Latest News from Villa El Carmen
Meet Elvis
June 2011: The H&D teachers are the heart and soul of our organization. As local community members and life-long learners themselves, they are an example to their students of the benefits of continued education. Allow us to introduce Elvis Gutierrez Soza...Donated School Supplies
May 2011: More than 120 Nicaragua students benefit from the collective efforts of high school students in Urbandale, Iowa. Mango Jam, Hitchikers and Books
March 2011: Life in Nicaragua is always an adventure and provides many opportunities to do the unexpected. While at times this is a frustration to ex-pats, it is also what we come to love about life in Nicaragua. One such opportunity led me to turn mangos into books. Backpacks Distributed to Local Students
February 2011: Gerrard and Elizabeth Connolly, supporters of H&D, donated backpacks and supplies for area students. Receiving these during the first week of school, students and families of little means are now able to breathe easier knowing that for at least one more year school attendance is a reality. Teachers Receive New Materials
January 2011: Teaching without the necessary supplies is a struggle for even the world’s greatest teachers. The fabulous H&D teachers were therefore elated with the new teaching materials made possible by supporters of Hope and Development.
Hope and Development Teachers Attend a Week-long Summer Camp for Secondary English Teachers.
January 2011: By pouring time and resources into English teachers the US Embassy is promoting continued learning and improved teaching strategies. In an example of reciprocal learning, three H&D teachers who received this support promptly turned around and passed their learning and ideas on to others. Internship Turns Into Job for One Hard-working Individual.
December 2010: One Hope and Development Intern achieves his dream and lands himself a job after successfully completing his internship. By working part-time Cribelan is able to help support his family as well as save money for continued education.
Fundraising Update
December 2010: Many thanks to those who have supported Hope and Development this past year. In 2010 we have been busy with a variety of projects including dental health clinics, baseball clinics, teacher workshops, domestic violence community training, fence building, student internships, sports tournaments, shoe and sport uniform donations, and many others! Los Perez Fence Project
November 2010: 6 members of the Rotary Club of Ormond Beach, Florida travelled to Nicaragua on November 17th to install a fence. With the leadership of David Slick, this is the sixth fence project they have completed over the years.
Internships Begin at Gran Pacifica
November 2010: Hope and Development has helped to partner the local schools with private businesses in the creation of internship positions. Six students from the nearby high school in Santa Rita have recently begun internships in Gran Pacifica.
Hope Facilitators lead Domestic Violence Seminars
October 2010: Aracely and Manuel, two of our facilitators were recently trained by the Center of Violence Prevention in leading seminars to educate the general public about domestic violence. The seminars were free to the public, and held in the local schools.
English Teachers Participate in Workshop Aimed at Reading in the Classroom
October 2010: We recently completed our second teacher training workshop. On the last Friday of every month the Ministry of Education meets with all of the teachers in the area to provide continued support and directon.
Stuck On the Way to Petroglyphs
September 2010: On a recent trip to visit a petroglyph site that has been cleared and made available for educational purposes we found out just how much rain changes things.
Welcome to our new Director, Kate Poortenga
August 2010: Kate joins us with six years experience as an educator. For the past four years she has been living and working in Nicaragua, teaching at a local private school. Kate received her bachelor’s in Education from Calvin College in 2003 and is anticipating completion of a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in May of 2011. Hope and Development Sponsors Volleyball Tournament
August 2010: Youth and adults alike participated in a community wide volleyball tournament. The tournament was held in Villa El Carmen’s Central Park. Five teams competed in the day long tournament with a total attendance of 80 players. Sports Uniform Donation Received
July 2010: Thanks to the efforts of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Baden along with the help of Beaver Rotary Club of Pittsburgh and Brother’s Brother we were able to pass along 150 sports uniforms to students in the Villa El Carmen area. New Shoes Donated to 85 Students in Villa El Carmen
April 2010: -“I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes” (quote from Oprah Winfrey). And now so do the 85 students who walk for several kilometers to attend the San Miguel school in a very rural area of Villa El Carmen—thanks to the generous donations of Kaley Merrill and Richard and Donis Woodall. H&D Sponsors Dental Care Workshop in Managua
April 2010: The Lunderville family from Suamico, Wisconsin was back in Nicaragua in April, 2010. Because of the success of the dental care programs they gave to Villa El Carmen schools last August, Hope and Development invited them to give a similar presentation to children at the Cinafe orphanage in Managua. Hope and Development Raffle Raised Over $1500
March 2010: Congratulations to Tino Mendieta. The winning raffle ticket was pulled during the Hope and Development Board Meeting on March 10, 2010. Mr. Mendieta won a free vacation at Gran Pacifica Resort which included: lodging for a week at Las Perlas Condominiums, dinner for two at Tasca Restaurante and a round of golf for two at Pacifica Golf Club. Thank you to all who participated, and to the businesses who generously donated the prizes. We raised over $1500 for Hope and Development.
ECI Shareholders Provide Shade for San Miguel Schoolchildren
January 2010: San Miguel School in Villa El Carmen will be a prettier, shadier place thanks to the efforts of ECI shareholders and Pittsburgh Rotary Club members.
Pacifica Golf Club’s First Tournament Benefits Hope and Development Foundation
January 2010: The Pacifica Golf Club at Gran Pacifica Resort opened its new Emerald Nine course with a fundraiser for the Hope and Development Foundation.
Carolyn Keeling Talks Hope and Development with Channel 8
January 2010: Popular Nicaraguan talk show hostess Ariadne Agamez featured the Hope and Development Foundation in a segment on her Channel 8 show in January.
December 2009: The Hope and Development Foundation is pleased to announce its affiliation with the International Baseball Academy of Central America (IBACA). This partnership reflects the Hope and Development mission to use recreational tourism as a vehicle for education, vocational training, job opportunities and community development. 
August 2009: The Lunderville family from Suamico, Wisconsin visited Nicaragua for the first time. Brock and Karla were accompanied by their two daughters, Alexis and Aubrey, and they came specifically to do a service project in the elementary schools. 
March 29, 2009 marked the date of the first golf competition held at the newly developed Pacifica Golf Club at Gran Pacifica. The oceanfront course provided the perfect venue for the fundraising event sponsored by the Milagro del Mar Beach Club. 
Hope and Development and NYBSA have initiated a series of baseball clinics in the schools of Villa el Carmen.