What are your goals for 2007 - 2008?

We are hoping to increase our retention rates (number of children which stay in the program) from 88% in 2006 to 95% in 2007. Our current focus is on refining processes and procedures so the program is more sustainable and reproducible – our objective is to devise a model which is easy to implement in other communities.

We want to foster even more community ownership and help the parents take a greater level of ownership for their children’s education. Our plan is to stay relatively flat in 2007 in enrollment, as we strengthen EI’s foundation. In 2008 we will identity two new communities and start working with them, with the intention of doubling our number of students enrolled.

Financially our 2007 goal is to raise enough funds to create a reserve fund for more financial stability before we increase enrollment in 2008. We would also like to hire at least two more local employees and use volunteers for less critical roles. We believe this can provide more stability for the program and heighten community ownership overall. We expect this will accelerate the development of a more skilled parental directive within the communities. We will continue to increase the number of Nicaraguan volunteers both in the community and outside.

What are some of the success stories of the graduates of the program?

Firstly, what is success to you?

I used to think that success was finishing high school and maybe even college. Over time I realized I was projecting my own values and beliefs onto these families. I realized success to these families - where on average, parents reached about 3^rd grade - is for our kids to surpass their parents by at least 2 years.

We are now pleased if they get through primary school, more pleased if they make it to high school. Currently we have two kids just about ready to go to college next year. This is a new level for us and we are looking at how to handle this and facilitate their next educational needs.

How have you traditionally found donors? What works and hasn’t worked?

For years now I have been juggling tech jobs and my many EI responsibilities. Due to lack of time, most of our donors have just appeared from interpersonal connections of mine, our volunteers or our staff. The biggest gain has been from volunteers promoting the program once they have been to Nicaragua. I can’t say what has not worked. We have been too small to experiment. It has either happened or it hasn’t. Again it’s been an organic process.

How do you keep donors?

We try to stay connected to them and keep them informed, so they feel they are really making a difference with their donations. We find our most committed donors are those who feel connected either to me personally or to the project, the children and the communities we serve. Our most loyal donors have either been exposed to this type of poverty or have been to the countries themselves.

Why are you doing this?

Because I love it. I believe education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty as is developing the community spirit. It fills me, energizes me and makes me happy. Seeing the kids smile and in school instead of or as well as selling on the streets is wonderful. Every child deserves the chance to go to school.

What is in it for you?

Satisfaction. Joy. My payment is seeing those children go to school, them eagerly showing us their school work, seeing the shift of family values to include education as a high priority. Seeing the parents proud of their children and participating in a world they never dreamed of until EI came to them. I have to say another exciting factor has been witnessing our visitors and long term ground team volunteers become positively affected by the work and by the community. It seems we all receive more than we could possibly give to these amazing people.

Why quit a presumably good job to do this?

Actually, while I continue to try to leave the tech world, financial necessities continue to drive me back and I dream of the day where I can focus completely on my true love…Empowerment International. It will be interesting to see how far it can go when I can one day focus 150% of my time to it as opposed to only 60% now.

I am much happier doing something which makes a difference in the world and I feel educating children can affect so many of our world issues. My tech job is fun, but it has never filled my soul or made me feel satisfied. Honestly, this comes from a place beyond me… it is something I feel driven to do from a higher place and I am the vehicle that is being used to do this work. May sound esoteric by hey you asked…

~ by Janine Ramlochan

How did you select the communities you are working in?

The first community in Costa Rica happened very organically by meeting 2 boys on the street. In Nicaragua, an organization called Casa de Ninez introduced us to 5 very poor communities outside of Granada. We chose Villa Esperanza because it was extremely poor and there was already a sense of community established, including a community leader. We were really impressed by this. The kids and families in the project were all interviewed. The first year we chose 76 kids, who were mostly from single parent households. The second year they were again from the same area and had to demonstrate the need (although, they are all in need in this community) and both the parents and the children had to show a strong desire for education and parents a willingness to participate in their children’s educational development.

In the future, we are exploring communities which are connected with an organization called Opportunity international. They are starting community-based library projects where the community actually takes complete ownership of the libraries. We feel our synergies in these communities will accelerate their development, especially considering the community is starting to work together as a whole and has demonstrated strong interest in educating their children.

What is EI’s evaluation process for the children in the program?

Both the children and their parents are involved in an evaluation process to remain in the program for the next year. The criteria of renewal into the program are as follows:

The attendance is the most important and counts for 50%; the grades count for 30%; parental involvement 10%; and child’s motivation 10%. The last two are ranked by volunteers and staff who work daily with the children. At the end of each year, we have a full day discussion with the participants and parents as part of the evaluation process. If children are marginal with attendance or grades we have a new process of working with them.

What type of support do you give to the families?

We visit the families and review the children’s school work to model this type of feedback and involvement for the parents. We give the parents advice on how to work with their children on their schoolwork, even if they don’t have much education themselves. We show them how to review the children’s work, how to encourage them and motivate them.

When obstacles arise we facilitate in finding solutions. Since it often is still an economic hardship for the children to go to school (the children often work themselves or take care of household chores or their younger siblings so the parents can work). We really emphasize the value of this long-term investment versus the short-term every day needs.

When other issues arise beyond our scope we connect the families to the proper assistance when possible. (ie. NGOs or governmental agencies)

How do you encourage communities to take ownership of the program?

We have a parental committee which assists us with the program. Although this is still in the developmental stage, they help us with planning activities ranging from distribution of school supplies, to parties, to owning the medical program. They also provide us with input on how things are going and we are starting to have them take on roles of mentoring other parents. We also are involving the parents in monthly meetings and this has been a huge success. In the beginning the parental attendance was about 30%. Today it hovers around 98%.

What other organizations do you partner with?

Pronat

They save 8 slots in their English and Computer skills programs for girls in our program.  

Clinica Alabama

They provide medical treatment and medication. We purchase tickets at a cost of $2 each (the required co-payment). We provide tickets only to children in the program.

Opportunity International

We are looking at having all our uniforms made by one of their women co-ops in Granada for next year.

Global Education Fund

They offer us bilingual supplies and books on occasion.

Give a Kid a Backpack

They have supplied all school supplies one year and packs another year.

Misc other.

There are several organizations in Granada that are involved in education on various levels and we informally exchange ideas whether program related, or on other things such as policies, financial management, marketing etc.

There are several other educational related organizations which we share our processes and ideas with. There are several organizations we are exploring a bulk purchase of uniforms with which would be made through a local Nicaraguan cooperative. Also, the shoes we purchase as part of the children’s uniforms are made by a local shoemaker as well.

Up until what grade do you support children?

Currently up to 11^th grade (end of primary school for Central America).

We have two students that will be graduating this year and we are considering how to support them, since they wish to go to college. We have already secured scholarships for ½ of their tuition. We are exploring other organizations we can connect them with. Or we may take them on and ask for special assistance from donors for each.

~ by Kathy Adams & Janine Ramlochan

It’s with great excitement and enthusiasm that we announce the launch of our new website. As EI continues to gain momentum and experience tremendous growth in Central America, we felt it was important to revamp the site and focus on the amazing people and the stories they have to share. So grab your favorite beverage, settle in and take some time browse the site, and check out what’s new.

Need some inspiration? Visit the Our Stories page. Whether it’s the sound of children’s laughter as they race old bike tires through the dirt paths of their neighborhood with sticks, or the generosity of the families of Villa Esperanza, as you read the first hand stories of the field staff and volunteers, you’ll feel the inspiration of these wonderful people.

Meet the Team. The Our Team section is dedicated to introducing and telling the stories of the remarkable people who devote their time and lives to further the Empowerment International Mission.

Curious about Central America? Click on Countries and learn a little history, from Nicaraguan inflation to the developmental success of Costa Rica. You’ll also get a glimpse of EI’s timeline in each country.

Want to help? Visit the Get Involved page and browse the many ways you can volunteer, donate, or even shop to support EI!

Stay in touch. While you’re here, be sure and sign up for the newsletter and RSS feed. By adding the EI to your feeds, you’ll always be first to receive the latest news and goings on.  Signing up is a cinch, follow these steps and you'll receive the latest and greatest news from Empowerment International in no time!

Step One:  Click on Latest News RSS link.

Step Two: Click on Subscribe to this feed.

Step Three: Type in your preferred feed name or use the default Empowerment International.  Select a folder to place the EI feed into, or use the default.  Click the Subscribe button.

Step Four: Congratulations!  When you see the successful sign up page, you're ready to start receiving alerts!

EI started in 1998 as a Costa Rican non-profit organization. Soon after, it expanded to Nicaragua.

EI's approach addresses the root cause and the plight of many street children in the slums (‘barrios’) in both countries.

Street children generally come from poor families. They cannot attend school even where public education is free due to lack of funds for mandatory uniforms and school supplies. They also lack emotional support from their families. Instead of being educated, they are sent out to work on the streets selling fruits, vegetables, and trinkets.

EI reverses this trend by working with the children and their families to enable them to attend school. We provide financial and emotional support.

When these children receive an education, they are able to stay off the streets, find better jobs, and eventually break the cycle of poverty that has haunted their families for generations.

2003

• With a successfully established program in Costa Rica, with 100 children enrolled in schools, Kathy Adams decides to expand the program to Nicaragua

2004

• EI established a partnership with Casa de Ninez, an NGO with a mission to take street children and teach them employable skills.
• EI worked with Casa de Ninez to carefully identify 76 young candidates in a small barrio outside of Granada, Nicaragua called Villa de Esperanza (Village of Hope) to launch the first program in Nicaragua.
• Kathy Adams receives an e-chievement award certificate for her inspiring efforts in Central America. 

2005

• In February 2005, these 76 children were provided with uniforms, shoes and supplies so that they can participate in the state-sponsored education system. 
• In March 2005, a grant was given to EI by US retired nurse Lowell Smith to continue a pilot program of providing medicine to children in need. Simple medicine, such as antibiotics, are often financially unobtainable to these children and their families. Not having access to these can lead to devasting effects.
• A volunteer teaches 10 children English in one of the families homes. 
• 5 girls from EI were selected to take computer classes sponsored by a new grassroots program called Pronat.

2006

• Established a team of 5 parent volunteers led by former teacher Anielka Gutierrez Meza. The parent committee are learning how to monitor the children and how to educate both them and their families on the perils of working in the streets and the advantages of going to school. The committee also manages the emergency medical program and is working on creative ways to improve the quality of life for the children in the community, such as creating a soccer field and soccer leagues.
• The program is expanded to enroll 180 children in schools.
  

2007

• 202 children are enrolled in schools. 
• EI lays groundwork for expanding into rural barrios in Nicaragua. It is projected EI will have 400 children in schools in Nicaragua at the beginning of 2008.
• Kathy Adams makes the decision to transition her efforts full-time to further expand EI in Nicaragua and create a portable and reproducible progam.
  

There have been so many changes since the beginning of 2006! Empowerment International and the communities it serves have moved forward in every way. Amazingly the increase of parental meeting and event participation rose from 35% to 98%. We now have active local and community volunteers in addition to our amazing international volunteers. We continue to grow our partnerships with other organizations to leverage our combined resources. With a wonderful collaborative effort from our ground team in Central America (Dan Boyer, Kevin Boxer, Anielka Gutierrez, Marshall McCormick, Kelly Meeks, and Darcy Phillips) and the program participants (the children and their families), Empowerment International’s program is something we believe our donors and supporters can truly be proud of. Our program has continued to shape itself into something much more powerful than just providing scholarships.

Over this past year, we have witnessed a revolution in the interest of the children and their parents in school and education. There is a shared passion for education and the opportunity it brings. It is wonderful to walk through Villa Esperanza and see children outside their homes with their school books studying, often with their older siblings and parents sitting with them and participating. Children will often proudly run up to volunteers and visitors to show them their notebooks and exams.

The parents often will stop a volunteer or staff member to share concerns and questions. In the past year, we have learned techniques and processes for fostering this passion, interest, and investment in the future of the participants in the community. We feel we are getting closer to establishing a true community-maintained program in Villa Esperanza which will allow us to dedicate our personnel resources to other needy communities.

The gains this year have been due in large part to the dedication of our program volunteers. These volunteers have given three months to over one year of their time (and often over 40 hours a week) and their passion and dedication shines through in all they do. Along with the increased community participation, they have also built an infrastructure, such as a web-based database with participant information and a streamlined Educate-A-Child program that can be readily scaled as we expand to other communities. In addition, we have an annual Nicaragua Adventure Tour which all donors and interested supporters of EI are invited to attend. In the United States, our Board and volunteer staff continue to grow as does their dedication to the program, amidst their busy lives.

I am very excited about 2007 as we look toward continuing to refine our program to meet the needs of these communities and start the process of creating a reproducible program for another location in Nicaragua. I would like to thank each and every one of you for your ongoing support and belief in us and, most importantly, in the future of the children of Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

~ Kathy Adams