Volunteers build latrines in Telica, Leon

GUEST POST BY NICOLAS ARGUELLO, ANF's Project Development Manager

The inhabitants of the Telica Volcano in León live under extreme poverty, without access to electricity, sanitation, healthcare, sustainable sources of nutrition, and even water. And to top it all off, the community, which is nearly 1,000 meters above sea level, is virtually inaccessible by vehicle, adding an extra layer of difficulty to all development projects in the region.

Nonetheless, a León-based NGO called Nuevas Esperanzas (New Hopes) has been working tirelessly to bring solutions to these destitute and vulnerable communities. Following a rainwater collection project, Nuevas Esperanzas enlisted the help of ANF to offer the beneficiaries a basic measure of sanitation: latrines.

In July 2009, eight college students and an ANF team leader travelled to León to participate in a latrine-building brigade. The students donated half of the total project cost and ANF sponsored the other half. Requiring intense manual labor, the weeklong brigade consisted in the construction of 26 latrines on the slopes of the Telica Volcano.

The first day was especially tiresome. After walking uphill for three miles and drinking half the water available for the full working day, the team of volunteers finally reached the community only to see piles of constructions materials – cement mix, shovels, picks, buckets, sand, bricks, etc. – waiting to be used. After a warm welcome and a show of immense gratitude by the community members, the team began to work. Still not understanding the mechanics of latrine building, the team was more unproductive than anticipated.

To compensate, the team worked extra hard for the rest of the week, working side by side with the project beneficiaries. Soon enough, progress was at schedule and the volunteers were becoming increasingly efficient. By the end of the week, all 26 latrines were completed and the volunteers took the last day off to say good-bye, organizing a small celebration involving a piñata, food, music, and dancing.

ANF’s work in the region is far from over. More water and sanitation projects are under way. We just need more supporters who are willing to help ANF bring effective aid to Nicaragua’s most vulnerable.

United Way's Latin America Regional Meeting in Sao Paulo Brazil

"Tudo bem?"

Everything alright?

I don't think I've ever been asked that question as many times as I was asked during my 5-day trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil.

I was there to meet with representatives from the 11 organizations that represent United Way Worldwide in Latin America. Since 2001, ANF has represented United Way of Nicaragua.

During my trip, I heard success stories about innovative fundraising techniques and ways to motivate volunteers; I listened to horror stories about failed relationships with donors; I learned ofpromising projects that will bring education, good health, and economic stability to thousands of people throughout the region; and I shared my experiences working toward the same goal.

I brought all that information home with me to Nicaragua - to push ANF forward, to better fulfill our mission, and to better serve Nicaragua's poor. Hopefully, I'll have some new success stories to tell next year...

Running for ANF

Melissa will be running her first marathon in October. She is combining the love of running and her passion to help the world by setting 2 goals:

1. Cross the finish line at the Chicago Marathon.
2. Raise enough money to build a home for a family in Nicaragua.

She thought the fundraising part would be the hardest. But today, with still about a month to go, she has already exceeded her goal!

Inspired by the actor Edward Norton, who is also running a marathon while raising money, Melissa decided to see if she would be successful. And, okay, she’s not Edward Norton, but hey, you don’t have to be a celebrity to do this, right?



“My goal is to raise $2,620.00. I chose that number because I am embarking in a 26.2 mile journey. If I can get 262 people to donate $10.00 my fundraising target will be met. I could also get 100 people to donate $26.20. Every little bit counts, and every little bit will help!”

And every little bit is counting! People have been donating $10, $200, and everything in between.

So far she has raised $2,914.00 and many many fans.

Good luck on October 11th, Meli! We all wish you the greatest run of your life.

We hope you, our reader, will be inspired by her journey and use FirstGiving to fundraise for a good cause like ANF.

An unforgettable trip to RAAN

Last week, I took a trip to the Bonanza and Siuna, RAAN, in central Nicaragua. Full of turbulent airplane rides, pesky mosquitoes, dirt floors, and contaminated water, the trip will be a hard one to forget.

The purpose of the trip was to inaugurate two schools that were donated to the community in Bonanza by the Coca-Cola Foundation. With the funds donated by Coca-Cola, ANF implemented the project and did the on-the-ground work. The adventurers on the trip were: two representatives from Coca-Cola's Costa Rica office, two representatives from ANF (myself included), and a representative from the Ministry of Education. In regard to fulfilling its purpose, the trip was a great success. The inaugural event was wonderful, which the children enjoyed immensely, and the new classrooms and sanitary units looked absolutely amazing. It was definitely a job well done by everyone involved.

But, on a personal level, the trip meant a lot more than just inaugurating those two schools. Bathing with water that was not known to be clean, sleeping in a house with questionable security, and fighting different sized bugs throughout the night was an experience that drove home many of the things I work with on a day-to-day basis from the comfort of my office.

Over the course of those two days, I had a thought that kept nagging at me: "At the end of this adventure, I get to go home - a very comfortable and safe home. But the inhabitants of these communities don't. This is their home. This isn't an 'adventure' for them - it's regular, day-to-day life. And it's HARD."

Now that I'm back in the office, sitting behind my desk, fighting for those impoverished communities and their struggling inhabitants from so far away, I try to remember how it felt to be unsure if the water I was drinking was clean, for one's health to constantly be at risk. I try to remember what it's like for those communities, to struggle through each day.

And I hope that every person who can will do something to help. So, help by supporting ANF today.

Annual Report 08!

We put the finishing touches on the Annual Report a few weeks ago, and they're finally printed and ready to send out. In trying to keep things as green as possible, though, we'd love for you to please check out the electronic copy, too:

http://www.aidnicaragua.org/annualreport

Let us know what you think!

Visit to Schools in Bonanza, RAAN

Guest Post by Indira Vallejos – ANF’s Event Coordinator

About two weeks ago, I visited a part of Nicaragua I had never been to before – the North Atlantic Autonomous Region. To get there, I flew non-stop to the community of Bonanza along with a representative of the Coca-Cola Company. The purpose of the trip was to coordinate the inauguration of 2 reconstructed schools, which were funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation.

During my stay, I noticed that, even though it’s a part of Nicaragua’s mining triangle, Bonanza’s social development is only of interest to a mining organization that operates there and is otherwise forgotten by the rest of Nicaraguans. Witnessing the unsanitary conditions, poor economic circumstances, and unsafe environment in which the inhabitants of the community live, I realized that the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua is so completely different (and in so much more need) than the Pacific coast where I have lived my whole life.

My experience in Bonanza had a profound impact on me and left me with the desire to continue to help these coastal communities and their people to grow and find a more dignified way of living.

ANF's achievements in 2008

Promoting Economic Opportunity
- Creation of 152 jobs through the provision of training, technical assistance, and capital in the areas of sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry.

Supplying Nutritional Assistance
- A total of 288 centers benefited from food donations.
- A daily plate of food was given to 44,552 people, including students, nursing mothers, and senior citizens.

Increasing Educational Quality and Attainment
- 102 schools and other educational centers received 12,236 items of classroom furniture.
- 1,142 schools received basic school supplies for each student, benefiting 157,718 children.
- 112 schools received nutritionally-rich food aid for school lunch programs, benefiting 24,117 students.
- Construction of 3 schools, 1 library, creation of 2 computer labs, and rehabilitation of 2 schools, benefiting 2,716 students.

Strengthening Medical Assistance
- Distribution of medicines and medical supplies to 125 dispensaries, health centers, and hospitals, assisting in the treatment and recovery of thousands of patients.
- 684 handicapped persons received a wheelchair.

Developing Communities
- Construction of 1,943 houses, benefiting 12,047 people.
- Construction of 446 latrines, benefiting 1,593 people.

Providing Access to Safe Drinking Water
- Construction of 20 community wells and the rehabilitation of 4 water systems, benefiting 3,712 people.


If you're interested in contributing to our mission of fostering increased opportunity, self sufficiency and dignity for the poor in Nicaragua, please visit our website and donate today!