Empowerment International

EI’S UNIQUE APPROACH

EI started in 1998 as a Costa Rican non-profit organization. Soon after, it expanded to Nicaragua.

EI’s approach addresses the root cause and the plight of many street children in the slums (‘barrios’) in both countries.

Street children generally come from poor families. They cannot attend school even where public education is free due to lack of funds for mandatory uniforms and school supplies. They also lack emotional support from their families. Instead of being educated, they are sent out to work on the streets selling fruits, vegetables, and trinkets.

EI reverses this trend by working with the children and their families to enable them to attend school. We provide financial and emotional support.

When these children receive an education, they are able to stay off the streets, find better jobs, and eventually break the cycle of poverty that has haunted their families for generations.

EI’s Nicaraguan Timeline

2003

*
With a successfully established program in Costa Rica, with 100 children enrolled in schools, Kathy Adams decides to expand the program to Nicaragua

2004

* EI established a partnership with Casa de Ninez, an NGO with a mission to take street children and teach them employable skills.
* EI worked with Casa de Ninez to carefully identify 76 young candidates in a small barrio outside of Granada, Nicaragua called Villa de Esperanza (Village of Hope) to launch the first program in Nicaragua.
* Kathy Adams receives an e-chievement award certificate for her inspiring efforts in Central America.

2005

* In February 2005, these 76 children were provided with uniforms, shoes and supplies so that they can participate in the state-sponsored education system.
* In March 2005, a grant was given to EI by US retired nurse Lowell Smith to continue a pilot program of providing medicine to children in need. Simple medicine, such as antibiotics, are often financially unobtainable to these children and their families. Not having access to these can lead to devasting effects.
* A volunteer teaches 10 children English in one of the families homes.
* 5 girls from EI were selected to take computer classes sponsored by a new grassroots program called Pronat.

2006

* Established a team of 5 parent volunteers led by former teacher Anielka Gutierrez Meza. The parent committee are learning how to monitor the children and how to educate both them and their families on the perils of working in the streets and the advantages of going to school. The committee also manages the emergency medical program and is working on creative ways to improve the quality of life for the children in the community, such as creating a soccer field and soccer leagues.
* The program is expanded to enroll 180 children in schools.

2007

* 202 children are enrolled in schools.
* EI lays groundwork for expanding into rural barrios in Nicaragua. It is projected EI will have 400 children in schools in Nicaragua at the beginning of 2008.
* Kathy Adams makes the decision to transition her efforts full-time to further expand EI in Nicaragua and create a portable and reproducible progam.

In Nicaragua 50% of the kids that start 1st grade never make it to 5th grade. It is our goal to make this percentage drop significantly.

$30 a month  is what it takes us at Empowerment International to put a child in the integrated  program for a year.  contact us -