Here is the first part of an interview with Anielka, the Program Director of EI and a tireless worker loved by everyone here in EI.

How did EI find you?

Earlier I was an elementary school teacher at a school where EI had participants in the afternoon., and in the morning I was working in the school's administrative office. One day Kathy came in to learn more about the school and I happened to be there to greet her. I mentioned at one point to Kathy and Leen Jille (an EI volunteer) that I was interested in looking for a new job someday in the future.

Upon finishing our conversation, Leen, asked me if I would like to work for the organization in the future, to which I responded right away “yes.” Later on I was called to have an interview; we had lunch with 5 people who interviewed me for a long while. After that, they offered me a part-time position which later turned into a full time one.

How do you like to work for EI?

I like my job very much; I have a passion for it. I had been a teacher for 10 years. The opportunity to keep working in the education field with children and young people of my country, and to establish a direct contact with them and their families make me feel that I am an asset to the Nicaraguan society. Above all, it fulfills me with a great personal and professional satisfaction.

What makes EI a great organization / or maybe a not so great one?

EI is a great organization in this country and what makes it different from other organizations is the direct contact we have with its staff, the volunteers, and the children and their families. Not only are we giving away material things, but we are trying to improve the participants’ quality of life by making positive and significant changes and by encouraging and motivating them to move forward on their own. We are only the facilitators.

What kind of experience have you acquired, or have learned during the time working for EI? 

The time spent working for EI has had the same effects on me as it has on the participants of the program; working for EI has taught me to be a more sensitive person. Living so close to the children’s limitations, has taught me to appreciate what I have - my family, friends, and home - even more. I have learned to be more patient and tolerant towards others. I have been learning English and leadership skills. I have learned to identify problems in their early stages and facilitate solutions. My computer knowledge has augmented greatly, I have been learning the culture and I have been learning how to analyze social problems and to become a facilitator.

What do you like about the program?

I like all of it as a whole. For me, EI is a very holistic program: it includes the educational, social, and health areas, three very basic aspects in the personal and professional development of every single human being. EI truly empowers its participants and their families. It gives them the sense that they are part of the solution and not just being handed a solution.

¿Cómo EI la encontró a usted?

Soy una Maestra de Educación primaria, EI me encontró trabajando en una escuela llamada Padre Antonio Stella, en esta escuela habían algunos ninos becados por EI, entonces Kathy, llego como visita para conocer la situación académica de los ninos y me toco atenderla porque yo trabajaba en la administración del centro por la mañana y por la tarde daba clases a tercer grado.

Al terminar nuestra conversación, Leen Jille uno de los acompañantes de Kathy me pregunto si me gustaría trabajar para la fundación en un futuro, a lo cual respondí a lo inmediato que si, posteriormente me llamaron al colegio para tener una cita para una entrevista, tuvimos un almuerzo con 5 personas los cuales me entrevistaron por largo tiempo.

Posteriormente a la entrevista me confirmaron que estaba contratada a trabajar por medio tiempo para Empowerment International.

¿Qué tal le gusta trabajar con EI?

Me gusta muchísimo mi trabajo, tengo mucha pasión para hacerlo, estuve como una maestra por 10 anos y continuar trabajando en el ramo de la educación con los ninos y jóvenes de mi país, establecer un contacto directo con ellos y sus familias; es algo que me hace sentir una persona muy útil a la sociedad Nicaragüense y sobre todo me llena de mucha satisfacción personal y profesional.

¿Qué es lo que hace ser EI una gran organización / ó quizás no tanto?

EI es una gran organización en este país y lo que la distingue de otras organizaciones es el contacto directo que establecemos entre el staff, los voluntarios y los ninos y sus familias. No solo estamos regalando cosas materiales, estamos tratando de mejorar la calidad de vida de los participantes, produciendo cambios positivos y significativos en ellos; alentándolos y motivándolos a salir adelante por sus propios medios, nosotros somos solamente facilitadotes.

¿Qué experiencia usted ha adquirido, ó qué ha aprendido en el tiempo que ha estado trabajando para EI?

Igual que a nuestros participantes, el trabajo con EI me ha ensenado a ser una persona mas sensible con los problemas sociales de los demás.

Estar día a día viviendo de cerca las limitaciones de los ninos, me ha ensenado a valorar mas lo que tengo, mi familia, mis amigos, mi casa.

He aprendido a tener mas paciencia y tolerancia con las demás personas.

¿Qué le gusta a usted acerca del programa?

Me gusta todo en su conjunto, para mi EI es un programa muy completo, atiende la parte educativa, social y salud tres aspectos muy básicos en el desarrollo personal y profesional de todo ser humano.