Schools Celebrate World Water Day

Diria schools participated in World Water Day Celebrations this week and learned about care of water, the environment, and personal hygiene. As part of our work constructing water storage tanks and improving latrines with Living Earth Institute and Pangea it is important that we educate the children and community on the proper care of the tank, hygiene, and other related themes. As a result we took advantage of World Water Day, March 22nd, and had celebrations in the school.
The 4th, 5th, and 6th grade children participated in a presentation competition and gave presentations on care of the environment, personal hygiene, and care of school property. The younger children performed folkloric dances and participated in a variety of games and competitions. The schools were very organized and excited about this event.
It was a very fun and educational day, a day in which the results of the work we have done in these small rural communities was evident.

Construction of Water Storage Tanks Starts in Six Schools

Proyecto Laguna, working in conjunction with the Living Earth Institute, has started construction in six schools. Our initial plan was to install water storage tanks and repair latrines in 5 schools. Luckily, we were able to stretch the money to include six. This means that every school that is in the countryside of Diria will soon have a back-up source of water. Water is important for health and hygiene and having a storage tank will greatly benefit the students at these schools. We are also repairing latrines in these schools so that the children have a safe, private, place to use the bathroom.
Proyecto Laguna is also working with the parents at each school to help them raise money and put together a maintenance plan so that they can maintain this project independently. We are working in conjunction with the Ministry of Health to start classes in each school focusing on health and hygiene and proper use and care of water and latrines.

Proyecto Laguna is Making a Difference

Check us out and Join Our Good Work

Since its inception in January of 2007 Proyecto Laguna has achieved the following:

• 501(c)3 non-profit status,
• Registered as an official non-governmental organization with the Nicaraguan government.
• Provided school supplies twice per school year to over 800 students.
• Provided over 600 pairs of shoes.
• Provided over 200 school uniforms.
• Provided 50 teachers with classroom supplies.
• Provided basic medical care to over 900 students.
• Worked with the schools to register them with the American Nicaraguan Foundation to receive furniture and school supplies twice per year.
• Provided furniture, such as a cabinets and bookshelves, to the schools. Furniture was made by a local carpenter.
• Provided sporting equipment to the schools.
• Installed wall mounted pencil sharpeners in every classroom.
• Provided small rewards every month to two students in each class as a form of motivation. A reward is given to the student with the best grades and the student who has put forth the best effort.
• Formed parent groups in each of the three schools that work in concert with Proyecto Laguna to set goals for the schools. Parent groups are responsible for assisting with grant applications and fundraising. They raise funds through raffles, clothing sales, food sales, and movie nights. Each parent group has a savings account and use the money they earn to assist the school with maintenance and other needs.
• Formed a cobblers co-op in Diria that makes shoes for the project.
• Formed a seamstress co-op in Diria that makes backpacks for the project. The seamstress co-op has recently started marketing handmade bags and received contracts from businesses in Managua to make reusable grocery bags, beach bags, and other types of bags.
• Received a grant from the Pangea Project in conjunction with the Living Earth Institute and installed a municipal water reservoir tank, a rain water collection tank, rain gutters, a drainage system, and repaired latrines in the Ruiz Castillo School.
• Repaired and remodeled the pre-school building at the Anne Frank School which was previously in a dangerous state of disrepair.
• Installation of new water reservoir tanks in the Anne Frank School.
• Provided potable water to two schools with no water source by paying for water and transportation by ox-cart.
• Applied for a grant to build school kitchens in two schools. The grant was approved and we are now on the waiting list for construction.
• Proyecto Laguna is currently being considered by Pangea for a second grant for $10,000 to be used to install water reservoir tanks in 5 schools and repair existing latrines.

• Received a grant from Google for advertising valued at $120,000 per year. (This is not a cash grant but we receive the equivalent from them in online advertising.)
• Provided emergency food and clothing for families in severe need.
  

• Provided medical care to several special needs cases including the following:
• CT scans and medications for a child with epilepsy,
• Orthopedic shoes and/or braces to 15 children,
• Paid for surgery and medication for a child with an intestinal blockage,
• Paid for physical therapy for several children,
• Paid for psychological counseling for children with special needs,
• Currently working to assist a child with an extra digit on each hand and foot receive plastic surgery,
• Coordinated with Operation Smile to enroll children in Diria with cleft lips and palates to receive surgery, and
• Paid for a mother with severe heart problems to receive testing and medication.
• Organized the school gardens initiative in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and the American Chamber of Commerce.
• and more!
  

Proyecto Laguna Bazaar-An Opportunity to Support Socially Responsible Nicaraguan Organizations

Proyecto Laguna is holding a bazaar to help support socially responsible Nicaraguan organizations and to give you a chance to do some holiday shopping.

To date 25 socially responsible non-profit and for-profit organizations are attending and will be selling a variety of items such as:

Handmade Toys
Newspaper baskets
Handmade Clothing
Mosaic and painted tables
Homemade soap
Iron Art
Gift Cards
Artisan Chocolates
Handmade paper
Jewelry
Cheese
Calendars
Dried Fruit
and more!

This event is hosted by Proyecto Laguna and will be fun for the entire family with a children's story time, visits with Santa, organic food from Ola Verde, a full bar, and much more.

Please come down to Frontera Books on December 6th and support the non-profits of Nicaragua while doing your holiday shopping.

Date:	Saturday, December 6, 2008
Time:	11:00am - 6:00pm
Location:	Frontera Books
Street:	Semf. Enitel Villa Fontana, 200 v al lago, Esquina Sur Mama Delfina
City/Town:	Managua, Nicaragua