By Katelin Bridgman | Intern
Every month representatives from each Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners Learning Center in Nicaragua come together to share ideas, stories, and experiences. These meetings are typically held at the Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners of the Americas office in Managua, Nicaragua. March’s Learning Center meeting was particularly special as it was held at the American Nicaraguan Foundation where the Tipitapa Learning Center carries out activities and projects.
Several buses took representatives from the capital city of Managua out to the ANF and many travelled by car, on foot, or by bike to attend the meeting. At the meeting, representatives got to learn about the Sweet Progress program and about several gardening and nutrition projects taking place.
The ANF is a large facility located in Tipitapa, Nicaragua where individuals can come to take classes on baking, cooking, woodworking, agriculture, sewing, knitting, and much more. One very exciting and popular class that is being taught through the Sweet Progress organization is beekeeping! Students can learn about how to properly manage a hive, how to harvest the honey and beeswax, see the different products being made from what they harvest, and purchase hand-made beekeeping suits. So far, over 19,000 women and teenagers have been involved with this program.
At the same time as the Learning Center meeting, back in Wisconsin W/NP was having our Quarterly Meeting. Special guest Maria Centeno Tercero from Estelí, Nicaragua presented on her theater program, Iniciativa Colibrí. Maria started the program 7 years ago as a way for children in her community to express themselves in a safe place. Children can participate in the program at no cost and learn about how to positively interact with others and express their emotions through acting, art, and dance. The program currently has 45 participants that range from ages 5-18. There is even a group of adult community members that regularly participate in the activities as well!
At the Quarterly meeting intern Katelin Bridgman presented on the student chapter she has started on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus. She started the student chapter as a way to increase youth participation in the organization by giving students on campus a direct way to get involved and volunteer with W/NP. So far the student chapter has organized a school supply and backpack drive, hosted a packing event, and a Youth in Nicaragua presentation with Maria Centeno Tercero. Katelin also shared the video about the SPIN bikes that W/NP sent to Nicaragua in the last 2 shipments. These bikes were donated to W/NP by a company in California and are now at many of the Learning Centers and a fire department in Nicaragua!
Click here to learn more about Sweet Progress
Click here to learn more about the SPIN Bikes
Click here to learn more about Iniciativa Colibrí
Thank you so much for your continued interest and support to the W/NP Learning Center program.
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