SAN FRANCISCO FRIENDS SCHOOL SENDS 59 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO NICARAGUA

In our largest group to date, San Francisco Friends School sent their 7th grade class to Leon and Miraflor for a 9 day trip of community service projects, environmental discovery and Spanish language classes.  The students participated in projects including construction of a rammed earth community center, reforestation tree planting, vegetable garden planting and arts education.  They brought vegetable seeds and clothing to donate toward the development projects.   The second half of the trip took them to Miraflor Nature Preserve where they stayed on small farms while hiking the forest, understanding the bio diversity of the region and studying Spanish.

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ViviendasLeon and the University of San Francisco continue their partnership to design buildings that benefit communities in Nicaragua.  This latest project will begin to address the widespread problem of safe and durable housing in the greater Goyena community.  The design shown above is one of many that are currently being considered.

More than 100 families in the Goyena community alone live in severely substandard conditions.   This project, which grew out of an extensive survey completed last fall on the status of families in the community, will combine development strategies of guided auto-construction, micro enterprise development, savings contributions and donor support.

An exhibit at the De Young Museum titled “New Generation Student Showcase” will take place this evening only in Wilsey Court, and will display the various designs by the students.  The exhibit is free and is for one night only.  It is a juried show and opens at 6pm.  We hope to see you there!

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OUR WEBSITE HAS BEEN RESTORED

We are relieved to announce our website is now back on line.  Go to our Join a Trip page to find currently planned trips for this spring and summer.

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JUNE TRIP FOR FAMILIES INTERESTED IN OR WITH TRAVEL EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

We have added this trip to our schedule for families dedicated to introducing their children to life in developing countries, an exposure to foreign languages and an authentic experience in community service projects.  Get to know a culture, its people and a community from the inside.  Return with lasting memories and new relationships.

Join families from around the Bay Area on an international family service trip vacation this year.   The trip combines participation in ongoing community development projects, home-stays with Nicaraguan families, language immersion, culture and environmental travel.  Trip dates are June 23-30, 2012.

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STUDENTS CAN NOW CHOOSE THEIR AREA OF FOCUS

We have updated our summer travel program.  Trips are now offered in two week itineraries:

Trip #1:  July 8-July 21:  Focus on sustainable construction projects and methods. Work with community members and U.S. university students to build a rammed earth community center and launch a new experimental housing initiative aimed at providing transitional housing for the poorest members of the community.

Trip #2:  July 22 – August 4:  Focus on agro-forestry and food security.  Work with community members to continue the development of their tree nurseries, food gardens and reforestation project.  Learn about integrating reforestation with food security and the development of small businesses in a rural community.

Join us this summer for an unforgettable trip to Leon, Nicaragua.   Meet other like-minded students on a 2 week service and cultural immersion trip.  Work side by side with community members on long term development projects; stay in homes with families in Leon; travel to places of cultural, historic and environmental importance and beauty.

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STUDENTS RECEIVE FUNDING SUPPORT TO ATTEND UNIVERSITY

ViviendasLeon is pleased to announce that Migdalia Granera (left) and Bianca Quiroz have been selected as recipients of tuition support to attend UNAN this academic year.  The funding comes  from the Zoelimax Foundation.  The students have been selected to participate in our Student Sponsorship Program that matches qualified students with support from donors.

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The students are taking part in our program to help students stay in school, complete their high school education and continue into college.  A high school degree in Nicaragua is essential for young people seeking work outside their communities, a college degree will provide them with an even greater number of employment and professional choices when they graduate.  Once students join the program they receive mentoring support from our staff and tutoring support to ensure their success.

Construction has now begun to complete the community center in Goyena!  Thanks to a group of families who, after mixing concrete by hand for a week last spring,  saw the wisdom of purchasing a diesel powered cement mixer for our construction projects.  It has now arrived!

A special thank you to everyone who helped us to acquire the cement mixer.  Your contribution to this project is invaluable!  It will make this project and upcoming projects a whole lot easier!

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Construction has finally begun to complete the Goyena community center!  ViviendasLeon has received a major gift from the Zoelimax Foundation to help complete the construction of the Goyena community center.  This gift has sponsored matching gifts that support the construction project and our numerous integrated programs.

The center will provide much needed space for adult education programs, a health clinic, office space for community organizations, a community kitchen, a library and a large covered area for use as a performance space, a small business incubator space and an emergency shelter.

Click here to DONATE to help us match this major gift and speed the construction.

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We are pleased to announce that Windward School of Los Angeles is our newest global education travel partner.  A nine day trip is planned for June 2012.  Parents can click here to download an application and information packet.  An introductory meeting is schedule for 6:30 pm, November 8 at Windward School.

Click here to see our Global Education Travel film that provides background and interviews of students who have traveled to Nicaragua.