Through
this sponsorship program, over
100 of the most impoverished children in La Primavera are able to attend
school. Also,
more than 20 Women in Action members are taking adult education classes
or
learning a trade. Sponsors support a child or WIA member with a $20 a
month
pledge. This helps pay for tuition, school supplies, and school
uniforms. In
Nicaragua, for lack of government funding, public education is not free.
Poor
families must pay tuition and cleaning fees, help pay the school water,
light
and phone bill, and purchase supplies for both their children and the
teacher.
To sponsor a child of a Women in Action
member
click here.
A whole
new world has opened up for Women in Action. The
20 women currently in adult education classes are also attending
computer
classes. While they once feared even touching a computer, they are now
mastering Microsoft programs, sending emails and surfing the internet.
The women have formed study groups that meet outside of class. Studying
and
doing homework together has allowed them to keep up with their studies.
The
women are taking similar courses as their children, and therefore, they
are
studying together with their children as well. None of the women feel at
all
embarrassed to be helped by their children; to the contrary, they feel
extremely thankful and proud that their children are able to study.
(There are
over 100 children sponsored through the program).
The
women are hopeful that when they finish secondary
school and their computer training, that they will find better
employment
opportunities. They are already planning to use their computer skills to
make
invitation and holiday cards for sale. The women will also be putting
their
skills to use helping create project newsletters, sponsorship updates,
and
thank you cards.
Most importantly, the women realize that their education is something
that no
one can ever take away from them. They can now enter into the world of
the
internet, maintain their own email accounts, and keep themselves
informed.
When WIA began the women were reluctant to speak in
front
of each other. Now they are sending emails back and forth, surfing the
internet, and doing homework together. All of this has been possible due
to the
support of sponsors. Thank you for making so many dreams come true!
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