Meet Stories

Ponsoña Project Update: We Did It — Phase 1 is Complete!

December 19, 2025 by Project Schoolhouse

Written by Board VP, Shannon Fohn

Thanks to extraordinary support and a lot of hard work, Project Schoolhouse and the communities in the La Ponsoña region have successfully completed Phase 1 of our ambitious two-year project to reach seven remote communities with clean water, schools and sanitation. Together, we’ve made life-changing progress.

Our 2025 accomplishments include:

Four communities now have clean water systems and sanitary latrines, bringing health, dignity, and opportunity to 74 families.
Two schools received critical additions and repairs, finished just in time for the start of the 2025 school year.

This progress did not come easily. This year brought unusually heavy rains, and transporting materials to the water source at the top of the mountain was harder than anyone imagined — trucks got stuck in the mud, roads washed out, and construction slowed. But communities didn’t give up, and neither did we.

One of the most complex parts of the project — building the shared mountain-top water infrastructure — is now complete. This includes the water source capture, slow-sand filtration system, multiple pressurization tanks, and chlorination units. All of the materials had to be hauled to the top of the mountain, an arduous trek by 4-wheel drive vehicles and, for the final stretch, by mules. This incredible feat will not only serve the four communities now benefiting but will also support the remaining three communities, 119 additional families, as we expand the distribution grid to the remaining communities in 2026.

*Community members and team digging trench for system pressurization valves*.

All seven communities have poured a year of effort, sweat, and determination into this shared system, and they’ll continue working alongside us through Phase 2. Staying motivated over such a long and demanding effort hasn’t been easy and coordinating the labor of 7 communities has been a real challenge, but achieving Phase 1 has energized everyone. The finish line feels real — and it’s thanks to you.

Your generosity is transforming lives.
Thank you for believing in this work, for standing with these communities, and for helping make sustainable progress possible. Phase 2 is ahead — and with your continued partnership, we’ll reach even more families with clean water, strong schools, and brighter futures.

We particularly want to appreciate the partnership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Latter-day Saint Charities Australia, for trusting in Project Schoolhouse to deliver progress towards our shared mission, supporting our neighbors in need.

This is what Manuel Selva Garcia, Head of Construction, had to say about this great achievement:

“Hola, buenas tardes. Me siento agradecido y feliz por ese gran logro que hemos alcanzado. Ya que fue un gran reto haber terminado la primera fase, a base de dificultades, lo logramos con todo el personal de oficina y de campo. Esperemos seguir con ese entusiasmo el año que viene para la segunda fase de este proyecto.Y doy gracias a Dios por cuidar de estas lindas personas con las que siempre trabajamos de la mano, con respeto y coordinación. Este proyecto fue un gran desafío para mí ya que con el poco personal ísimos bastante.”

“I feel grateful and happy about this outstanding achievement we have completed. Completing Phase one was a major challenge, and despite many difficulties, we accomplished it together with our office and field team. We hope to continue next year with the same enthusiasm for phase two of this project.

I also thank God for watching over these wonderful people we work with, always hand in hand, with respect and coordination.

This project was a great challenge for me, but even with a very small team, we were able to achieve amazing things.”

– Manuel Selva Garcia

A boy is putting the final touches on his own family’s water access point.

Sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter here!

Greetings From Our Executive Director

July 21, 2025 by Selina

Dear friends,

I’m writing to you today with a heart full of gratitude and a profound sense of awe for the incredible work being accomplished in rural Nicaragua, made possible by your unwavering support.

Our mission to build schools and water systems in these remote communities is more than just a construction project; it’s a testament to human resilience and hope. The work on the ground is arduous, demanding, and almost entirely manual. Every cement block laid, every pipe fitted, every foundation dug, is the result of immense physical effort.

At the heart of this effort are the community volunteers themselves. These dedicated individuals, often farmers relying on their small plots for their families’ sustenance, commit their precious time and energy to these projects. They spend their days tilling their land, ensuring food on the table, and then, with an inspiring vision for a brighter tomorrow, they join our skilled builders, digging trenches, hauling materials, and constructing the very infrastructure that will transform their children’s lives. Their hands, accustomed to the soil, are now shaping a future. They do this not for personal gain, but for the profound hope of a better education and a healthier life for the next generation.

Leading these dedicated volunteers are our skilled builders and head of construction, Manuel. Beyond managing the intricate complexities of massive infrastructure projects, they navigate the harsh terrain, the challenges of access during the torrential rainy season, and the delicate art of coordinating teams of unskilled but eager local labor. Their expertise, combined with their unwavering commitment, ensures that these vital projects come to fruition against all odds.

It is this extraordinary dedication, from the community members to our tireless builders, coupled with your generosity, that truly makes a difference. You are not just funding construction; you are empowering communities to build their own destiny, mile by painstaking mile.

Thank you for being a vital part of this transformative journey.

With deepest gratitude,

Sincerely,
Selina

Community members collecting rocks to use in the foundation of this water system

Sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter here!

Ponsoña Project Update: Building toward clean water, one step at a time

July 21, 2025 by Renata

We’re thrilled to share the latest progress on our biggest water and sanitation project to date, one that will serve seven communities through a single, unified effort.

A project of this scale demands precision, hard work, and perseverance. It begins with tapping a spring with sufficient water and pressure to provide clean water to over 2,000 people. It continues with building a community-owned system that is durable and will last for generations to come.

Thanks to our team on the ground and a dedicated group of 25-30 volunteers each day, we’ve reached a major milestone: the spring capture and the filtration system, also known as the filtro lento, are now complete. This filter is located at the top of the mountain, near the main spring capture. That’s where the journey of determination for life-changing water begins for our team and volunteers.

Our team standing by the form for the spring capture

For the past seven months, rain or shine, volunteers have shown up to haul thousands of pounds of sand, cement, and rock, using off-road trucks, horses, and at the steepest parts, on foot. With sheer determination, they raced to move materials before the rainy season washed out the roads.

This project is about life-saving infrastructure that brings more than just water; it brings health, dignity, and a brighter future for families who have long struggled with water scarcity and waterborne illnesses.

Next up: Trenching the primary conduction lines to the system’s three pressure tanks, a crucial phase in this two-year project to bring safe water to all seven communities in the Ponsoña region.

This community project is made possible with the support of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and funded by Latter-day Saint Charities Australia. Thank you!

Sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter here!

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.

Sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter here!

Greetings From Our Executive Director

December 21, 2023 by Selina

We are so happy to end this year by reporting on the completion of a beautiful new school for the community of Bilampi, and I am grateful to so many who made this happen. We’re grateful to the community who waited patiently for funding to come through, delayed by all of the new rules and reporting requirements, never losing trust in our commitment to this project, and working so hard as soon as materials were available.

We’re grateful to our team in Nicaragua, who worked with unwavering persistence, determination, and faith that all would work out. And we’re grateful to all of our sustaining supporters (YOU!) who trust us to put their investments to work.

There are so many benefits to these educational and water infrastructure projects beyond the obvious ones with which we begin (improved health, safety, access to education). In this new school, with multiple classrooms, the local ministry of education is adding the first three years of high school to the classes taught there, with additional teachers to support this higher level of learning. Children will no longer have to walk long distances to attend the high school in a neighboring community, and those whose parents didn’t consider it safe enough to walk will now have access to high school in their community. In the new year, we will begin our After-School Club in this community to help children catch up in their studies and set them up for success.

This work is slow and steady and so very necessary. In the words of Anne Frank, “How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment. We can start now, start slowly, changing the world. How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make a contribution toward introducing justice straightaway. And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!

Wishing you all peace and joy in the new year!

Selina

Sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter here!

Greetings From Our Executive Director

October 9, 2023 by Selina

Dear friends,
I’ve just returned from a whirlwind listening tour in Nicaragua.

Last week, our team visited the communities next up in our pipeline of prospective projects – 10 community meetings representing 5 thousand people. In 3 very long days, traveling in off-road vehicles to the beautiful countryside surrounding Rio Blanco, Matagalpa, we were welcomed with kindness, warmth, and hope for help with the same challenges expressed by all – the desperate need for safe water and functional schools.

We heard from parents who described how weather patterns are changing, dry spells are lasting longer, and water holes they have traditionally relied upon for water to drink, cook, and bathe are dry, forcing them and their children to walk further to find water.

We heard from children who showed us the water bottles they carry to school and talked about how they have to ration the water so it will last through the school day.

We heard from one impressively confident and articulate young boy (pictured below) who shared how challenging it is to focus in school when he is thirsty after the long walk to school. He has a small bottle he fills in a stream on his walk to school each day, but it doesn’t last the full day. He shared he doesn’t like drinking it because it tastes bad, and the water is particularly mucky in the rainy season, but it’s all he has.

We heard from teachers who showed us where the water pours into their classrooms when it rains, who spoke of how hard it is to keep the school clean when the floor turns to mud, and who showed us the holes in the ceiling tiles where the bats live.

We have been working in this region for 16 years, and while that progress has been life-changing for the 18 communities with completed projects, it was humbling to hear how many more are patiently waiting for help. We have 1 fundraiser a year to raise the funds to pay for projects next year. I write today to invite you to join us at ‘Cien Amigos 2023’, an inspiring evening where you can invite family and friends to join you in investing in these projects. Event details follow below, and I hope to see you there.

This work is only possible with your support. We are so grateful.