Even for those who remain in school, their education remains characterized by unqualified teachers, overcrowded and under supplied classrooms, and indifference.

In 2009, EI began a unique Secondary School Program, sending 19 students to a local school that offers a better learning environment.

What you have read so far is just facts and figures…. These young people have succeeded beyond every obstacle, tackling not only their own self doubt, but prejudice, poverty, drugs and violence.

Elvis, Melki, and Anielka quietly remember their old schools as filled with unqualified teachers, close friends, confusion, and bad behavior.

For Elvis, it must have seemed like an endless cycle. Poor teaching left him struggling to graduate, and with no school support, he seemed destined to be one of the many who discouraged and disillusioned, drop out.

For Melki and Anielka, both excellent students, school should have been a ticket out of poverty; instead it offered no challenges and no support. Top of their class, they were wasting their potential under uninspired teachers.

All this has changed.

Since EI has provided for them and their peers to attend a school with better educational standard, they are given new hope for a better life through a sound education. Now, they speak enthusiastically of knowledgeable teachers who care. Classrooms are filled with books, well behaved students, and positivity. Success means hard work, everyday they come to the centre to study. After all, their success is EI’s greatest reward.

Elvis, who once struggled, proudly showed his report card: 83%. Melki is at the top of his class, regularly scoring well into the high 90s. Both boys love math. For Elvis, conscious teaching and good classroom management has given him the opportunity to grasp what previously confused him. For Melki, it’s a chance to enjoy being challenged every day. With his 92%, he insists ‘it’s all logical and easy!’ Aniekla is busy preparing for this year’s end of years exam. Given orally in front of the entire class, she’s nervous but confident. After all, she’s never received a fail before and is an excellent student!

All of the students involved in the project have high hopes for the future. The strong education they are receiving will undoubtedly help them find well paying and prestigious jobs. One day, their life of poverty may, with hard work and drive, be behind them. Aviation mechanic, pediatrician, university, system engineer, vocational training, these are the new dreams for the future. Continuing at these private schools will open these doors, providing them with the tools to succeed.

Of course, under EI’s innovative tutoring program, these students aren’t just helping themselves. Every day, they come to the EI center and help others achieve, they tutor primary school kids who need help with math and Spanish. A wonderful cycle of knowledge and accomplishment is born!

This program has offered more than academic success. Popular and bright, they have all loved making new friends. Melki has grown from a timid child who was too scared to talk in class to a confident, talkative young man who excels on the school football team and earns the respect of his peers. Anielka has seen new horizons open up, and speaks happily of new friends, experiences, hopes. For her parents, who have watched her older brothers’ struggle with drug and alcohol abuse, helping her succeed has filled them with pride and hope. This, in turn, inspires her to do everything in her power to make them ever more proud.

Elvis, a talented photographer of our photography program whose photos have sold internationally, reminds us that ‘everyone learns from each other.’ This program has reached beyond these students, it has proven to all of us that with the right support, love, dedication and drive, we can all succeed, no matter what obstacles life places in our way.

- Verity Danbold

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

$30/month is what it takes us at Empowerment International to put a child in school. If you would like to help a child stay in school and get better life, please click on the link below or contact us -

In past years, he was a very shy kid and didn’t interact much with the EI staff. But last year he joined the team of teenage tutors, and because of that is more sure of himself and interacts much more with the EI team.

He has also participated much more in events in the office.  He even spoke with people in the US at the Fiesta de Esperanza over Skype!  He has participated in five photography exhibitions, some in person in Nicaragua and some international exhibitions that included his work.  This has been the biggest success in his life.  He says, “I like photography because through it I have come to know places that I didn’t know before, and have learned more about myself and how to look at the world differently.”

Melki loves going to school and is a very attentive and responsible student.  Last year he finished primary school and was given the award for being the best student.  Because of this honor, he got to carry the flag of the school!

His parents, siblings and all his family are very proud of all of the successes that he has had.  He is grateful for the chance to be a part of the EI program – “From the time I was in the first grade, (EI) has helped me very, very much.” 

He has also participated much more in events in the office.  He even spoke with people in the US at the Fiesta de Esperanza over Skype!  He has participated in five photography exhibitions, some in person in Nicaragua and some international exhibitions that included his work.  This has been the biggest success in his life.  He says, “I like photography because through it I have come to know places that I didn’t know before, and have learned more about myself and how to look at the world differently.”

Melki loves going to school and is a very attentive and responsible student.  Last year he finished primary school and was given the award for being the best student.  Because of this honor, he got to carry the flag of the school!

His parents, siblings and all his family are very proud of all of the successes that he has had.  He is grateful for the chance to be a part of the EI program – “From the time I was in the first grade, (EI) has helped me very, very much.”

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

$30/month is what it takes us at Empowerment International to put a child in school. If you would like to help a child stay in school and get better life, please click on the link below or contact us -

This is what parents of Empowerment International kids feel now.

Proud that their children are working so hard, studying so well and achieving several firsts (in education) in their families.

Happy to see their kids happy in their new hobbies like photography and baseball that inculcate creativity and discipline in them.

Content knowing that their children will unquestionably have easier lives than themselves with better education and higher self-esteems thus giving them independence. 

One mother states that she is happy every time she sees her son behave in a more loving and obedient manner. She credits EI’s programs like the photography program for these positive changes. For most parents, the fact that their kids are not roaming about aimlessly on streets or getting into destructive fights or habits is itself a source of contentment.

Another source of great pride for parents is to see their older children give tutorial classes to the younger kids. This fosters independence and a helping attitude, certain to give them strong leverage in adulthood.

The 97% retention rate that EI’s program boasted in 2009 speaks of the high level of commitment from not only the kids but also their parents who do everything in their power to keep the children in school.To further show their commitment, this year, all the EI kids and parents signed a contract pledging to work together with EI to build a better future for the community.

Now, the community itself is ready to  take ownership and manage the process. The parents always turn out in huge numbers to volunteer for any program or activity, especially the beginning of the school year preparations when uniforms , books and other supplies need to be packed for more than 200 students!

Excited. Hopeful. Honored.

This is what we at EI feel when parents respond with cheer for our program. As one parent put it, “I never thought my child would ever have such opportunities in life”.

We, in turn, are excited that change is finally taking place, hopeful that this positive momentum will continue unabated and honored that the community has accepted us with such understanding and support.

- Neha Singh

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

$30/month is what it takes us at Empowerment International to put a child in school. If you would like to help a child stay in school and get better life, please click on the link below or contact us -

Children from Bestevaer College in Flushings in the Netherlands decided to help the children of Empowerment International resulting in a fund raiser that brought EI 3,250 Euro.  This is equal to almost 96,775 NIO (Nicaraguan currency)! 

250 children participated in this fund raiser in which children combined fun with working for a cause. We are very grateful to each and every one who made this event a success and helped EI children recieve so much support.

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

$30/month is what it takes us at Empowerment International to put a child in school. If you would like to help a child stay in school and get better life, please click on the link below or contact us -

So he yelled.

At his friends, at his school and at his mom.

His relationship with everyone including his family members worsened with every tantrum of his. Only 11, he was already showing signs of strong rebellion.

And then he got a camera.

His life changed.

He took his camera and went out in the streets. He took pictures – scores of them - and marvelled at his shots. He loved the colors of the photos and the way everyday life got captured for posterity. He did not want to be disruptive anymore. He had a tool for creation and he was loving it.

His camera took him to places he always had hoped to go – Managua ( the capital city , 50 km from Granada), the mall, San Juna del Sur ( a beach town) and the Isletas ( little volcanic islands in the lake Nicaragua).  

His camera brought cheer in his harassed mom’s heart. He had stopped yelling. He listened more and tried to help her at home. He stopped fighting with his classmates and attended school regularly.

For Empowerment International, he is one of the most dramatic success stories.

Alexander became a part of EI’s photography program in 2007 and has never looked back since. He could borrow one of EI’s camera whenever he wanted. While in the program, he joined the photography teacher and the other students to several photography trips where he learned the importance of patience and focus. He has become empathetic, understanding and calm now.

He has learned how to take a good photo,  what are the different positions for a photo, how to use the different camera functions like zoom, long sort and how to take a close up short. He even knows how to critique a photo.

In his words, ‘Now I am better  behaved with my brothers and my mother. I help my mom by going to the market for her!’

His family, friends and EI staff are proud of him. But even more importantly, he is proud of himself. 

- Neha Singh ( Contributions by Deepa and Anielka)

Below is the slideshow of photos Alexander has taken over the years. Several of his photos have been featured and sold in exhibitions.

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

$30/month is what it takes us at Empowerment International to put a child in school. If you would like to help a child stay in school and get better life, please click on the link below or contact us -

On September 27th, every single of the 50 photographs taken by EI kids were sold successfully at the exhibition “Mi Camera Mi Mundo” in Toronto.

It was an event that brought great joy to these budding photographers – all under 16 years and struggling with the juggling act of school and work. These kids are part of EI’s initiative to teach photography to its kids. Their photos were chosen after long deliberation to be shown at this event held in Edward day gallery in Toronto.

Christine Hutchings, the main organizer of the event says that she had the idea of the event on seeing the photos taken by the EI kids in an exhibition in Granada.

Through the money raised through the sale of the children’s photos exhibition she wanted EI’s kids to be helped. This would be a wonderful affirmation of EI’s principle of children helping themselves through their education.

The photos at the exhibition were sold for prices between $30 to $340. To give an understanding of how significant this is for EI, consider this: $30 a month is what it takes to sponsor a kid in EI’s programs, including tutoring, emotional support, extra ciricular activities and school (and much more). 

All proceeds from the exhibition was to go to EI and she realized that this was no charity but “children sharing their world through their art and helping themselves and others.”  Christine was helped in the organization of the event by Sarah Lichter, Donna Griffith, Sylvia Verkley and 12 other volunteers.

One of the chief attractions of the Toronto exhibit was that the visitors to the event could actually talk to and see the children in Nicaragua. This was made possible through Skype hook up handled by Sandy Iverson .

Most visitors enjoyed the opportunity of talking with the little photographers! In fact seeing and chatting with the kids who had taken the photographs encouraged visitors to bid on the photos.

Alexander, who was very nervous before the Skype conference, ended up being so pleased with his speech in the event that he proudly declared “I did not mess up” to anyone who would listen in the EI office! All children gave fantastic speeches and emotions ran high throughout the Skype chat.

The evening was well attended and ended up entertaining people with its serving of snacks and wine along with live music. The live auctioneer added spice to the latter part of the evening and also succeeded in increasing the bids on a number of photos thus raising more money.

The organizers of this event feel that the concept was promising enough to be replicated in other cities. There are plans of repeating the exhibition in Toronto and other Canadian cities next year. If that happens, it will be a strong motivational factor for the kids to keep up their hard work.

- Neha Singh

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

$30/month is what it takes us at Empowerment International to put a child in school. If you would like to help a child stay in school and get better life, please click on the link below or contact us -

The Need –

Although, Santa Ana lies only 10 Km from EI’s office, it is a world apart.  The standard of living is markedly lower in this community.  Most of the children  here do not have shoes, despite needing to cross over farm lands and giant puddles to reach school and work in the fields.

Most of the parents are illiterate and without a method of transportation.  They work as subsistence farmers, using horses to cultivate the fields, or in other manual-labor positions.  The community is serviced only by a 4WD dirt road, with no public transportation, and is frequently impassable in the rainy season. There are approximately 80 primary-school-aged children living in the Santa Ana Community. The community has a government-provided small primary school and two teachers, but does not have the financial or mentoring resources necessary to keep children in school.
The senior elementary school teacher there approached EI when he noticed a decrease in the numbers of students attending school as well as declining performance from those who did attend.  Upon visiting the community, the staff immediately recognized a great need.

The Solution -
In accordance with the generous 2008 Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation grant, EI identified, hired,  trained local Nicaraguan staff and arranged transportation to the village. Now our novel hands-on approach of daily home visits, training for the parents, and emphasis on long-term value of education is being implemented successfully.
We had two measurable goals for 2009, of which the first one has been met, as all the primary school-aged children in the community are now in school. We intend in the next year to continue to work with these children (and any children that are new to the community or ready to start school).

We have also identified a number of children whose families were able to support them so they could graduate from the local primary school and are now eligible to attend the more-distant high school, but are unable to manage transportation. Further, the closest high school is closing and the only one available will be almost 16 km away.

Being able to attend secondary school is a rare event in this community and we believe enabling these children to continue their education would be extremely beneficial to them and to the community.

Ultimately EI aims to foster a strong community value for education so that the community becomes self-sufficient and breaks its cycle of poverty.

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

$30/month is what it takes us at Empowerment International to put a child in school. If you would like to help a child stay in school and get better life, please click on the link below or contact us -

Drop out of school?

year old Empowerment International student, who was asked by his parents to quit school.

One May morning, Felix came crying to the EI office. He declared sadly that he had to quit school as that was what his family wanted. His parents had been putting a lot of pressure on him lately to drop out of school and to help out with the family business. He was very confused and did not know what decision to take as he really liked going to school. He was sure his parents would not change their mind and he was so distressed that he “could not contain (his) tears”

In the office, Anielka, the Nicaraguan Director for Empowerment International talked and reasoned with Felix. Later Kathy, EI’s Executive Director, who was in USA then, also talked to him. After discussing with both of them he was convinced that dropping out of school was not a good idea. Next, Anielka immediately visited Felix’s family at their home and spoke to his parents and siblings and counseled them. She told them that Felix was a very good student and if he continued with school he could fulfill his dreams of having a good future. His family finally agreed to let him continue with his education on the condition that he attend the afternoon (instead of morning) shift from the next year. Felix now says that his parents do not push him to leave school any more and he is very happy!

While this episode in his life may seem surprising to most, there is a sad story of hardship and penury behind it.

Felix Pedro

Felix’s father is an alcoholic and his mother supports the family of 11 members. The entire family is involved in making ‘petates’ which is a floor mat made of dried reed. It is totally hand-made and organic and is used by most Nicaraguans as a floor mat, curtain and beach mat. It is sold in the market for $2 to $10 depending on the size, but the main season for sales is during the dry season. In the 6 months during the wet season there is almost no sale, leading to very low income.

Last year Felix took the afternoon shift in school for which he would get up at 4.30 AM!  He worked non-stop till 8 AM when he took a break for breakfast and then continued working till 11AM after which he would get ready and leave for school. Classes were from 1 pm to 6pm.

However, things changed this year when he started taking the morning shifts (from 7 AM to 1 Pm). For this, in his words, “I got up much later – at 5 AM!”. He was one of the few students selected by EI to attend private school and in turn he was expected to provide tutoring to younger students. So, after getting back from school he went to the EI office to help in the tutoring program. He was extremely proud to be able to help 2 kids from first grade to improve their reading and mathematics skills.  Later, he had to be back at home to help his parents with the work.

Since he was attending the morning shifts this year, he could not help his mother in the family business as well as last year and this was reducing the production of mats. The financial strain that this loss led to, forced his mother to insist on his giving up school. Nevertheless, with EI’s assisstance, the family has realized the long term value of Felix’s education and things have turned positive for this Empowerment International student.

According to Deepa Victor, who has been working with Empowerment International in Nicaragua and mentoring students, Felix is a very responsible and good student. He is very helpful and kind and a good teacher to his students in the tutoring program.

This year is his first year in private school and also the photography program. He has been very involved in all the EI activities. He has been receiving regular encouragement from the staff and thsi has boosted his confidence.  Last year he was not very good with his studies but this year his scores have improved and he is one of the top 3 students in EI’s program! He now believes that he can have a better future and that it is possible for him to achieve his dreams!

- Neha Singh (Contributions by Deepa Victor)

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

$30/month is what it takes us at Empowerment International to put a child in school. If you would like to help a child stay in school and get better life, please click on the link below or contact us -

Timothy, whose travel blog has been selected as one of the 10 best travel photo blogs recently, visited Nicaragua on behalf of Empowerment International last November as a photography trip.

He was enchanted by the stunning bio-diversity of the country and became acutely aware of the “inexorable link between poverty and the loss of biodiversity”. In the tour he explored some of the humanitarian organizations waging war against poverty in Latin America’s poorest country. In spite of having travelled 6 continents and 85 countries, his wizened soul was shocked at the depths of poverty that the slum dwellers in Nicaragua are mired in.

Empowerment International was the host for him in this tour. He says in his blog about EI, “Empowerment International helps to break the repeating cycle of poverty by working with parents to keep their children in school and by providing children in high risk areas with the physical and emotional support needed to stay in school. Empowerment International also understands the complex intersection of poverty and conservation and knows that protecting the biodiversity of Nicaragua is intrinsically linked to the human well-being of the community and to celebration of place.

To that end, (Kathy) Adams’ photography program, Mi Camera – Mi Mundo, which puts a camera in the hands of many of her impoverished students is nothing short of brilliant. It not only provides students with a creative and artistic outlet but, through the lens, also engenders an overwhelming connection to place and an awareness and appreciation for the natural beauty of Nicaragua.”

Timothy’s first photography exhibition is in the third largest art market in the United States from July 10 to 29 and he is presenting the photographs he took in the tour to Nicaragua. He mentions further in his blog, “I know most of you can’t make the gallery opening in Santa Fe this Friday. But I encourage you to follow the links to Empowerment International and see first-hand the amazing work of Kathy Adams and her team. And come meet these special people from the barrios whose enduring human spirit rises from this once voiceless, powerless place – carved out of obscene oppression and the abysmal failures of democracy and politics.

And while there, maybe drop a few coins in the bucket. The little funds Adams mines out of that bucket have already gone a long way to foster the continued self-empowerment of several rural and urban communities in Nicaragua.”
You can read more of Timothy’s travels and see his amazing photos on his blog – “From the Faraway, Nearby”

- Neha Singh

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

$30/month is what it takes us at Empowerment International to put a child in school. If you would like to help a child stay in school and get better life, please click on the link below or contact us -

The tour is being organized by Susan Boe, Morgan and Julie Smith who are Santa Fe residents. Their goal is to take groups to Nicaragua to give them the opportunity to learn about the country and see programs like Empowerment International. Any “profits” that they make will go to Empowerment International and would be tax deductible to the participants.

Located between Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south, Nicaragua is about half the size of Colorado or New Mexico and has a population of roughly 5.5 million people. It is a country of striking beauty – coast lines along the Pacific that are becoming famous for surfing; a series of volcanoes, many of which can be easily hiked; beautiful colonial cities like León and Granada; natural areas full of more species of birds and trees than the entire European continent. Most important are its friendly and welcoming people.

Unfortunately, however, they are among the poorest in the southern hemisphere. Only Haiti is poorer. Nicaragua is a country with little economic activity or job growth and a weak educational system that fails to provide job training or opportunity. What is striking, however, is the level of private humanitarian assistance provided by citizens from all over the world butmostly the United States. Nicaragua benefits enormously from the work of water engineers, medical personnel, educators and just plain citizens, some of who live in Nicaragua, most of who make periodic visits.

The detailed tour is as follows:

Nicaragua Educational Tour, November 8-15, 2009

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Fly to Managua, arriving at approximately 9 PM.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Briefings in Managua with US Embassy and business leaders.

Drive to Granada with stops at the folk arts market in Masaya and the volcano of Masaya.

Evening visit to a program that feeds approximately 300 street children each evening.

Dinner with local Americans and others.

Stay in Granada.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Tour of Granada and visit to Barrio Santa Ana, one of Empowerment International’s educational programs.

Lunch at the small town of Catarina overlooking Lago de Apoyo and tour of local folk market.

Dinner with local Americans and others.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Tour Barrio La Esperanza on the edge of Granada, Empowerment International’s other program.

Visit to lending library three blocks from hotel.

Boat tour and lunch at Las Isletas.

Dinner with local Americans and others.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Tour of veterinary program run by Dr. Tom Parker from Tesuque, New Mexico.

Drive to the Selva Negra Mountain Resort, a totally self sufficient coffee plantation and resort hotel approximately 3 hours from Granada.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Participants can either take a tour of Agros project near Matagalpa or visit Jinotega.

Spend night at Selva Negra.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Tour Selva Negra, then return to Managua.

Farewell dinner at La Casa de los Mejía Godoy, a restaurant owned by two of Nicaragua’s most famous folk singers.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Return to the United States

For more information check out our Events section.

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