Education and Community Development in Nicaragua Your Program Impact Report—Fall 2023 OUR GRATITUDE Thanks to your belief in Opportunity International’s work in Nicaragua, we are making an impact in the daily lives—and the futures—of children, youth, and their families and communities. Thank you for walking with the people of Nicaragua as they create lasting change.
THE NEED Challenges continue in Nicaragua: infrastructure, political unrest, and a high poverty rate (25% live below the national poverty line). Research shows that ensuring a child in a low-income country has the opportunity to get a good education will change everything about her future. She will be healthier and be able to earn more income for herself and her family. As education improves, with perseverance and dedication, the people of Nicaragua are working to leverage community assets to improve livelihoods.
THE SOLUTION: QUALITY EDUCATION Founded in 2012, Emprendedora Technical School continues to provide high-quality, relevant education to rural students in grades 7-11. The school provides: Comprehensive general education and English lessons, to help the students gain English fluency, which is often an important skill in their chosen field or in higher education
Hands-on experience operating and managing the school’s organic agribusinesses, including an egg hatchery and vegetable farm, and learning about food processing via the local yucca processing plant
In-depth hospitality experience by interning at a local sustainable tourism resort, Pacaya Lodge, and learning about day-to-day operations and financial planning for hospitality businesses
Job or college preparation assistance, including mock-interviews, resume assistance, college application workshops, and business plan evaluations
The school is unique as students receive both a traditional high school diploma as well as a technical vocational certificate in either sustainable agriculture or tourism. Students complete more than twice the amount of required English classes per week. The school is contributing to lasting transformation in rural Nicaragua by helping promote sustainable development and encouraging youth entrepreneurship in these two promising industries. With your support, Emprendedora Technical High School is working toward being a self-sustaining school that builds upon current community development work in Nicaragua while also serving as a model school for other communities.
“When I arrived here in 7th grade, I didn’t have any vision of the future. I didn’t see myself working or studying at a university. Later, after spending a couple of years here at Emprendedora around the teachers and my classmates, they made me look more towards the future – my work, my life, my degree, and the value of education.” – Michael, now in the 11th grade at Emprendedora Technical High School
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