La Esperanza Granada

Before traveling to Central America, I was researching organizations for each country. When it came to my Nicaragua search, it was difficult to find an organization that didn't require a volunteer fee or a 1 year commitment.

I found this organization and spoke with the Director after giving my background and experience. We emailed back and forth a bit and it was a sad moment when I realized I could not come assist her. She said she needed 3 months minimum and that was my whole trip. We both had such a respect and interest in learning from one another and it was difficult to realize it wouldn't work at all. She did ask me to stop by for coffee and see her, but my Granada time was only one day.


Here is their website description below 

It's truly a fantastic organization and a great place to donate.   


About Us

Located in Granada, Nicaragua, La Esperanza Granada is a volunteer group focusing on children’s education. ‘Born’ in 2002, we started in one small village on the outskirts of Granada, and now help more than 2,000 children in poverty-stricken areas. Our volunteers go out into the schools and assist the teachers, tutor young children, run sports programs, introduce children to computers, teach English and help stimulate an interest in learning. Volunteers come from around the world, for varying lengths of time. There are no program fees. Fund raising is independent and voluntary. We try to help in a noninvasive way, working directly with the children and with the local schools, teachers, and parents to meet educational needs.

We are a non-profit, non-political, non-denominational organization, funded by donations of individuals, groups, service groups, schools, etc. Donations are used for building new classrooms and schools, contributing to teachers salaries, and many other things to help improve education and health for the children, such as making copies of exams and worksheets, buying textbooks, dental visits, sports supplies, school repairs, and a never ending list of needs in this impoverished country.

 Our mission: By providing opportunities and resources for the long term educational advancement and community development of Nicaraguan barrios we hope to brighten the future of the children by empowering the people of the villages to improve their current living conditions and break the cycle of poverty. Our focus is on children’s education.

Our motto: We believe in giving a hand up, not a handout.

Whether your interest is volunteering, contributing goods, donating money, or simply curiosity, we appreciate you taking the time to look through this website, and hope it will satisfy your interest.

Donations, Donations, Donations, Donations, Donations

 

http://www.la-esperanza-granada.org/payment-options/

Worldwide – PayPal

You can donate any amount directly using our Paypal Link.
Anyone with a credit card can donate via PayPal and it is not necessary to create a PayPal account to donate.

U.S.A. Donors

For a 501(c)3 Tax Deductability:

 Write a check to:
“Institute for Central American Studies” and write La Esperanza Granada in the memo line. Please note: La Esperanza Granada is a project of the Institute for Central American Studies (ICAS), a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity in the United States. For more information about ICAS, please visit: the ICAS Homepage. ICAS will mail a tax receipt to the address that appears on your check.

Please mail all checks to:

 ICAS/La Esperanza Granada
2719 Barlow Dr.,   Castro Valley,    CA. 94546

La Isla Foundation

Of all the wonderful NGOs that I come across, I realize that I definitely do not mention them enough on this blog. La Isla Foundation is one that truly touched my heart because it works with a population that may be forgotten about without their assistance.  It's mission is to help advocate rights for those that are have Chronic Kidney Disease(CKD) and are out of work. The population they work with is a small village called Chichigalpa just outside of Leon.  

Older age males and females engage in strenuous labor in hot climates leading to sickness. CKD is diagnosed and the access to proper treatment is near impossible.  These people can not afford dialysis and kidney transplants. There is also no way to slow down the process of CKD.  It leaves human beings just waiting around for death. In the last ten years, 46 percent of deaths were caused by CKD in Chichi(www.laislafoundation.org)
Unfortunately, this is happening throughout Central America, Sri Lanka, and India killing thousands of people each year.  People are leaving their families behind dying too young for a disease that can be treated. 

You can be part of the solution by donating today. 

https://laislafoundation.org/

Mayan Families

Mayan Families is a small non-profit organization of Panajachel. They have various programs to support and empower Mayan people.  They have a Pre-school on site with 200 kids and they have also have various Pre-schools along the Lakeside.  They have an Education program, Family Aid, Shelter Program, Medical clinic, Diabetes program, Elderly Care, Income Generating program, schools sports program, Hope for Animals program, and a program for Expectant mothers.  Each child is sponsored by someone in the US.  It costs $1 a day, which is $360 for the year to sponsor a child. A sponsor can also support a family by providing emergency food, housing, medical care, water filters, and hens to lay eggs. 

This organization is the biggest in the community and it was started by Sharon Smart and Dwight who were expats living in the Lake Atitlan Community for 20 years.  It is a very special community of people with over 80 percent being Indigenous.  Unfortunately, this lovely population has suffered from  suffered from severe inequality for many years. It slowly improves yet is still a significant problem within the community. 


        Sponsor a child today for just $1 per day! 

www.mayanfamilies.org