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Chureca Outreach Project
Over
175 families live in the
Managua city dump, known as La
Chureca. Many more come daily to comb through the piles of
trash to find enough to sell to pay for food and other life
necessities. There are severe respiratory and other health
problems from breathing in the fumes from the smoking and burning piles
of trash. Malnutrition is widespread and evident in the
children’s swelled bellies and blond hair that lacks
nutrients to maintain its natural dark color. STDs and prostitution are
also a problem, and girls of all ages sell their bodies for money or
other commodities. Many children and adults are addicted to
sniffing shoe-glue, which helps suppress hunger and allows them to
escape the reality of the life they are confined to in the
dump. There are limited opportunities for these families for
employment or residence outside the dump. They also often
lack the motivation to take advantage of the opportunities that do
exist, having become complacent with now dependent on their existence
in the dump.
Nica
HOPE, in partnership with Fabretto Children’s Foundation, is
currently raising funds to support the operations of 3 programs working
to provide long-term solutions to the families of La Chureca:
1) The Nica HOPE Computer Training Center.. This center currently has over 150 students learning basic computer skills and Microsoft Office, improving basic education and future job opportunities . More advanced classes are planned for upcoming months. Students will be certified in their skill area, and given assistance in securing job placements or further education upon graduation from the program. Through this education, the center is helping to provide valuable motivation and skills necessary to achieve both a career and a future apart from the trash.
2) Chureca Vocational Outreach Program. Nica HOPE is providing opportunities for training of Chureca students in vocational programs to equip students with real skills and opportunities for future jobs and a life apart from the trash. Current programs include jewelry-making, auto-mechanics, and accounting.
The jewelry-making program currently has 15 teenage girls and is continually growing. The girls take classes for 3 hours a week to learn how to make jewelry, and then come throughout the rest of the week to use and improve their newly-acquired skills. In addition to developing their creativity and providing alternative activity to working in the trash, this program serves as a means of income-generation for the girls. Each girl receives the labor input costs for each item she makes that is sold and, as she improves her skills, will earn more. The program is also teaching the girls about the business fundamentals of jewelry-making, so that each program graduate will have the capability to start her own mini beading-business to earn a living apart from the trash.
3) Chureca Schools Support Program. Nica HOPE works to provide much-needed education support services to the schools that serve the community of La Chureca, to strengthen existing schools serving this community. Building a solid foundation in basic education is critical for the future of these children. Alongside the Fabretto Children's Foundation, Nica HOPE currently works to support both the private Colegio Cristiana La Esperanza school located inside the trash dump and the public Centro Escolar Publico Elemental Acahualinca located right outside the main entrance to the dump. The largest component of these joint efforts is the feeding center at the main public primary school serving the community of La Chureca that provides a daily lunch to over 600 students, working to attract more students to school and improve health and education outcomes in the community. The feeding center operates with funding provided by Austin Samarians, along with in-kind food donations from Cross International, USAID, and the Nicaraguan Ministry of Education.
1) The Nica HOPE Computer Training Center.. This center currently has over 150 students learning basic computer skills and Microsoft Office, improving basic education and future job opportunities . More advanced classes are planned for upcoming months. Students will be certified in their skill area, and given assistance in securing job placements or further education upon graduation from the program. Through this education, the center is helping to provide valuable motivation and skills necessary to achieve both a career and a future apart from the trash.
2) Chureca Vocational Outreach Program. Nica HOPE is providing opportunities for training of Chureca students in vocational programs to equip students with real skills and opportunities for future jobs and a life apart from the trash. Current programs include jewelry-making, auto-mechanics, and accounting.
The jewelry-making program currently has 15 teenage girls and is continually growing. The girls take classes for 3 hours a week to learn how to make jewelry, and then come throughout the rest of the week to use and improve their newly-acquired skills. In addition to developing their creativity and providing alternative activity to working in the trash, this program serves as a means of income-generation for the girls. Each girl receives the labor input costs for each item she makes that is sold and, as she improves her skills, will earn more. The program is also teaching the girls about the business fundamentals of jewelry-making, so that each program graduate will have the capability to start her own mini beading-business to earn a living apart from the trash.
3) Chureca Schools Support Program. Nica HOPE works to provide much-needed education support services to the schools that serve the community of La Chureca, to strengthen existing schools serving this community. Building a solid foundation in basic education is critical for the future of these children. Alongside the Fabretto Children's Foundation, Nica HOPE currently works to support both the private Colegio Cristiana La Esperanza school located inside the trash dump and the public Centro Escolar Publico Elemental Acahualinca located right outside the main entrance to the dump. The largest component of these joint efforts is the feeding center at the main public primary school serving the community of La Chureca that provides a daily lunch to over 600 students, working to attract more students to school and improve health and education outcomes in the community. The feeding center operates with funding provided by Austin Samarians, along with in-kind food donations from Cross International, USAID, and the Nicaraguan Ministry of Education.
Education
and job training
opportunities is exactly what the people of La
Chureca have been needing and asking for. It
doesn’t take much
to make
a difference here and help provide
the opportunities to open doors in these lives. Please
consider
making a donation to help fund these projects!
