The NEST Trust: projects

Additional projects were established with local communities on the Miraflor Nature Reserve. Of these The NEST Trust actively supports:

Solar powered computers and Scholarships

There is ongoing local or/and ex-volunteer support for some of these: Handicrafts Organic gardens School renovations Chimneys

Scholarships

We began giving scholarships in 2005 with funds raised by returned volunteers. Most tertiary scholarships in 2010 are for US$120-180 (£125/ C$3600). Scholars receive their funds every two months, subject to certain conditions. For instance they must support their community through some activity and show satisfactory attendance and grades. Community support is a way of sharing the benefits that a scholarship gives an individual.

We aim to fund up to half of their costs so we assess the ability of students to fund the remainder. Courses vary in duration from 1-5 years.

In 2010, we are supporting nine young women through university.

Anielka Torres Cornejo, Yorlenis Castillo Rugada and Eling Junieth Salguera Centeno are new for 2010.

Continuing their studies are Xiomara Bravo, Danelia Gamez, Mabel Sobalvarro, Fanni Sobalvarro, Esquipula Ubeda, Dora Romero, and Egna Castillo.

Read more - in Spanish, written by past students

Solar powered computers on the Miraflor Nature Reserve

Why does what started as an English project support computer skills centres? Because people in the communities asked for them. We work with communities on the Miraflor Nature Reserve where an exciting innovation is that two centres are solar powered since there is no mains electricity.

Two solar powered computer centres

We support two solar powered computer centres, one in El Cebollal and one in El Coyolito. In December 2007, the first eighteen students graduated from a one year course run by Deylin Blandon, an active young community member of El Cebollal. Another thirty one students graduated there in December 2008.

In May 2009 the first six students graduated in El Coyolito from their classes with Egna Rugama.

Students study once a week in groups of 3 or 4 (because that's the number of computers). Each student pays C75 a month which is probably a quarter of the cost of a course in Esteli; they also save the C40 return bus fare and time. This is an exciting development because it is employment for Deylin and Egna, as well a great opportunity for people of all ages in this rural community.

The third centre: La Pita

Mains electricity has been installed along the road to La Pita and so we are helping the community start a computer centre there. We've provided the materials so the community can create a secure (and reasonably dust-free) centre by dividing a large classroom. Now they need some reliable computers; the ones we had to loan them initially do not function.

Fourth centre in El Sontule? That's the next dream!

Chimneys

Many women and children suffer from respiratory and eye problems and headaches as a result of acrid smoke produced while cooking. With support from volunteers some 30 women built new wood burning stoves with chimneys. As well as reducing smoke, the new stoves use less wood .

One of the recipients, Mayra, from our English classes, was very enthusiastic about her new stove and said “there’s less smoke, we use less wood, and it was made to my own design, so I have a place to put my dishes”.

Handicrafts

Young women make and embroider simple cotton bags and blouses, for sale through the UCA office. Tel no 505 713 2971

Organic gardens

Several volunteers worked with women's cooperatives or their host families to start organic veggie gardens.

For the sake of self-sufficiency, people save seeds when they can; apparently, peppers are very easy.

veggie garden

UCA Miraflor have funding for a 3 year project to establish organic vegetable plots in each community where there are co-operatives. This is a great contribution to the Zero Hunger campaign and will improve family diets and perhaps also provide a small cash income from sales of surpluses at farmers' markets.

Primary school renovations

Two new classrooms were built for El Sontule primary school through The Miraflor Foundation, a group set up by past volunteers. The NEST Trust used them during the December 2006 intensive English course - and they were light and bright: just great. A third classroom and a dining room have recently been completed so the children now have a dry space for the lunch that is provided through government and NGO projects.

El sontule school

A new classroom was built at the La Pita primary school too, financed by funds raised by another past volunteer. She visits each summer from Sweden and raises funds for community projects and the scholarship programme.