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Many Thanks for all your Support in 2018
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 As 2018 draws to a close, I want to thank you for helping to support education this year. 2018 has been a difficult year, but also one full of examples of strength, resiliency, inspiration and opportunity.
Since April of this year, we have stood in solidarity with our partners, staff members, and community volunteers as the people of Nicaragua dealt with one of the worst humanitarian crises since the 1990s. Violent protests, clashes, and an overall erosion of the safety felt by people in Nicaragua began in late April and has still not been fully resolved.
As we are often reminded in the midst of crisis, there is very little that one can control about the actual circumstances, except for how one responds. For the safety of our volunteers, we had to cancel the remaining 15 groups scheduled to travel to Nicaragua, cut our budget, and look for new partners. However, thanks to the strength of our programs, the commitment of our staff, and the generosity of donors like you, we did not close our doors.
During these last few difficult months, we have been energized and inspired by the dedication and resiliency of the young people with whom we work. One such person is a young woman named Enma del Socorro Montoya González, who some of you may have met if you visited Nicaragua in the past several years. Years ago, we selected Enma to join our scholarship program, as a third grade student. You can see a brief video about her when she was in third grade here.
Nine years later, Enma just graduated from high school with academic honors. She makes us all proud, especially her own family, as she is the first person in her family to graduate from high school. You can hear her give a speech to younger students (in Spanish) here.
Not only has Enma persevered in her studies, ranking as one of the top students in school, but she also sets an example for all around her in her spirit of learning, advancing, and all the while giving back to others who have less. During a tour she gave a group of US volunteers last year who were visiting the Darío Learning Center, she described the Seedlings Area (where young readers are encouraged to log hours for books read) in these words:
“Basically, what we do here is to share the love, affection, and support that we as
scholarship students receive here at SOL with the other children that need it and
that come to learn and play here in this center.”
We could not be prouder, or more honored to have the chance to support, learn from, and work with Enma. She is one of 83 scholarship students we supported this year, despite the recent difficulties. Our staff works closely with each student to cover their direct educational expenses (books, travel, backpacks, learning supplies, food), and offer academic, social, and peer support. We also kept the doors open to the 10 learning centers and libraries across Nicaragua and completed the construction of six classrooms.
Meanwhile, we have been looking for partners with whom we could reignite our work group program, at least until it is safe to travel to Nicaragua again. And, earlier last month, after a wonderful trip to Puerto Rico where I met small farmers who are trying to rebuild after Hurricane Maria, we found them. We are excited to announce that we will be sending a few work groups to Puerto Rico in 2019 to volunteer on farms and school gardens, and furthermore to learn about the island’s history, culture, people, food, hurricane reconstruction efforts, agroecology, education system, and more. The organization with whom we will partner is a farmer operated educational and agricultural nonprofit, and we are honored to work with them.
As we continue our research next year in Puerto Rico and beyond for both education and work group program partners, we will not waver in our commitment to promoting access to education throughout Nicaragua, where students such as Enma continue to inspire us.
Please don't hesitate to let us know if you have any questions. Many wishes and thanks to you for the support in 2018.
Gratefully,
Annie Bacon
Executive Director
PS. If you would like to make a donation to support students such as Enma and SOL's ongoing work, we would be ever so grateful. You can do so by clicking here.
Photo captions: Top right: Enma walking up to her house when she was first awarded a scholarship from Seeds of Learning to attend the third grade. Bottom right: Enma shares her reflection during the final 2018 scholarship assembly and evaluation before her high school graduation last month.
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January 26th, 2019 Annual Event
Tickets on Sale Now! Reserve your Seat
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We would love to see you at our Annual Event on Saturday, January 26th, 2019, from 5 - 8:30 PM at the Hanna Boys Center in Sonoma, CA You can purchase your tickets here. If you are interested in sponsorship of the event (which starts at $250) please email us.
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