Hello Everyone...

Well, to begin with we delivered several sewing machines a few days ago by ox cart to the village of Cangrejo.

 Escuela Mundo De Los Ninos is a proud accomplishment

Whilst in Cangrejo, Teacher Floribeth Ortega provided us with a much needed wish list for the school. Escuela Mundo de Los Ninos is now well into its 8th year. Every child in the village can read and write. Several of the first years students, are attending University in Rivas. Though humble from the ground up, Escuela Mundo De Los Ninos is a proud accomplishment.

See "School Projects" for a list of needs as provided by teacher Floribeth and WKF project directors Marcela Zapata and Eric Blackburn.

Your support and energy travels far and gets the job done. If you have any fundraising ideas or means of helping World Kids Foundation, please let us know.

 WKF’s NICA NATIVO...

Our objective is to set up the larger sewing/arts and crafts center in nearby Collado. Here ten manual sewing machines will be put to use making a variety of product.

The purpose of the exercise is to provide the woman of Collado and Cangrejo with empowerment, employment and new job skills. Educational seminars covering health and family issues will be incorporated into NICA NATIVO’s program.

 Start Up Costs for Nica Nativo Sewing Center

• $1900
  For 12 manual Regina sewing machines delivered to the remote villages of Collado and Cangrejo, Nicaragua.
• $600
  For a six-month lease on the rental of the retail store in San Juan.          
  Each machine will contribute to one month’s rent at start up until   the sewing center is fully operational and producing product.
• $1200
  Will be dedicated to the inventory of fabric and material
  ($100. per station)
• $1200
  To be allotted for sewing tools, chairs, tables, shelves and
  large plastic boxes for material.  ($100. per station)
• $1800
  To be allocated for woman’s salary at start up until the sewing  
  center is fully operational and producing product.

Total: $6700

 Nica Nativo building site...

The next and perhaps most important step is the need to erect a building site. We are planning to use the earth bag construction method.

In most cases, materials for earth bag construction is inexpensive, abundant and accessible. Rice bags and barbed wire are readily available throughout most of Nicaragua for a fraction of the cost of bricks, cement, steel and lumber.  Dirt can be harvested on site which greatly reduces the need of transporting bricks and bags of cement.

The community of Collado has dedicated a building site where the sewing center will be established. The name of the center will be called NICA NATIVO, a project of World Kids Foundation.

Earth bag construction, like straw bale and other earth-building methods, is labor-intensive. Fortunately, there is no shortage of hard working volunteers in the village.

A friend from New York City named Austin Drill is a specialist in ecological building methods. He and his team are approaching the final phase in the construction of the first earth bag home to be built in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua.

Austin has offered to help us with guidance and training for the building of the sewing center in Collado and also for a small house for the teacher in Cangrejo.

 CONSTRUCTION COSTS

Beyond the estimated $7000. for the sewing center building shell, and another estimated $3500. for the roofing, we would like to incorporate solar energy to power lights, fans and other small electrical devices. We’re awaiting a price quote from two separate solar installation companies in Managua.

The solar installations will come later once we know for sure funding is available to begin construction of the first phase of the building.

Total: $10,500

 RE: FELIX UPDATE

Saw Felix in the park last week. All things considered, he is doing well and working hard on learning English.  I promised him that if he continues to improve his English, there is a job waiting from him at World Kids Foundation.  He’s pleased with the prospect so we’ll take it one step at a time.

Meanwhile, Felix’s right leg prosthesis fits well. But what is a bit unnerving is the continued ulcerations at the base of his left foot.

Felix did in fact receive a medical kit with molding material from friends and doctors in the USA. The gel and casting will be used to make an impression at the Rivas hospital. It can then be sent back to the USA where a specialist will be able to make a custom shoe to fit his foots form. Felix has another appointment this Friday.

Regards

Capt Eric

San Juan Del Sur