Project Schoolhouse

Improving Nicaraguan lives by building new, community water systems, and improving sanitation.

December 2022 Newletter

A Successful Cien Amigos 2023!

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Thanks to your support, we were able to meet the Still Water Foundation’s $25k Challenge match, doubling the impact of donations on the night.

We are grateful to our friends, family, and supporters for joining us virtually and in person on our biggest night of the year! This is not your typical fundraising ‘gala’ but a simple, but inspiring evening where those who believe in this work invite friends and family to learn more.

We’re grateful to the Austin Cosmopolitan Rotary Club, UT UNICEF, and Public Health student groups for volunteering to make this event go!

If you would like to receive these photos, send us a message! info@projectschoolhouse.org

A Successful Giving Tuesday

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How One Family Came Together to Help Us ‘Stuff the Shelves’

As we neared the end of the construction of the Bilampi school, we dedicated the special Day of Giving to fundraise for a new mini-library so students could have access to books, coloring pencils, and other supplies. 

We are thrilled to report the success of our #GivingTuesday initiative to ‘Stuff the Shelves’ for the new Bilampi school, thanks in large part to one of our sustaining donors.

They have a beautiful family tradition of coming together each holiday season to dedicate their gifts to one organization. We were touched to learn that this year, Project Schoolhouse was the chosen nonprofit. 

“Our family chooses one charity every holiday season. We were excited to see exactly where our family contributions would go. Not a lot of people can say that they know exactly where their donations go, and to be able to build an entire library makes us so happy.”

We are excited to share new photos once the school is inaugurated and opens to the children next February for the new school year with their new library. Thank you to all of you who donated to Bilampi’s mini-library campaign.

Outside view of the new Bilampi School

Furniture and shelves ready to be moved in in the new school.

Greetings from Executive Director

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Bilampi, Bocana de Paiwas: We completed a water and latrine project in Bilampi, which began in 2021. This was one of the most extensive, fully-distributed water projects in our history, including 22 km of hand-dug trench to lay the water distribution lines to reach every home, plus two churches and three schools. It’s really a beautiful part of the country, further east than we’ve ever worked, in the region of Bocana de Paiwas. We’re grateful to Rotary International and several Austin-area Rotary Clubs who supported this project.

  Children in the community of Fatima, Bilampi, with clean water at their school!
Community member, Bilampi, Nicaragua, with safe water in her home. 

Rosario Las Vegas: In July we broke ground in the community of Rosario Las Vegas on a fully-distributed water and latrine project. We’re grateful to The Burdine Johnson Foundation for their support of this project. We expect to turn on safe, clean water in homes by Christmas! 

Image: Community members trenching for the main conduction line in Rosario Las Vegas, Rio Blanco.

San Isidro, Rio Blanco: Lastly, in partnership with UT Austin Enactus and Localized Water, we installed our first rainwater catchment system at the school in the community of San Isidro. This project was a pilot to test out a solution that gets safe water to schools in a quick, low-cost way while we work our way through the multi-year pipeline of communities waiting for the fully-distributed system we typically install.

Left to right: Community members in San Isidro with the UT Students, UT Team working on Rain Water Project. 

We are particularly proud to have completed all of these projects while navigating the ever-changing complexity of the local government laws and regulations. We are optimistic that we’re through the highest of these hurdles, allowing us to refocus on the projects and programs that are so crucial to the communities with whom we partner. Huge thank you to our local team who has worked tirelessly through these hurdles and uncertainties with persistence and tenacity. I wanted to share a couple of photos of our team at work. The treks into these communities are long and arduous; these projects would not be possible without their dedication. 

Left to right: Our head builder Manuel, with his trusty T-square. Maria Ines, Cristian, and Norma escorted by a community member.

Looking ahead to 2023:

I had the opportunity to travel extensively in Nicaragua this summer, my first trips since covid lockdowns, and I can say the need has never been greater. We plan to partner on new schoolhouses in Rosario and Bilampi and in a third community, a fully distributed water project.  Your support makes these projects possible – thank you. For any questions or a more detailed update, you can always reach me at selina@projectschoolhouse.org.

With gratitude and best wishes in the New Year!

Selina Serna 
Executive Director

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