Lynda Pracht, New Richmond, Wisconsin and long time Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners of the Americas, Inc. member, received the 2003 Dumond Peck Hill Volunteer of the Year Award for her outstanding dedication to international service and volunteerism. The award was presented November 20 at the annual Partners of the Americas, Inc. International Convention in Lexington, Kentucky.
Pracht received the award in recognition of her work with the Chica Nica Doll Dresses. The project provides a means for Nicaraguan women to translate needlework skills into much needed income for their families.
A direct result of Pracht's W/NP involvement is the growing network of 79 Learning Centers that continues to emerge across Nicaragua and offers great potential in expanding the educational and vocational opportunities available to rural Nicaraguans.
The annual Volunteer of the Year Award is presented in honor of Dumond Peck Hill, a long time friend of the organization, whose twenty year commitment to POA exemplified the spirit of international volunteerism.
Lynda's example reaches across cultures and inspires them. Mayra Mendoza recently wrote from Buenos Aires, Nicaragua, "I want to tell you that my whole family is very proud and happy. Personally, I don’t have the words to thank you and Compañeros enough for the help and hope you have given us. I feel like a woman with potential that can be useful to my community because of my new energies and skills and your help. Together, we have supported the people. My oldest daughter Marleng works with Compañeros' Nicaragua Reads project, and I am learning it too for the day when I can give the classes. Maysell, age fourteen, has her own interests, and I am helping her give painting and drawing classes. She has six students and is very proud that she is giving something back. Scarleth, age ten, helps me teach the knitting and sewing classes. To finish, my daughters and I are working for the benefit of our community's people. It was the whole Compañeros team that gave us the motivation. Again, we are very grateful. Thank you."
