Our goal is to raise $50,000 this year for ongoing projects and new initiatives.

One of the major initiatives is to revitalize the "casa base" in the more than 15 rural areas in the municipality of Quezalguaque.  The Casa Bases are home is a rural community were limited health services are available for minor and or continuing health needs of the community.  A trained volunteer offers their home as the Casa Base and provides assistance under the guidance of workers from the Health Post in town or the one of the 2 outlying health posts.  An initial investment of $300 is needed per casa base.  This will cover the cost of  equipment and medical supplies.

Other projects include a renovation of one of the staffed health post. The current facility is small and offers no privacy for patient and doctors.

Another new initiative is working with the few English language teachers in the Quezalguaque schools.   Experienced ESL teachers from Brookline are planning to go to Quezalguaque and work with teachers there to help with curriculum and teaching methods.  As in many countries a good knowledge of English can mean expanded employment opportunities.

This year we have become involved with El Pipito a school for child with disabilities.  The Nicaraguan government provides teachers for the school but nothing else.  We are working with the parents of students to provide the supplies and furnishings.

We also plan to continue our support of the library and mobile library, medical transportation costs and supplemental medicines and equipment for the central health center, housing, and  art classes.

So far we have raised $21,000, only $29,000 to go.  Please feel free to include any or all of this information in the announcement.  Of course we would appreciate a full article.