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

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Education

Building Hope: Meet Galer and Oscar, Finding Promise in Ponsoña’s New School and Water Project

October 19, 2024 by Project Schoolhouse

By Adriana Banchs

With construction in La Ponsoñita in full swing, the air is filled with energy and excitement as community members anticipate the opportunities that lie ahead. Whether it’s the books in the soon-to-be library or the drinking water available just steps away from their classrooms, students are eager to share how this project will shape their daily lives and futures. Among those I had the privilege of speaking with were Oscar, a 4th-grade student, and his dedicated teacher, Geler.

From the moment I sat down virtually with Geler, it was clear how much love and togetherness permeates this rural, lush community. With over 20 years of experience as a primary school teacher, Geler reflected on his decision to trade teaching in his city for the long commute to La Ponsoñita. “I like it a lot more,” he said, as he painted a vivid picture of a tight-knit, supportive network of families and students. When he was hospitalized recently, Geler recounted how families visited him, bringing food and thoughtful offerings. It was a testament to the deep bonds he shares with the community—a place he clearly holds close to his heart.

While Geler spoke with immense gratitude for his school family, he also shed light on the significant challenges the community faces. As a teacher responsible for teaching 54 students from 1st to 6th grade, he balances an incredible workload. Teaching such a wide range of ages is demanding, especially when trying to meet the diverse academic needs of each student. The cramped conditions in the current school make this even more difficult.

Due to limited space, many students are taught outside, which becomes particularly problematic during Nicaragua’s rainy season. When rain forces the children inside, the small, overcrowded classroom makes it nearly impossible for them to focus. “Keeping all the students engaged becomes an issue, and the students get restless,” Geler explained.

He also shared insights into why students sometimes drop out, citing a lack of educational materials, long walks to school, and parents’ concerns about their children walking alone. One point that stood out was how quickly students’ backpacks and notebooks wear out, often damaged by the rain during their daily commutes.

Despite the current challenges, Geler remains hopeful and excited about the future for his students. He knows that the school will improve attendance, help the kids feel more welcome and comfortable in the space, and spark a greater love for learning in the community. “The community will have another vision for the future in both the children’s and parents’ lives” he told me. “The parents will see an environment that fosters learning,” referencing not only how the new school will satisfy functional necessity, but also boost morale throughout the community. 

One student who shares this optimism is 13-year-old Oscar. He eagerly agreed with his teacher about the positive changes ahead. Oscar described his typical day as a student at La Ponsoñita, which includes a 30-minute walk through the mountains—sometimes alone, other times with friends. He brings water from a creek close to his house and hopes it will last him the full day. If it doesn’t he has to wait until he gets home to quench his thirst. 

With dreams of his own, Oscar hopes to become an engineer, envisioning a future where he’s the one working on construction projects like the one transforming his community. Envisioning his school, Oscar is the most excited for the ample room, new books, and clean water. With all of these needs met, Oscar says it will be easier to pay attention at school and really dive into the lesson plans. Students will no longer be cramped, thirsty, and overwhelmed by the constant movement and noise. Oscar stated that the new school already looks beautiful, and he is proud to be a part of La Ponsoñita.

After hearing Geler and Oscar’s testimonies about being a part of this community, it is clear that La Ponsoña and its surrounding areas feel a sense of ownership and pride over the work that’s taking place throughout the region. They are not only looking forward to the completion of La Ponsoñita, but also to lasting change and growing opportunity in the lives of those around them, and those to come. 

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Filed Under: Clean Water, Community Engagement, Education, Meet Stories, News From the Field, People Driven Development, Water Tagged With: October 2024 Newsletter

A Successful Giving Tuesday

December 21, 2023 by Renata

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.

Filed Under: Community Engagement, December 2022 Newletter, Education Tagged With: December 2023 Newsletter

El Aulo After-School Club Program Update

December 21, 2023 by Project Schoolhouse

A successful year for the Club!

We received this update from Cristian, who leads the volunteer effort of the After-School Club program:

“As the program coordinator, I am proud to call this school year a huge success. With the help of volunteers and the teacher at the El Aulo School, we have accomplished the goal of instilling and helping reinforce literature and language, math, and storybook hours. We have worked hand in hand with the volunteers and the teachers to come together and help the students with their struggles academically. 

We utilized a lot of learning and teaching strategies to do this work with the help of the UT Global Health group led by Dr. Felkner, a professor in the program. These activities have led the students to become more motivated to learn, write, and read. It has helped the students enrich their vocabulary and their writing skills. 

We have seen the change in the students; they are more sociable, they participate, and are more sure of themselves. They also enjoy the benefits of extracurricular activities, education, and a hot lunch, which has increased school attendance.”

We are excited to expand this program into new community schools in 2024.

Thank you for your support of the afterschool program in the Aulo school!

Filed Under: Community Engagement, Education, News From the Field, People Driven Development Tagged With: December 2023 Newsletter

A Journey of Hope

October 9, 2023 by Project Schoolhouse

Transforming Rural Nicaragua with Project Schoolhouse

Hi y’all! I’m Sara, and I have the privilege of serving as the organization’s President of the Board of Directors. I’ve been a longtime supporter of Project Schoolhouse, and formally joined as a board member in 2019.  I had the chance to visit rural Nicaragua for the first time in September, and wanted to share my perspective from the recent trip!

Stepping off the plane, I was greeted with warm smiles and open arms by the passionate members of Project Schoolhouse’s Nicaragua team and our Austin-based Executive Director. The team’s dedication to the cause was palpable, and it was clear from the outset that this was a group of individuals committed to making a tangible difference in the lives of those they served.

Over the course of our trip, we visited about ten pipeline communities in the Rio Blanco region, each with its own unique story and set of challenges. These were places where clean water, proper sanitation, and quality education were not just luxuries, but pressing necessities for survival and prosperity.

We ventured from the town of Rio Blanco by truck to each of the rural communities over the course of three days. This included an overnight stay in Bilami, where a family of an active project graciously housed and fed our 6 person travel team on their large “finca” (farm, in Spanish). 

In these communities, I had the privilege of meeting families who had spent generations without access to clean water, relying on contaminated sources that jeopardized their health and well-being. The children’s bright eyes and hopeful smiles, juxtaposed against the backdrop of their dilapidated schools, served as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for change.

In each of the communities, our team arrived with the promise to listen to voiced needs from the group of community representatives. Each representative’s pitch was individual, and they spoke of daily challenges unique to their local best-alternatives to clean water. While each conversation called out the challenges of the school and water infrastructure specific to that location, the themes and underlying root causes were 100% consistent: lack of access to clean water, sanitation systems, and suitable learning environments for the community’s children.

Over three intense days, our team navigated through the rugged terrain in off-road vehicles, weaving our way through the breathtaking landscapes. We were met with open arms and warm hearts, welcomed by a community united in their desire for a better future. In the faces of the thousands we met, we saw hope, and we understood the weight of the challenges they faced.

Project Schoolhouse, driven by a vision of empowerment and sustainable development, has already made significant strides in similar communities since it was first founded 16 years ago. In this trip I was able to witness that when the Nica team first meets with community leaders, team members such as Maria Inés (Project Coordinator), Manuel (Construction Manager), and Norma (Programs Coordinator), they take the time to accurately set expectations about what’s required of the beneficiaries. For example, while Project Schoolhouse brings the project management, materials, and construction expertise, the labor is donated by the community members. And in order for projects to be successful, community leaders are responsible for standing up a board to lead their neighbors through each step of the journey, and post-delivery. We have found that this level of ownership is critical to a successful project, and ensures the right level of knowledge and ownership of schools and water system maintenance long term. 

Through this work, the Project Schoolhouse team and many supporters have seen firsthand the impact of clean water systems, providing families with a newfound sense of security and health. Sanitation systems had been implemented, transforming lives by preventing waterborne diseases and improving overall quality of life.

The schools, once mere shells of educational institutions, are now vibrant centers of learning. Renovated classrooms, equipped with necessities such as watertight roofing, flooring, and access to potable water for children throughout the day, promised a brighter future for the children who would one day lead these communities forward.

As our trip concluded, I couldn’t help but feel a renewed sense of purpose and determination. The annual fundraiser, Cien Amigos which translates to “100 Friends” in Spanish, loomed on the horizon, and I knew that the success of this event would be instrumental in continuing the momentum we had built.

In 2024, Project Schoolhouse aims to fund 2-3 projects that will further transform the lives of communities in rural Nicaragua. These projects will not only provide the basic necessities of clean water, sanitation, and education, but they will also pave the way for sustainable growth and self-reliance.

My journey with Project Schoolhouse in rural Nicaragua was a testament to the boundless potential of human compassion and dedication. Through concerted efforts and unwavering belief in the possibility of change, we can create a world where every individual has access to the most fundamental human rights: clean water, sanitation, and quality education.

As the date of Cien Amigos approaches, I invite you to join us in this noble endeavor. Together, we can be the driving force behind transformation, ensuring that more communities in Nicaragua and beyond have the opportunity to thrive.

For more details, go to the Cien Amigos Event Page!

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Filed Under: Clean Water, Community Engagement, Education, Meet Stories, News From the Field, People Driven Development, Water Tagged With: October 2023 Newsletter

Greetings from Executive Director

August 3, 2023 by Selina

Dear friends,

We wanted to let you know about important milestones we’ve reached and update you on current projects.

We’ve successfully navigated the new government requirements to continue to operate in Nicaragua. I am grateful to our team in Rio Blanco for their persistence in working through those challenges over the past months. We’re happy to be working. The current school project in Bilampi is going faster than planned, with high levels of community engagement.

We are excited to be planning ‘Cien Amigos 2023’ in a new venue for us, The Austin Winery! It is our only fundraiser of the year, and we hope you will join the fun! More details here.

We wanted to share this video of our After-School and Programs Coordinators, Cristian and Norma. As they mention, we plan to build two new schools this year in the communities of Bilampi and Rosario Las Vegas. The two schools will complete our work in those communities where we finished fully distributed water systems in 2022. I get a little teary when I hear from them how much these projects mean. I hope you enjoy meeting them. They are an inspiration to the young girls who study in schools we’ve helped build.

With gratitude,

Selina Serna 
Executive Director

Filed Under: Clean Water, Education, News From the Field Tagged With: August 2023 Newsletter

After-School Program – Project Update

August 3, 2023 by Project Schoolhouse

Our after-school club in the community of El Aulo has been running successfully, with students of all grade levels participating in different activities. Pictured here are the 5th-grade students practicing their computer skills and receiving much-needed homework help from our dedicated teacher volunteers. We hope to expand this program to two more communities later this year.

Filed Under: Community Engagement, Education, People Driven Development Tagged With: August 2023 Newsletter

Greetings from Executive Director

December 22, 2022 by Selina

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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Filed Under: Clean Water, December 2022 Newletter, Education, News From the Field Tagged With: December 2022 Newletter

A New After-School Program in El Aulo

July 12, 2021 by Project Schoolhouse

While we build school buildings, the Ministry of Education employs and pays the salary for the teachers and sets all curriculum requirements.  Typically, one teacher tries to teach 40 children, grades 1-6, in the same classroom.  Schools are under-resourced with inadequate materials, overcrowding, and no extra-curricular activities to keep students motivated and engaged. Widespread poverty, low levels of adult literacy and lack of economic activity necessitating an education are demotivating to school attendance.

We are currently piloting after-school programs to provide children with opportunities that encourage them to stay in school. The goal is to create healthy, dynamic, and stimulating environments that respond to students’ interests (i.e. sports, arts, academics, leadership and service, science, and technology) and develop core life skills to help them succeed in school and beyond. These programs are led by university student volunteers, providing role models for the younger children, strengthening the social fabric by mobilizing students, teachers, parents, and volunteers, as partners in development. The longer-term goals are to see increased school attendance, higher promotion rates and an increase in adult community engagement in the schools. We are particularly focused on providing female university student volunteers to lead the Clubs, providing female role models and encouragement to stay in school. Sequenced after a water system and school project, the Club has the opportunity to tutor the children who have fallen behind, helping them catch up in their studies and on a path towards educational success. The Club is so well received by the parents, teachers and children.  Here is an update of the first session, from Norma, our Programs Coordinator extraordinaire!  

“We start the opening of the club at 1 in the afternoon. Giving thanks to God for allowing us to be in the community together with the boys and girls, and to be able to start this new program with the aim of reducing school dropouts, also helping these children in their classes where they have more difficulty through these clubs.As we began, a moment of joy was shared with the little ones. You could see the happiness, playing and dancing among them. Having the presence of 35 boys and girls, from first grade to sixth grade, we divided them into two groups, Jasmina and Josseling working with the fourth, fifth, and sixth graders as they worked on the reinforcement of mathematics. In the beginning, a review was made of History, Spanish and Mathematics to see the level of knowledge they have and it was then that we realized that these children have difficulty in division and multiplication.

Something very important was in realizing that they do not know the multiplication tables, which would make the mathematical exercises easier. So, we began practicing the tables by making a flipchart to have in the section for practice. Cristian and I work with preschool, 2nd and 3rd grade school children who cannot read.

These children have great difficulty in writing and have not yet learned to read. The preschool and 1st-grade children were grouped together and enjoyed stories being read to them, with the books in the new storybook library.

I worked with the second and 3rd grade children. They have difficulty, they do not know all the letters, it is difficult for them to form words, I made cutouts of the letters of the alphabet on colored sheets so that the colorful letters catch their attention. They also have difficulty in Math, not everyone knows the numbers or multiplication tables. There was a moment when we were also playing with dynamic songs.

There is much to do with these children, and we hope we can achieve our goal to help them overcome the struggles that lead them to stop coming to school. You can see the difficulty the children have. I think it is because of the teacher’s time, she works with six grades together, so she does not have time to teach each grade individually.

These two days the participation and dedication of the children was excellent. They are enthusiastic and happy. You can see that they are interested in learning and practicing and excited about this opportunity. “

Le queremos agredecer a nuestra coordinadora, Norma Valdez por su trabajo con este proyecto.

Filed Under: Education, News From the Field Tagged With: July 2021 Newsletter

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