Trash dump communities

Feb 2008 CCH Cambodia report

Darlene Charneco — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 20:07:23 GMT

Here is the Febuary, 2008 edition of Center for Children's Happiness (CCH) Monthly Report. We hope you enjoy it.:

http://www.friendsofcch.org/MonthlyReports/0802Report.html

Also, for your convenience, here is access to all the back issues:

http://www.friendsofcch.org/News.html

Waste Concerns as a great model

David Stoker — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:10:43 GMT

I thought this group might be interested in the model of Waste Concerns as highlighted on a web page hosted by Ashoka's Citizen Base Initiative. I'm currently interning there and thought of this group when I reviewed this case study. Great model, creatively sustainable.

Colegio La Esperanza - Bringing hope to the children of La Chureca

Deanna Ford — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 05:58:14 GMT

Last night I had dinner with Melissa Buzbee, the director of the Colegio La Esperanza - the school that serves the children of La Chureca, the community that lives in and around the Managua city trash dump. You would never have guessed that this pure-spirited 22 year old had touched so many lives with her dedication and relentless energy to serve and care for those dear children - wise beyond her years. That school is a place of rest, peace, safety, and hope for so many of those children... as they come inside its walls to escape from the heaps of burning trash.. to fill their minds and stomachs and souls.

Check out the short clips posted in the video section of the 'Trash dump communities' cause!

It was exciting to hear about all the good work they are doing at the school - and talking over potentials ways to expand their impact through adding new programs (including a vocational program through a partnership with Nica HOPE!) and increasing the sustainability of the program through additional funding sources.

The school has 350 students from pre-K to 6th grade, and supports 24 students in scholarships for higher grades. An after-school program and an art program have also been running, but rely on sporadic funds and are only possible as long as the funding continues. In addition to the learning and laughter that fills the walls of La Esperanza, these programs keep the kids from work in the piles of trash and away from the glue-sniffing and other negative inputs which are so much of the norm in La Chureca.

The Colegio La Esperanza school is operated by the Open Hearts Children Relief Mission, which is run through Trinity Reformed Church in Florida. If you'd like to contribute to support the school (which currently runs on only $2000 a month),
send a check to :
Trinity Reformed Church
2285 Bannerman Rd.
Tallahassee, Florida 32312

Checks made out to: Trinity Reformed Church Memo: Open Hearts

All contributions are appreciated!!

Act

Rebecca Chojnackli — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 18:14:22 GMT

Event Details: A FREE 7/7/07 concert near the Capitol

When: Tomorrow, Saturday, at 10:00 a.m.

Where: Outdoors on the National Museum of the American Indian's Welcome Plaza at 4th Street and Independence Avenue SW, facing the U.S. Capitol.

7/7/07 is going to be an amazing day linking together 7 continents, over 100 artists and 2 billion people to "answer the call" to combat the climate crisis.

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, will each perform a song and the classic blues band Blues Nation will take the stage. The day will also feature Native American rock, funk, punk, reggae, gospel and Andean music in addition to films.

Sounds like a good event if anyone is interested

Trash Dump Communities

Rebecca Chojnackli — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:10:49 GMT

Although I have not been able to physically participate yet, my soul mate has gone on several trips to Nicaragua to work with the trash dump communities. I have assisted him in raising funds and supplies to bring with him. We are hoping to travel down together in January, and would be please if others are interested in joining us.

We will be at the bennefit concert in New York on the 13th. Hope some of you can join us.

Nica HOPE

Deanna Ford — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 20:48:42 GMT

Check out the Nica HOPE website!
www.nicahope.org

What is Nica HOPE?

Nica HOPE is a new nonprofit that seeks to provide education and vocational training to marginalized communities in Nicaragua. Education and vocational training will grant the necessary skills to access opportunities for employment and income-generation for these communities, while increased coordination and networking will allow better access to existing opportunities. Instruction in critical thinking, creativity, and hands-on problem solving with an integral focus on values and character-building will develop students into effective, well-rounded workers and individuals. Nica HOPE will leverage available resources in financial, human, and social capital in order to provide opportunities for these communities to improve their own lives through socioeconomic advancement.

How did you first end up in Nicaragua?

I first went down to Nicaragua in March 2006 as a consultant for Agora Partnerships, working with Nicaraguan entrepreneurs on small-scale business development. It was then that I first fell in love with the country and have not been able to turn away since. I went back last summer to work with Manna Project International on projects in education, health, microfinance, and project development. Through my time and work in Nicaragua, I have met some of the most incredible people - people who are inspired to serve and passionate to change this world through the humble means we each have to offer. It's those kind of people that I hope to work alongside the rest of my life.

What sort of programs will you run?

Nica HOPE is working to establish a network of vocational schools in Nicaragua that train students in practical job skills, work ethics, and critical thinking. This includes working with local organizations and schools already involved in education or vocational training activities to establish or develop programs that will equip impoverished communities in Nicaragua with the skills necessary for higher-income jobs. These skills are not just in practical vocational training, but also in developing a strong work ethic and a capacity for critical thinking and problem solving, with are often lacking from the traditional education system in developing countries.

What have been some of the challenges thus far in starting an NGO? The main challenges in starting up Nica HOPE have been in the legal aspects and fundraising, which are necessary but not so fun to take care of. Incorporation documents, bylaws, and IRS forms aren't so glamorous... but they are necessary pieces to the formation of a nonprofit. Fundraising seems it should be easy as well - you'd think that people would care more if they just knew about the injustices going on in this world. But I've been realizing that sometimes itâ€™s just hard to get people to contribute time or money, even when they say they care about it and want to help. It's hard to get people out of the bubble of their lives here in the US, to get them to care about and contribute to something bigger. I've also realized how hard it is asking people for money and time, too (the things here that people often seem to value most). On the other side of it, I have been SO thankful to the people who have freely and willingly supported me with their efforts and contributions - I have never felt so encouraged, inspired, and humbled by the number of people supporting and believing in me.

It's altogether been a great learning experience, as I'm still working and growing through each stage of it.

What was this past trip to Nicaragua like for you?

This was an exciting trip, as we were able to meet with many of our project partners to further define our goals and vision and start to move forward with some of the projects. Seeing the organization from down in Nicaragua was completely different than the vantage point from here in the U.S. It really just took on life and made me so excited to see the kind of impact we can have down there.

Every time I get back to Nicaragua, there is a sense of coming home; so many friends and familiar places and poignant memories. That place also just brings out the best in me in so many ways. It's a spiritual place of such beauty and heart - and where you realize you can't just rely on yourself - you aren't in control. God is in control and is just so present in every moment and every breath.

This trip was also such a wonderful time with friends, both old and new. This week had so many visitors from the States which made it a lot of fun with hardly enough time to spend with everyone and get everything done! It will be very different once I move down full-time, but I also love the time I get to spend with my local Nica girls from the community I used to work in and with other in-country friends.

Overall, a fabulous trip! Really recharged me and inspired me in so many ways - excited to move forward with many aspects of the project and the benefit concert for late spring/early summer - and to get back down there in a couple months!