American Nicaraguan Foundation

2009 Program Numbers

noreply@blogger.com (Marcella Chamorro) — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:54:00 +0000

Now that we've reached the home stretch for the Annual Report 2009, the program and projects numbers have been updated to reflect ANF's work throughout all of last year. The ANF website has also been updated with these numbers, so be sure to check out the website for more information on any programs of interest to you.

ANF's programs and projects in 2009:

Creation of 140 jobs through the provision of training, technical assistance, and capital in the areas of sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry.
A daily plate of food was given to 68,788 people, including students, nursing mothers, and senior citizens.
1,129 schools received basic school supplies for each student, benefitting 158,454 children.
240 schools received vitamin-fortified cereal or other nutritious food aid for school feeding programs, benefiting 50,019 students.
Distribution of medicines and medical supplies to 142 dispensaries, health centers, and hospitals, assisting in the treatment and recovery of thousands of patients.
Construction of 1,592 houses, benefitting 9,821 people.
Construction of 250 latrines, benefitting 1,552 people.
Construction of 9 wells in communities affected by water scarcity.

For the full list of ANF's 2009 program numbers, please visit the What We Do section of our website where we show how our work relates to the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals.

AR09 update

noreply@blogger.com (Marcella Chamorro) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:30:00 +0000

After redesigning the ANF website, we've been focusing our efforts on getting our official 2009 numbers together for the new Annual Report.

These numbers take some time to prepare because they are looked over various times, making sure that the amount of centers and beneficiaries that we served in the past year are indeed the correct amount. After our internal and external audits are complete, the Annual Report 2009 will be prepared and released!

For now, check out this old ANF video we've uploaded on Vimeo. It's an oldie (the logo and contact information at the end are definitely out of date), but the message still rings true. Enjoy!

noreply@blogger.com (Marcella Chamorro) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:00:00 +0000

Here's a presentation about ANF for those who want more information on our programs and projects.

View more presentations from anf.

noreply@blogger.com (Marcella Chamorro) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:49:00 +0000

Check out our newest video. We hope it'll give you an idea of what kinds of projects ANF carries out each year and how we go about achieving our mission of aiding Nicaragua's poor.

New ANF website!

noreply@blogger.com (Marcella Chamorro) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:24:00 +0000

Hello, all!

Please check out our newly redesigned website! We've worked hard to bring you the newest content and latest news on what we're up to in Nicaragua. On the new site, we've added new stories, new summaries for every one of our programs, statistics on Nicaragua and how many impoverished Nicaraguans we've helped in the past year. Of course, we've also added detailed information on what YOU can do to help our effort, too! -- www.AidNicaragua.org

Comment to tell us what you think of the redesign!

Volunteers build latrines in Telica, Leon

noreply@blogger.com (Marcella Chamorro) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:14:00 +0000

GUEST POST BY NICOLAS ARGUELLO, ANF's Project Development Manager

The inhabitants of the Telica Volcano in León live under extreme poverty, without access to electricity, sanitation, healthcare, sustainable sources of nutrition, and even water. And to top it all off, the community, which is nearly 1,000 meters above sea level, is virtually inaccessible by vehicle, adding an extra layer of difficulty to all development projects in the region.

Nonetheless, a León-based NGO called Nuevas Esperanzas (New Hopes) has been working tirelessly to bring solutions to these destitute and vulnerable communities. Following a rainwater collection project, Nuevas Esperanzas enlisted the help of ANF to offer the beneficiaries a basic measure of sanitation: latrines.

In July 2009, eight college students and an ANF team leader travelled to León to participate in a latrine-building brigade. The students donated half of the total project cost and ANF sponsored the other half. Requiring intense manual labor, the weeklong brigade consisted in the construction of 26 latrines on the slopes of the Telica Volcano.

The first day was especially tiresome. After walking uphill for three miles and drinking half the water available for the full working day, the team of volunteers finally reached the community only to see piles of constructions materials – cement mix, shovels, picks, buckets, sand, bricks, etc. – waiting to be used. After a warm welcome and a show of immense gratitude by the community members, the team began to work. Still not understanding the mechanics of latrine building, the team was more unproductive than anticipated.

To compensate, the team worked extra hard for the rest of the week, working side by side with the project beneficiaries. Soon enough, progress was at schedule and the volunteers were becoming increasingly efficient. By the end of the week, all 26 latrines were completed and the volunteers took the last day off to say good-bye, organizing a small celebration involving a piñata, food, music, and dancing.

ANF’s work in the region is far from over. More water and sanitation projects are under way. We just need more supporters who are willing to help ANF bring effective aid to Nicaragua’s most vulnerable.

United Way's Latin America Regional Meeting in Sao Paulo Brazil

noreply@blogger.com (Marcella Chamorro) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:20:00 +0000

"Tudo bem?"

Everything alright?

I don't think I've ever been asked that question as many times as I was asked during my 5-day trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil.

I was there to meet with representatives from the 11 organizations that represent United Way Worldwide in Latin America. Since 2001, ANF has represented United Way of Nicaragua.

During my trip, I heard success stories about innovative fundraising techniques and ways to motivate volunteers; I listened to horror stories about failed relationships with donors; I learned ofpromising projects that will bring education, good health, and economic stability to thousands of people throughout the region; and I shared my experiences working toward the same goal.

I brought all that information home with me to Nicaragua - to push ANF forward, to better fulfill our mission, and to better serve Nicaragua's poor. Hopefully, I'll have some new success stories to tell next year...

Running for ANF

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:01:00 +0000

Melissa will be running her first marathon in October. She is combining the love of running and her passion to help the world by setting 2 goals:

1. Cross the finish line at the Chicago Marathon.
2. Raise enough money to build a home for a family in Nicaragua.

She thought the fundraising part would be the hardest. But today, with still about a month to go, she has already exceeded her goal!

Inspired by the actor Edward Norton, who is also running a marathon while raising money, Melissa decided to see if she would be successful. And, okay, she’s not Edward Norton, but hey, you don’t have to be a celebrity to do this, right?

“My goal is to raise $2,620.00. I chose that number because I am embarking in a 26.2 mile journey. If I can get 262 people to donate $10.00 my fundraising target will be met. I could also get 100 people to donate $26.20. Every little bit counts, and every little bit will help!”

And every little bit is counting! People have been donating $10, $200, and everything in between.

So far she has raised $2,914.00 and many many fans.

Good luck on October 11th, Meli! We all wish you the greatest run of your life.

We hope you, our reader, will be inspired by her journey and use FirstGiving to fundraise for a good cause like ANF.

An unforgettable trip to RAAN

noreply@blogger.com (Marcella Chamorro) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:07:00 +0000

Last week, I took a trip to the Bonanza and Siuna, RAAN, in central Nicaragua. Full of turbulent airplane rides, pesky mosquitoes, dirt floors, and contaminated water, the trip will be a hard one to forget.

The purpose of the trip was to inaugurate two schools that were donated to the community in Bonanza by the Coca-Cola Foundation. With the funds donated by Coca-Cola, ANF implemented the project and did the on-the-ground work. The adventurers on the trip were: two representatives from Coca-Cola's Costa Rica office, two representatives from ANF (myself included), and a representative from the Ministry of Education. In regard to fulfilling its purpose, the trip was a great success. The inaugural event was wonderful, which the children enjoyed immensely, and the new classrooms and sanitary units looked absolutely amazing. It was definitely a job well done by everyone involved.

But, on a personal level, the trip meant a lot more than just inaugurating those two schools. Bathing with water that was not known to be clean, sleeping in a house with questionable security, and fighting different sized bugs throughout the night was an experience that drove home many of the things I work with on a day-to-day basis from the comfort of my office.

Over the course of those two days, I had a thought that kept nagging at me: "At the end of this adventure, I get to go home - a very comfortable and safe home. But the inhabitants of these communities don't. This is their home. This isn't an 'adventure' for them - it's regular, day-to-day life. And it's HARD."

Now that I'm back in the office, sitting behind my desk, fighting for those impoverished communities and their struggling inhabitants from so far away, I try to remember how it felt to be unsure if the water I was drinking was clean, for one's health to constantly be at risk. I try to remember what it's like for those communities, to struggle through each day.

And I hope that every person who can will do something to help. So, help by supporting ANF today.

Annual Report 08!

noreply@blogger.com (Marcella Chamorro) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:58:00 +0000

We put the finishing touches on the Annual Report a few weeks ago, and they're finally printed and ready to send out. In trying to keep things as green as possible, though, we'd love for you to please check out the electronic copy, too:

http://www.aidnicaragua.org/annualreport

Let us know what you think!

Visit to Schools in Bonanza, RAAN

noreply@blogger.com (Marcella Chamorro) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:59:00 +0000

Guest Post by Indira Vallejos – ANF’s Event Coordinator

About two weeks ago, I visited a part of Nicaragua I had never been to before – the North Atlantic Autonomous Region. To get there, I flew non-stop to the community of Bonanza along with a representative of the Coca-Cola Company. The purpose of the trip was to coordinate the inauguration of 2 reconstructed schools, which were funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation.

During my stay, I noticed that, even though it’s a part of Nicaragua’s mining triangle, Bonanza’s social development is only of interest to a mining organization that operates there and is otherwise forgotten by the rest of Nicaraguans. Witnessing the unsanitary conditions, poor economic circumstances, and unsafe environment in which the inhabitants of the community live, I realized that the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua is so completely different (and in so much more need) than the Pacific coast where I have lived my whole life.

My experience in Bonanza had a profound impact on me and left me with the desire to continue to help these coastal communities and their people to grow and find a more dignified way of living.

ANF's achievements in 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Marcella Chamorro) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:30:00 +0000

Promoting Economic Opportunity
- Creation of 152 jobs through the provision of training, technical assistance, and capital in the areas of sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry.

Supplying Nutritional Assistance
- A total of 288 centers benefited from food donations.
- A daily plate of food was given to 44,552 people, including students, nursing mothers, and senior citizens.

Increasing Educational Quality and Attainment
- 102 schools and other educational centers received 12,236 items of classroom furniture.
- 1,142 schools received basic school supplies for each student, benefiting 157,718 children.
- 112 schools received nutritionally-rich food aid for school lunch programs, benefiting 24,117 students.
- Construction of 3 schools, 1 library, creation of 2 computer labs, and rehabilitation of 2 schools, benefiting 2,716 students.

Strengthening Medical Assistance
- Distribution of medicines and medical supplies to 125 dispensaries, health centers, and hospitals, assisting in the treatment and recovery of thousands of patients.
- 684 handicapped persons received a wheelchair.

Developing Communities
- Construction of 1,943 houses, benefiting 12,047 people.
- Construction of 446 latrines, benefiting 1,593 people.

Providing Access to Safe Drinking Water
- Construction of 20 community wells and the rehabilitation of 4 water systems, benefiting 3,712 people.

If you're interested in contributing to our mission of fostering increased opportunity, self sufficiency and dignity for the poor in Nicaragua, please visit our website and donate today!

Live Long and Prosper!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:42:00 +0000

This past Wednesday, ANF held a fund raising event in Managua's Alhambra VIP movie theaters where over 100 attendees made a donation and watched the premiere of the new summer release, Star Trek.

The movie began in all three of Alhambra's theaters at 7:30PM, and each person received a free bucket of popcorn courtesy of COSAS magazine. People enjoyed themselves because, not only did they spend two hours watching a great and action-packed movie, but they also made a charitable donation.

In the eyes of both ANF and those who attended, the event was a definite success. On ANF's part, the funds raised will help achieve ANF's mission of striving to provide hope and opportunity to Nicaragua's poor. On the part of the public, many requested (and even insisted) that this type of event be repeated on more frequent basis.

Thank you to Alhambra movie theaters and COSAS magazine for supporting ANF and helping to put on such a great event.

Changing a Mother's Life

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:28:00 +0000

“For a year, my daughter carried me around everywhere. But today, I will be able to be more independent and even go to church alone.”

These are the words of Catalina Romero, a 65 year old woman from Ciudad Sandino in Managua, Nicaragua’s capital.
Until May of 2008, Mrs. Romero was able to walk and lead a normal life. She had lived with diabetes for 18 years of her life when she awoke one morning with her right foot turning purple. She went to the doctor who gave her treatment to stop it from spreading to the entire leg. Sadly, it was unsuccessful. Catalina said she felt like she would rather die than have to live without her leg, but her daughter cried and begged her to be positive about the situation because she needed her mother present in her life. A couple of months later, Catalina’s right leg was amputated.

From the moment she had her leg surgically removed, Mrs. Romero’s perspective on life changed drastically. Finding herself completely dependent on others for the first time in her life, she felt herself a burden on her daughter’s life. She hated the feeling of having to depend on people to get around, knowing that her independence as a woman no longer existed. Her mood swings were strong, getting more depressed and discouraged by the day.

On May 26, Catalina received a donation from ANF that changed her life - a wheelchair. Her outlook visibly changed from the moment she laid eyes on her wheelchair. Her first trip on it, she said, would be to the nearby church with her daughter and grand-daughters.

Students Helping Students raises funds for impoverished school

noreply@blogger.com (Marcella Chamorro) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:46:00 +0000

As part of the Students Helping Students program, students of the American Nicaraguan School held a fundraiser at their school's annual Kermesse. The group's aim is to raise funds in order to provide an impoverished school in Managua with school supplies, desks, and a better infrastructure (including clean water, a bathroom, and better classrooms).

The fundraiser consisted of a small blow-up swimming pool filled with plastic balls. Each ball had a tiny sticker on it. The ONE plastic ball with a red apple sticker on it was the key to winning an iPod.

By the end of the event, they had raised c$3,400!

Shocking Visit to Somoto

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:44:00 +0000

Last week, I visited Totogalpa in Somoto, where a water well, donated by Life Outreach International (LOI), was installed by ANF last year. We spoke to some of the members of the community who benefit from the well, and we were able to see the happiness and different, improved lifestyle they now have thanks to this donation.

Previous to the existence of this well, the families of Totogalpa began a trek of two or three miles at 3:00 a.m. to reach a water source, only to find a line of 50 others also waiting their turn to collect the filthy, diseased water. Part of the contamination of that water source came from dead bats!

Two residents of the community, Elena Ruiz and Juan Antonio Perez, shared with us the fact that they used to have to send their children to school without bathing them. Instead, they would simply rub a damp towel over them to clean them as best they could.

Today, with a water well only steps from their homes, they are not only able to bathe their kids before going to school, but they are also able to access as much water as they need to water their plants and grow fruits and vegetables in their backyards. This is the case for the more than 40 families that are being benefited by this water well. It is amazing to see the positivism they now have in life after seeing that people cared about their situation and took steps to help them overcome it. People in the community were infinitely grateful for ANF's help in making a difference to their everyday lives.

New Computer Lab for the New School Year

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:04:00 +0000

ANF Nicaragua is excited to have finished the computer lab in Colegio Autonomo Las Americas, located in Managua, just in time for the new school year.

This computer lab allows more than 500 students from 5^th to 12^th grade to enjoy the implementation of cyber life in their school. The lab will have capacity for 36 students on 18 computer stations (12 donated by RTI/USAID and 6 by Target AMC) internet access and a printer. The students will learn how to use a computer, manage basic information system programs, and take advantage of the internet connection to do research on relevant and updated information.

Today we thank RTI/USAID and Target AMC for their support in making this computer lab a reality to the school.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:26:00 +0000

ANF and CB Richard Ellis (CBRE- global real estate services company) worked together to build 62 homes that benefited 434 people in Nicaragua.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLIOcRDtofg

This video shows the desperate conditions people live in before receiving a new home, the construction process and the finished project.

I ask you to join us in thanking CBRE for making this possible as well as spreading the word so other companies can join in efforts just like this one. Let us know if you can.

Vote for ANF

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:25:00 +0000

Today ANF asks for your help in bringing computers and internet access to poor students in Nicaragua and all you have to do is click here.

ANF has been selected to be one of 12 organizations to receive a grant for development projects in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.

Part of the decision making process is an on-line popular vote. This is where you can make a difference. Click on this link and vote for the project in Nicaragua. We are the fourth box from the top, titled "Fortalecimiento de la educación tecnológica de dos escuelas vulnerables en Nicaragua."

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
Thank you for getting involved, spread the word and help make this project a reality.

Bertha Calderón

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:23:00 +0000

Bertha Calderón Women’s Hospital is often a last resort. Patients come from all over Nicaragua. Cases that cannot be diagnosed or that are deemed incurable elsewhere in the country are referred to Bertha Calderón. Thus, the importance of this hospital is immense. For many women it is a last chance for treatment. I was fortunate enough to tour the facility on my trip to Nicaragua last May.

Women arrive at the hospital with diverse needs. Pregnant women, many still in their teens, wait for appointments in the maternal clinic. Beds in the oncology wing are full of patients. Nurses and doctors hurry in and out of the operating room, clad in green scrubs.

Bertha Calderón is a paradox. The building is nearly forty years old. The hallways are dark from low lighting. Patients appear tired, anxious, and gloomy. Yet, despite the darkness, the hospital buzzes with life. The staff rushes from room to room. Doctors exit and enter with charts. Carts with pharmaceuticals roll down the halls. As I move through these scenes, my tour guide, a director at the hospital, explains the range of work the hospital does. Women receive medical services, which would otherwise have been inadequate, if offered at all.

Places like the Bertha Calderón Hospital benefit directly from ANF. Our mission to support the poorest people in Nicaragua shows real results here. Without the Bertha Calderón Hospital, many women would suffer from lack of adequate healthcare—one of the hallmarks of underdevelopment and poverty.

Bertha Calderón depends on support from ANF. We can only continue giving that support with your help. Join us in helping the women of Nicaragua continue to receive necessary healthcare. Donate today.

A New Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:56:00 +0000

What is the danger of complacency? We can easily become callous. The more we see of what perturbs us, the more callous we are. Everyday scenes of poverty should serve as reminders of the need but in their repetitiveness, they become more elusive.

That is terribly ironic.

When I took the post at ANF, I worried that my inexperience in Nicaragua (and Latin America in general) would hinder my effectiveness. I am not a Nica. I do not speak Spanish. The culture and history of Nicaragua is not my own. However, upon returning from a trip to Managua, I realized the inexperience that originally concerned me might be my most valuable asset. Unfamiliarity with Nicaragua leaves me unhindered to see the full extent of the poverty.

I am an outsider. My trip to Nicaragua at the end of May was my first time in Managua. Everything I saw was a first—the dusty streets, the steep volcanoes, the expansive lakes, and the poverty. It was moving to see people living in houses constructed from whatever was found scrounging. The ANF staff reminded me that “These are working-class people—they have jobs”.

If this is how working-class people live, how do the unemployed live?

I come from a world with social welfare, low unemployment, and a high standard of living. Of course, not even America is immune to homelessness and poverty. But in no way does it compare to what I saw in Nicaragua, both in scale and level. I have no callous to the poverty in Nicaragua. I did not grow up around rampant underemployment. What I witnessed was raw; this was my first impression. Through inexperience, I sensed a need greater than I have ever seen before.

Coming into contact with the poverty in Nicaragua made clear why ANF exists. While I saw tremendous need, I also saw a response. Children were in schools sponsored by ANF. A waiting room to a clinic and pharmacy supported by ANF was full with patients awaiting care and medication. Makeshift housing areas were giving way to ANF housing projects. I saw ANF providing answers to a country with seemingly countless questions.

After my first month of working here, it is clear that this foundation does much to improve lives in Nicaragua. It is equally apparent that there is always much more to do.
I am not callous to the poverty in Nicaragua. My initial trip thus served as an inspiration to bring change. From an outsider’s view, this is a country that needs support.

For positive changes to come, we cannot become callous to the need.

The End of Poverty IS Possible

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:01:00 +0000

I wanted to share this video with you where Hans Rosling, a Swedish health expert and researcher (also founder of Karolinska Institute and Gapminder), makes a great impression of the state of the world.

2 things you take from it:

The impossible is possible...we can improve the lives of so many people in poor nations.
and
Who said statistics was boring?

Miami Staff is back from Nicaragua

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:58:00 +0000

We just returned to Miami from Nicaragua. Although we are still tired from the trip, it gave us the opportunity to "recharge our batteries" as far as motivating us to keep helping the people in our country.

We visited many projects and spoke to many beneficiaries as well as people who have not received our help yet. The contrast between these two groups is truely amazing. People benefiting from ANF have a great appreciation towards donors and a positive outlook on life. Of course, knowing someone cared about their situation and knowing they are now accomplishing things for themselves, will inspire hope in anyone.

One lady, called Maria, at El Menco community, got teary eyed when she was expressing the importance and impact of our work. Now 2 of her children are even attending University! She is very proud and so are we. I will definitely share more of her story in a future post.

For now, please take a look at some of our mission trip pictures here. And let us know what you think!

What's your Donor Personality?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:58:00 +0000

Last month I read a new report released by Convio, Edge Research and Sea Change Strategies (see article) that says that we, non profits, are missing out on getting the "wired wealthy" to donate online.

They found that half of major donors surveyed prefer to give online. I think that like those surveyed, our donors are also starting to get more use of our online giving and more confident about it - finding out that we do not share their contact information and use Verisign to protect their payment process.

Another interesting point in the report is they found 3 personality types:

29% are Relationship Seekers - Relationship seekers put the most stock in how a charity web site forms a connection with them. They tend to skew younger (under 45) and are most likely to engage in social activities with the charity. 2/3rds of relationship seekers say that a charity's web site plays a role in whether or not they give money.

41% are Casual Connectors - Like relationship seekers, so-called casual connectors also seek a connection with the charity. However, for them it is less personal -- they're more interested in things like how efficiently the charity is using their money and want easy access to that information.

30% are All Business - The all business set doesn't care about feeling connected to the charity, rather they want the donation process to be as easy and painless as possible. They also tend to give the most money.

So I ask: What personality are you? How would you like us to treat you online?

Staff Mission Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:23:00 +0000

This is a map of Nicaragua. The entire country is a bit smaller than the state of New York and it is the largest in Central America. But it only has a population of around 5.5 million. 80% of which live in extreme poverty (live on less than $2 a day).

Our entire staff (including USA and Nicaragua) will be traveling to visit some of our projects the first week of April. I have circled where we're headed, as you can see on the map.

We are very excited and hope to come back with many compelling stories and pictures to post here.

Is there any information, specifically, that you would like us to bring back and share with you?