name: Andi Munos Garcia

Geburtstag: 2 Februar 2006

Klassenstufe:3

Wohnsituation: Andy wohnt in einer 2-Zimmer-Haus , zusammen mit seinen Eltern und seinen 3 Geschwistern

Lieblingsfach: Naturwissenschaften

Lieblingsessen: Huenchen

Hobbies: spielen

Traumberuf: Polizist

Traumreiseziel: Masaya (Stadt in Nicaragua )

Was er an seinem Leben aendern wuerde, haette er die Moeglichkeit : seinen Vater

IMG_6254b

Andi with his two sisters, brother, and mother, who sells food in the market

Andi and his little brother Brian

Andi and his little brother Brian

 


Diana Castillo – Deutsche

Diana Castillo, 3

Diana Castillo, 3

 

Name: Diana Adeliah Castillo

Geburtstag: November 2010

Klassenstufe: Vorschule

Wohnsituation: Diana lebt mit ihrer Mutter und ihren 2 Schwestern in einem Zimmer. Sie teilt sich ein Bett mit ihrer Mutter und einer ihrer Schwestern.
Lieblingsfach: spielen

Hobbies: mit dern Freiwilligen spielen, essen , tanzen

Traumberuf: noch unentschlossen

Traumreiseziel: Deutschland

Groesster Wunsch : dass Anja zurueckkommt

 

Kurze Geschichte über Diana, Oktober 2013, von ehemaliger Freiwilligen Anja

Eigentlich handelt meine Geschichte nicht von einem Kind aus dem Education Plus Programm, aber irgendwie doch. Dieses Kind – Diana – gehört zu dem Projekt, genauso wie alle anderen Schüler. Diana ist zwar noch keine Schülerin, die am Unterricht teilnehmen kann, aber sie ist das jüngste Kind der Pantanal-Familie und somit immer mit dabei. Die Familie stellt nämlich dem Projekt bzw. der Schule ihr Haus zur Verfügung.

Während meiner Zeit in Granada, begann sie gerade ein kleines bisschen mehr zu sprechen, was mit ihren zwei Jahren natürlich total süß war. Ansonsten war Dianas Tag schon perfekt, wenn sie durch die Gegend rennen konnte oder den anderen Kindern beim Unterricht zuschauen konnte. Am Anfang war sie mir gegenüber, genauso wie allen anderen Freiwilligen eher zurückhaltend, aber nach zwei oder drei Wochen vertraute sie mir. Ich denke, ich war die erste Freiwillige, mit der dieses süße kleine Mädchen Freundschaft schloss. Jeden Morgen, wenn ich in die Schule kam, ist Diana nach draußen gerannt und hat nicht aufgehört meinen Namen zu sagen – immer wieder. Und obwohl sie keinen Namen der anderen Freiwilligen wusste, kannte sie meinen. Ihre Mutter, Yami, erzählte mir sogar, dass Diana jeden Morgen fragte, ob ich in die Schule komm, um sie zu sehen. Wenn ich dann da war, wollte sie die ganze Zeit hochgenommen und durch die Gegend getragen werden. Sogar wenn ich wirklich beschäftigt war, konnte ich nie zu Diana nein sagen. Und dann kam dieser eine Tag, an dem Diana einen neuen Haarschnitt von ihrer Mutter bekommen hat. Sie sah so lustig aus mit dieser Frisur – vielleicht sogar ein bisschen wie ein Junge. Das wichtige an der Geschichte ist aber, dass ihre Familie, die anderen Kinder und vor allem Monica anfingen, sie „Pelon“ (Glatzkopf) zu rufen. Arme Diana! Deswegen war ich anfangs auch immer total dagegen. Wie konnten die anderen Leute nur dieses liebenswerte kleine Kind (meine beste Freundin in Pantanal) „Pelon“ nennen. Nur seitdem ich wieder zurück in Deutschland bin, finde ich das Ganze echt süß und ich habe angefangen an sie, als „mein Pelon“ zu denken. Sie ist einfach mein „Pelon“ und ich werde sie nie vergessen. Und Diana ist allein schon Grund genug nächstes Jahr wieder nach Nicaragua zu reisen. Bis nächsten Sommer mein „Pelon“!

Wir lieben dich Anja, besonders Pelon

Anja and "pelon"

Anja mit “Pelon”

Diana cleaning the front porch of the school

Diana beim Putzen des Eingangs der Schule

Diana, during Christmas 2012 art project

Diana während eines Kunstprojekts an Weihnachten 2012

"Pelon", with her little boy's haircut

Pelon mit ihrem kleinen Jungen Haarschnitt

 

 

 


Jose Luis – Deutsche

Jose Lopez, 8

Jose Lopez, 8

 

Name: Jose Luis Lopez Urbina

Geburtstag: 2 Maerz 2005

Klassenstufe: 3

Wohnsituation: Lebt in einem Zimmer mit seinen Eltern und seinem Bruder

Lieblingsfach: Mathe

Hobbies: spielen, Ausfluege mit seiner Familie

Traumberuf: Mechaniker

Traumreiseziel: Indonesien

Wichtigste Sache in ihrem/seinem Leben: arbeiten

 

 

Short story about Jose Luis, October 2013, by Dissa Ahdanisa

Dissa and Jose Luis

Dissa and Jose Luis

It was sunny and hot in Pantanal, and the kids were having their English class with Francis, the beloved teacher. Like other volunteers, I was helping some of the kids finishing their exercise. We went to some tables to sit down and help them if they have some questions. We were doing numbers in English. Professor Francis wrote down some number and the kids had to write it in English. Some kids did know what they were doing, so they came to us to confirm their answers, which mostly were correct. However, some weren’t that fortunate. They didn’t know how to say the numbers in English, let alone write them down. And José Lopez was one of them.

This cute 8 year old boy can write well and understand the what he needed to do to finish the exercise. He can spell 1-10 in english, he can say 100, 200 and other big numbers, but when we mix it, e.g 432 or 215, he gets confused. Instead of writing “two hundred fifteen”, he wrote “twenty one five”. So to finish his exercise, I tried to explain (with my broken spanish, of course) to him what to write and how to say “215”.

There were 10 questions and although it was a bit slow, we managed to finish all. He looked very happy and I was too! Not only because I get to help him finish, but also because I get to learn how to say these numbers in Spanish, win win indeed! 😉

Anyway, what I didnt expect was at the end of the class, he came to me and gave me a folded paper. He didn’t say anything and left straight away after I took the paper. I read it and this is what he wrote:

Jose Luis's love letter to Dissa

Jose Luis’s love letter to Dissa

Te mando esta carta y este corazon
(I send you this letter and this heart)

Te amo Dissa mucho mas
(I love you Dissa so much)

Jose y Dissa
(Jose and Dissa)

Te mando esta carta porque te quiero mucho mas.
(I sent you this letter because I love you very much)

Te amo mucho mas y te mando esta estrellas.
(I love you very much and I send you these stars)

Te amo mucho
(I love you so much)

Guess what? It’s a love letter! Yay! Hahaha I got my first love letter from José :). He drew a heart, lots of stars, and our name in every available space.  He is such a sweetheart and his letter made my day. I didn’t know why our simple tutoring session can make him write this cute letter. This is the most “te amo”s I got in a letter, haha.

IMG_2813

Jose Luis playing with Legos on activity day

Hearts Jose Luis drew for Dissa

Hearts Jose Luis drew for Dissa

 

 

 

 

 


Andi Garcia

Andy Munos Garcia, 7

Andi Munos Garcia, 7

Name: Andi Munos Garcia

Birthday: 9 February 2006

Grade: 3

Home life: Andi lives in a two room home with his mother, father, two older sisters (inlcuding Adriana) and little brother

Favorite school subject: Science

Favorite food: Chicken

Likes to do for fun: Play

What he wants to be in the future: Police Man

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

The thing he loves the most in his life: His mother

The one thing he would change in his life if he could: His father

 

Andy PG

IMG_6254b

Andi with his two sisters, brother, and mother, who sells food in the market

Andi and his little brother Brian

Andi and his little brother Brian

Andi paints volunteer's face :)

Andi paints volunteer’s face 🙂

 

 


Adriana Munos Garcia

Adriana Munos Garcia, 10

Adriana Munos Garcia, 10

Name: Adriana de los Angeles Munos Garcia

Birthday: 30 January 2003

Grade: 4

Home life: Adriana lives in a two room home with her mother, father, older sister and two little brothers (including Andi)

Favorite school subject: Math

Favorite singer: Selena

Likes to do for fun: watch tv, cook, dance and study

What she wants to be in the future: Doctor

Where she would like to travel if she could travel anywhere in the world: Germany

What is the most important thing in the world to her: to be able to work

Adriana, at the window of her home with her two little brothers, Brian and Andi

Adriana, at the window of her home with her two little brothers, Brian and Andi


Jose Luis

Jose Lopez, 8

Jose Lo

Short story about Jose Luis, October 2013, by Dissa Ahdanisa

Dissa and Jose Luis

Dissa and Jose Luis

It was sunny and hot in Pantanal, and the kids were having their English class with Francis, the beloved teacher. Like other volunteers, I was helping some of the kids finishing their exercise. We went to some tables to sit down and help them if they have some questions. We were doing numbers in English. Professor Francis wrote down some number and the kids had to write it in English. Some kids did know what they were doing, so they came to us to confirm their answers, which mostly were correct. However, some weren’t that fortunate. They didn’t know how to say the numbers in English, let alone write them down. And José Lopez was one of them.

This cute 8 year old boy can write well and understand the what he needed to do to finish the exercise. He can spell 1-10 in english, he can say 100, 200 and other big numbers, but when we mix it, e.g 432 or 215, he gets confused. Instead of writing “two hundred fifteen”, he wrote “twenty one five”. So to finish his exercise, I tried to explain (with my broken spanish, of course) to him what to write and how to say “215”.

There were 10 questions and although it was a bit slow, we managed to finish all. He looked very happy and I was too! Not only because I get to help him finish, but also because I get to learn how to say these numbers in Spanish, win win indeed! 😉

Anyway, what I didnt expect was at the end of the class, he came to me and gave me a folded paper. He didn’t say anything and left straight away after I took the paper. I read it and this is what he wrote:

Jose Luis's love letter to Dissa

Jose Luis’s love letter to Dissa

Te mando esta carta y este corazon
(I send you this letter and this heart)

Te amo Dissa mucho mas
(I love you Dissa so much)

Jose y Dissa
(Jose and Dissa)

Te mando esta carta porque te quiero mucho mas.
(I sent you this letter because I love you very much)

Te amo mucho mas y te mando esta estrellas.
(I love you very much and I send you these stars)

Te amo mucho
(I love you so much)

Guess what? It’s a love letter! Yay! Hahaha I got my first love letter from José :). He drew a heart, lots of stars, and our name in every available space.  He is such a sweetheart and his letter made my day. I didn’t know why our simple tutoring session can make him write this cute letter..

IMG_2813

Jose Luis playing with Legos on activity day

Hearts Jose Luis drew for Dissa

Hearts Jose Luis drew for Dissa

 

 

 

 

 


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