HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Good news for 2012!  All direct donations (not placement fees) to our projects and/or collaborating organizations are now tax deductible.  This is important to help us support more development efforts and sustain many of our projects started by Viva Nicaragua! interns.  Any and all help is welcome.  Examples of projects that you can help support include:

- Start up a small business - With as little as $100 we can help a community group start up their own small business.  We will provide them with all of the training they need and your support will help with materials.

- Health - Donations can help buy medical supplies and medications needed by NGO and public health clinics.

- Education - $200 can help purchase uniforms and school supplies for 10 children and allow them to continue with their studies.   $500 can help make simple repairs on a school and allow for children to study in safe and comfortable environments.

- Housing - With just a $200 donation we can put a new roof on a house and allow for a family to improve living conditions and the overall health of the family.

Please contact us for more information and to find out about current project needs.

Kids Club in Solidaridad Continues!!!

Volunteer Anne-Marie from Finland spent two weeks working with kids from Solidaridad social housing project.  Thanks to our volunteers...we have kept the project running almost continuously for over 2 years.  On January 3rd two new volunteers arrive - and we plan on having the volunteers in the community throughout 2012.

El Pulpo! Documentary on Banana Plantations in Central America

A documentary filmed in Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua discusses the health and environmental effects of banana plantation and how consumers can make a difference by pressuring companies to use less chemicals and pay living wages.  Filmed by documentary film maker Lara Weatherly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agAjBwh9MxU

Thank you to all of our 2011 summer interns!

As summer has come to an end, and many students have already returned to their universities and jobs, we just wanted to take a moment to thank all of our 2011 summer interns for their hard work contributions!

Thanks to Christina, Jake, Mary, Mandy, Jessica, Leila, Joseph, Chelsea and Raj - our Pre-med, public health, and medical students who all worked at rural and urban health clinics throughout Granada and Masaya.

Thanks to Katie who began a small jewelry making business  and then was joined by Kelly who also helped with production, sales and marketing. 

Thanks to Haverty for starting our mobile library project in rural and urban communities throughout Granada.

Thanks to  Annie Pope for her work with water filtration systems in Nandaime and water sanitation and purification systems in Nandaime and Santa Ana.

Thanks to Luke for his work with youth sports teams in los Cocos, Santa Ana, and Solidaridad...and for your presentation in Spanish on labor issues and labor law.

Thanks to Hannah for teaching English in public schools and community centers. 

Thanks to Erin for her work with gender, intimate partner violence and reproductive health with women, men, and youth.  

Thank you Allistair for teaching English - with a firm yet loving hand - to the kids in Valle de Granada and Solidaridad.

Thanks to Aga for your third visit and congratulations on completing your thesis research here in Nicaragua!

Thanks to dentists, doctors, and dental hygeinists from the University of New Mexico for their work doing cleanings, consults and extractions in the rural community of San Blas.  

Thanks to Dalal for her important contribution on the history of Nicaragua.

Thanks to Martina for starting a small business with women in Solidaridad.  

Thanks to Nourish international for putting roofs on 20 homes in Solidaridad, fixing the roof and latrine at the school in los Cocos, and repairing the well in Santa Ana.

GOOD WORK EVERYONE....ITS BEEN A GREAT SUMMER AND WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR INTERNS WILL CONTINUE TO DO MORE!  

Dental Health Project

Raj Kumar completed the following study on the cultural and socioeconomic reasons why children do not brush their teeth.  We hope that future interns can use the study to help design better dental health education campaigns.
 http://www.scribd.com/doc/63943853/Surf-Project-Report

Intern's Final Project: Recounting Nicaragua's History from Personal Perspectives

One of our intern's, Dalal Kheeder, spent six weeks interviewing people about their personal experiences at different periods in Nicaragua's history.  The following is a publication of her work: 


http://es.scribd.com/doc/65792279/Dalal-Project-Final

HEALTH INTERNSHIPS

PUBLIC HEALTH, PRE-MED, AND MEDICAL STUDENTS WORK IN NUMEROUS CLINICS IN BOTH SEMI-URBAN AND RURAL CLINICS.  INTERNS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK HANDS-ON WITH PATIENTS, SHADOW DOCTORS, AND PARTICIPATE IN HEALTH EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS.  HEALTH INTERNSHIPS LOOK GREAT ON MED-SCHOOL APPS, ALLOW YOU TO GAIN FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE, LEARN ABOUT HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, AND CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTH EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS. 

Repairing school

A group of volunteers from the organization Nourish International collaborated with Viva Nicaragua! to repair the roof of a school in a rural community and install a latrine.  Before the reparations, it was impossible for the children to study during heavy rains.  Now - rain or shine - the kids are in their classrooms and studying!  Good job!!

Intern Article

Two of our summer interns, Erin and Luke, have been featured in an article! Check it out:

www.iwu.edu/CurrentNews/newsreleases11/fea_BradleyandBroholm_00811.shtml

Political and Cultural Event with Carlos Mejía Godoy

There were many political events to celebrate July 17, Día de la Alegría. Several of the interns were able to attend one of them where Carlos Mejía Godoy (a famous Nicaraguan revolutionary singer - Wiki article: bit.ly/odRAFS) was performing. See photos from the event below!