CURRENT PROJECTS

Scholarships and Apprenticeship Programs for Casa Jacinta Graduates

Prescolar Abuelita Carmen - Rural Preschool 

Carpentry Apprenticeship Program for high risk youth and hearing impaired students

Las Esperanzas Vocational and Educational Program for Impoverished Adolescent Girls

Helping Nicaraguan’s rural poor outside of Leon
NCFC is helping needy children and their families in two poor rural communities outside of Leon,  El Malinche and El Guru. These communities are located on land that was depleted from farming of sugar cane and cotton. Many residents depend on the sale of firewood to support themselves; others work as domestic workers or vendors. 

The residents of El Malinche were displaced in 1998 when a massive flood caused by Hurricane Mitch destroyed their homes.    In 2006, the community finally moved from their temporary casas de plastic, homes made of plastic tarps and dirt floors, into modest structures paid by the municipal government. NCFC was there to help El Malinche rebuild.  Still lacking running water, we built two portable water wells

Early education at Prescolar Abuelita Carmen
NCFC transformed one of the newly built homes into a preschool and supplied the basic necessities including desks, chairs, books, pens, paper, educational materials, uniforms as well as the teacher’s salary. 

Today, 24 poor children, age’s three to five, attend the preschool.  By continuing to fund the needed educational materials and two teachers’ salaries. NCFC purchased a swing set for the children’s outdoor play.

Sixteen children have graduated and attend the nearby elementary school. NCFC funds monthly visits by a doctor to the school, medication and special medical treatment.   The morning snack and lunch provided by NCFC are the only two meals many of these children eat. 

Helping the Community become Self-Sufficient
We funded construction of a brick wood oven that is now being used by a baking cooperative of parents of students attending the preschool.  A committee of parents manages the cooperative and mothers of preschoolers help with baking and selling.   Earnings are used to replenish supplies and equally distributed among the workers.  The remaining profit is being saved to purchase school uniforms.   The mothers are happy to have small, extra income. For many, this is the first time they’ve earned their own income.  This is a small beginning but the mothers are ready to take the next step to grow their coop by learning to make a variety of baked goods.  NCFC’s investment has led them on the road to self-sufficiency for themselves and someday … the preschool!