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Submission: Judy Miller
Two years ago, Linda Weber and I made our first trip to Nicaragua. Our goal was to introduce square-meter gardens to the school children of the tiny community of Las Lagunas, near Boaco, in the south-central portion of the country. The idea behind the square-meter garden concept is that with the proper instruction and care, a high-yield garden can be maintained in a small area in order to provide important vitamins and other nutrients that are typically lacking to the diets of impoverished families.
Our square-meter garden teaching assignment was designed as a cooperative effort between Las Lagunas' teacher, students, and community. We set out to build and plant the gardens with the hope that the practice would become not just accepted, but widespread, at the home, school, and community levels. As with so many other trips and efforts made by others in Nicaragua, both the task itself and the successes realized became so much larger than initially anticipated.
Our excitement grew daily as we worked with the students, and by collaborating closely with their teacher, Jilma Ramos Escoto, we became acquainted with each of them personally. Aged six to fourteen, they were so receptive and eager to learn. We soon discovered that several in the group were very bright with wonderful leadership skills. We learned about Jilma's hopes for the students and their limited educational future.
We became concerned when we learned that the children of this rural mountain community only had access to a free education through the sixth grade. If they wished to continue with their education, they would have to travel by foot or highway bus to Boaco, which is approximately eleven kilometers from Las Lagunas. For most of these children's parents, that was financially impossible. After much discussion with Jilma and Pedro Rodriguez, the community leader, we decided that something must be done to ensure the educational future of these children.
During the winter following our trip, Linda and I established a scholarship fund through the W/NP office. We wrote our project proposal and implementation guidelines, established criteria, communicated with Pedro, made our first deposits into the account, and subsequently learned of the enrollment of ten young people from Las Lagunas in secondary school. What exciting news!
This past summer we returned to Las Lagunas to work on another project. During that time, we had the opportunity to meet with "our kids." They told us about their school experiences, the challenges and successes of their school year, and the lack of school supplies with which students must contend. We still needed to work out a few scholarship program "bugs" with Jilma, Pedro, the students, and their families.
Nicaragua is a country besieged with poverty, and education is vital for the future of these and other children. We are extremely proud of the young Nicaraguans with whom we've had the pleasure to work. We continue to be amazed by their diligence and dedication in their studies, the self-discipline that they show in completing the daily journey necessary just to attend school, and their articulated goals for the future.
As teachers ourselves, Linda and I are extremely proud of the scholarship program and its early successes. We have been able to provide these young people with something that cannot be removed, lost, or destroyed. Linda and I are currently supporting this program on our own, but anyone can be involved in this endeavor. We encourage others to establish or join similar programs that enable disadvantaged children and adults to gain confidence and independence.
Donations for the Las Lagunas Scholarship fund should be clearly marked and sent directly to:
Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners of the Americas, Inc.
Nelson Hall, Room 134
1209 Fremont Street
Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481
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