Bright Futures: Education Aids for Monimbó's Kids

Hello kind souls,

For several years, a dedicated group of us have come together to host an educational Christmas event for the children of Monimbó, a historic indigenous neighborhood on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua. This festive gathering has been a beacon of joy, offering meals, drinks, contests with prizes, and educational sessions to combat infectious diseases like dengue and COVID-19.

This year, we're determined to go a step further. Recognizing the soaring costs of school supplies against the backdrop of our community's economic challenges, on "Reyes Magos" day (January 6th), we aim to gift each child not just an experience, but a tool for empowerment: a backpack filled with essential school supplies.

Our 2023-2024 goal is to equip 50 children from Monimbó and its vicinity with these educational kits, alongside hosting our traditional piñata and dinner celebration. These backpacks are more than just bags; they're a vessel of hope, carrying pencils, notebooks, and the promise of a brighter future.

Moreover, a second project seeks to raise funds to assemble a computer so that the children of the community can use this tool for their homework and research. With this tool, we can organize small workshops to teach the children how to use office tools and the internet as an educational resource. Currently, we have a monitor and keyboard, but we need a CPU, a printer, paper, and a fund to pay for internet for at least a year.

The cost per school supply kit amounts to $37.40 per child, the dinner amounts to $4 per child, and the cost to set up a computer workstation and establish the community 'cyber café' comes to $1,010 in total.

Your donation will directly fund the purchase of a backpack and a school supply kit for each child, and the expenses to assemble a computer. Should we be fortunate enough to exceed our target, additional funds will be used to extend our reach, providing more school supplies to children in the surrounding areas of Monimbó.

Together, we can make this Christmas and Reyes Magos day one to remember, and set the stage for a year of learning and growth for the children who need it most. Please join us in making a difference. Every contribution, big or small, brings a child closer to unlocking their potential through education.

Donations to our campaign are tax-deductible. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your support and for being a part of this beautiful journey.

Gerald Vásquez

Visiting Scholar at University of California, Berkeley, and a proud member of the Monimbó indigenous community, committed to creating opportunities for its children.