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Coronavirus Updates from Staff and Board
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The entire Board and staff members of Seeds of Learning are thinking about you and wishing you good health, safety and well-being during these unprecedented, uncertain times. We want to let you know how grateful we are for your ongoing support, and in particular during this difficult time. We have been working closely with our partner communities in Nicaragua to make sure that we are delivering support for their education, while also taking into account the rapidly changing coronavirus pandemic. We have halted the construction on all building projects in Nicaragua and closed our learning centers as well. Our staff in Nicaragua and the US is currently working remotely at least through April 12th. We will be reassessing the situation as it changes. We will continue to update you if there are significant changes in our programs and/or operations. As we navigate these difficult times together, we are reassured that our community-focused approach will help us to continue adapting and meeting the most pressing educational needs of the people with whom we work.
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Support of Students in the Scholarship Program Continues
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Although many students are unable to attend school during this time in Nicaragua, we are continuing to support 87 students in the Dario area and 8 in the Tipitapa area. Many of the students are already actively engaging in distance learning. The school year was just beginning in Nicaragua, and uniforms (for elementary and secondary students) had just been ordered. We are holding them for the next few weeks and will distribute them to the students when it is safe to do so. We continue supporting students with reimbursements for meals, transportation, school fees (which they are still required to pay), uniforms, and more. For the present time, we are not asking students to do their social service hours at this time in the learning resource centers. Our staff continues to maintain regular virtual contact (by phone) with the students and their families.
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In February, we began organizing our biennial Seeds of Learning community building/fundraising event in the Davis area, to be held on May 2nd. We were planning for a traditional Indian Dinner, silent auction, and presentations from SOL Co-Founder Patrick Rickon and Learning Resource Center Director, Izayana Carcache. However, we are postponing the event for now and hoping for a possible fall gathering, when it is safe to do so.
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Travel to Nicaragua This Year
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In early March, we made the necessary decision to cancel one group that was scheduled to travel in March. For the time being, we have suspended all work group and staff travel at least through April 30th. We hold the safety of our staff, volunteers, and partner communities first and foremost, and will only resume travel when it is deemed safe to do so. As we continue to monitor the situation, the Board and staff will make a decision about summer travel by the end of April at the latest. If you have signed up for any of the summer groups and/or have a question, please feel free to email us.
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In Nicaragua: Breaking Ground on the Las Mesas Learning Center and Library
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In late February, together with the community members of Las Mesas, Nicaragua, we broke ground on a new Learning Resource Center and Library. Although staff and the Las Mesas community were disappointed to not have the chance to share the work and welcome the group of high school volunteers, who had been scheduled to arrive from Sonoma, CA on March 15th, they rallied together to begin the work. You can see photos of their progress here, after more than 20 community members cleaned the site, removed rock and dirt, rebuilt parts of the rock wall, and revived the school planting area. The project has been put on hold at least through April 12th. Once it is safe to resume, we plan to continue clearing the site, and work on the pit latrine.
 
Photo Captions: Top: community members hold a meeting in February in Las Mesas to plan and organize work groups for the project. Bottom: After the first work day, significant progress was made on the rock wall.
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In Nicaragua: Breaking Ground on the La Pitilla School Project
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Early last month, we were pleased to begin construction on the La Pitilla School project in Nicaragua. Supplies were brought in via horseback to this very remote community. We are grateful for the support of individual donors and the nonprofit organization One Dollar for Life (ODFL). While we are putting the project on hold at least through the next few weeks, you can see photos of the progress here.
 
Photo Captions: Top: Progress on the La Pitilla School was quick, with the foundation walls already in place. Bottom: All supplies must be carried in on horseback for the La Pitilla project, which is not accessible by road.
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