Despite persistently challenging conditions in Nicaragua, Project Schoolhouse has managed to keep moving forward with all of our planned projects for 2021.
For the first time ever, we are working in three communities simultaneously to bring water to over 90 families and a school to the community of Malakawas.
In the community of Mancera Central, the community has completed the spring capture and the main water line down to the water storage tank. This was a difficult capture process because the spring is located far up a steep mountain and the materials were difficult to transport by hand and horse. There are also a large number of suspension bridges needed to traverse complex geography down from the spring.
Using funds from a Global Grant from Rotary International, we are building a community water system in a community called Bilampi in the municipality of Bocana de Paiwas. Anchored by the West Austin Rotary Club in Austin Tx and the Matagalpa Rotary Club in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, this is a $90,000 grant that will cover 100% of the expenses for the project. This water system actually pulls water from three different springs, requiring three separate spring captures. As with Mancera Central, this community has finished trenching the main water line and is working on construction of the water storage tank.
Both Mancera Central and Bilampi should have water running to every home, school, and church in the communities by the end of 2021.
Last year we completed a water system in the community of Malakwas and this year we are working with the community to build a new elementary school. The project is going quickly and the metal superstructure, the floor, and the roof are now complete. The students in Malakawas will be able to finish this school year in a brand new school!
All in all, these three projects will touch the lives of over 150 families.
We are also thrilled to report that our first After-School Club is up and running and doing a great job of increasing the access for students in El Aulo to additional instruction and instructor attention. Twice a week the students get to stay an extra two hours to continue studying core subjects with local volunteers and Project Schoolhouse team members. We hope to implement this program in more schools as resources become available.
While continuing our work through the covid epidemic has been challenging, we’ve managed to continue to increase our impact and reach across all our projects and programs. Our teams have grown over the past two years both in Nicaragua and in the USA and this success is undoubtedly due to the hard work of these skillful team members as well as the donors who support this work.
Thank you to everyone.
-Tab
Director of Operations
The new elementary school under construction in Malakawas.
This is one of three separate spring captures in the community of Bilampi, Nicaragua. Water is flowing downhill to the water storage tank.