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 We are feeling optimistic with the re-start of the national dialogue earlier this week in Nicaragua. We continue to monitor the safety for volunteers, staff, and communities. Although we do not have any groups planned to the mainland of Nicaragua in 2019, we hope to be able to send groups again to Dario and Tipitapa in the near future. We were encouraged to learn that both the UK and Canadian governments have downgraded their risk rating for travelers to Nicaragua to the same level that it was prior to the protests in April of last year. In the meantime, in addition to continuing to run and operate 10 learning centers and libraries, and support over 80 scholarship students, we are partnering with a community on Corn Island to work on a school repair project this year.
Photo caption: As part of the holistic educational components of our EAP/ Scholarship Program, we always attempt to develop and integrate fun components and activities that are focused on such areas as: positive coexistence, cooperation and collaboration, team building, leadership, group problem solving, friendly competition, self-confidence, personal expression and just having a good ol' wholesome fun time together [staff, volunteers, program beneficiaries...]. The above photo was taken during the warm-ups before a "Zumba-thon"/ "ice-breaking" dance activity that was part of a full morning of activities we put together at the closure of the 2018 EAP/ Scholarship Program this past year. Other activities that morning included carnival style games and competitions such as: the jump rope challenge, bean bag and ring toss, obstacle course, tic-tac-toe, bowling and more. Later in the day, there was also pool time, lunch, program evaluation, and an awards ceremony.
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2019 Open Work Groups to Puerto Rico and Corn Island, Nicaragua
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 We invite you to join as a SOL Work Group Volunteer this summer on one of the open trips below. We just need 12 or more confirmed people to make the trip happen. If you would like to organize a group of your own with family/friends at a different time, please just let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you. If you are interested in any of the trips below, please let us know ASAP.
June 30 - July 9 PUERTO RICO
We invite you to volunteer and travel with Seeds of Learning to Puerto Rico to learn about, help recover, preserve and build a sustainable future after the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017. SOL is partnering with HASER and Armonía en La Montaña, a farmer-operated education and agriculture nonprofit. Volunteers will help with farm labor such as planting, weeding, harvesting, and soil preparation on agroecology inspired farms.
Agroecology is a growing global movement that offers a holistic solution to the urgent needs in Puerto Rico. Author Naomi Klein defines agroecology as a “combination of traditional farming methods that promotes resilience and protects biodiversity, a rejection of pesticides and other toxins, and a commitment to rebuilding social relationships between farmers and local communities.” A just and sustainable world of tomorrow calls for a transition to systems that ensure food security and nutrition for all, provide social and economic equity, and conserve biodiversity and the ecosystem services on which agriculture depends.
What: Highlights include the opportunity to:
- Live together close to a farm with Puerto Rican partners
- Spend a day helping on a local school garden
- Visit a local farm and help restore parts of it that were destroyed by Hurricane Maria
- Help to plant seeds and other plants on the host farm
- Spend a day in San Juan
- Learn about agroecology, Hurricane Maria, and how Puerto Ricans are working together to rebuild
Where: Small farms in southeastern Puerto Rico, outside the town of Arroyo.
Who: 12-18 SOL work group volunteers, hosted by SOL staff and Puerto Rico partners.
Cost: $1,500 plus airfare ($2,200 approximate cost INCLUDING airfare, food, lodging, and local travel.) Some scholarship and financial assistance is available.
How to apply: Email us for details and to find out more.
June 30 - July 9 OR July 28 - August 6 to CORN ISLAND, NICARAGUA
 We invite you to join us for a more traditional SOL work group to help repair and add to a school. This trip will promote solidarity and cross-cultural understanding that will ultimately help reduce poverty and inequality in the world. Each day will be filled with hands-on construction work, playing and sharing with children, and cultural excursions. You will learn about local cultural traditions through food, music, testimonies, nature adventures, and visits to colonial towns and historic sites. An integrated opportunity for cultural and Spanish immersion, service, and adventure.
What: Volunteers will work side-by-side with local community members to upgrade the Saint Santiago Elementary School. Due to lack of resources, the school infrastructure is in poor condition and in need of a new kitchen, roof, sidewalk and paint.
Where: Corn Island is located 43 miles off the eastern coast of mainland Nicaragua, and is a short plane ride from Managua. The main ethnic groups are Afro-descendants, mestizos and misquitus, who speak creole English, Spanish and misquitu.
Who: 12-18 SOL work group volunteers will work side-by-side with local community members hosted by SOL Nicaragua staff.
Cost: $1,500 plus airfare. The fee includes food, housing, staff leadership. The group airfare is arranged in advance (travel to Managua with a connecting flight to Corn Island). You can fundraise to cover the trip cost and some financial assistance is available.
How to apply: Email us for details and to find out more.
Our first group of volunteers is leaving for Puerto Rico on March 15th! We are very excited about their trip, and will be sure to share more while they are there and upon their return. We have a second group planned for June 15th - 22nd.
Photo captions (in order from top to bottom): Staff from Nicaragua walks around one of the partner farms in Puerto Rico., one of the beaches on Corn Island, the St. Santiago School in Corn Island is in need of repairs, a sidewalk, kitchen, paint and more.
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Thank you to all of the guests, donors, and volunteers who made the SOL Annual Event one of the best ever!
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On Saturday, January 26th, we were please to welcome over 120 people to the SOL Annual Event. With the help of 56 volunteers, incredibly generous donors, and sponsors, a wonderful time was had by all.
It was a night full of celebration and inspiration. The evening included a fantastic keynote speech from SVHS recent graduate Dominic Tommasi, which you can watch here, a delicious dinner prepared by Chefs Louis Abruzzese and Ari Weisswasser of The Glen Ellen Star, and stories and visuals about how Seeds of Learning has worked to make the world a better place for all over the last 28 years. Thanks to the generosity of those present, our sponsors, and the individuals and businesses who donated, we were able to raise almost $55,000! Thanks in particular to the money raised during the Fund a Need portion of the evening, we are now able to offer 85 scholarships to students in Nicaragua!
We would like to send our heartfelt thanks to the many generous businesses and individuals who made this event possible:
Adrian Hyman, Amantite Family, Anne O’Brien, Artifax, Baci Café & Wine Bar, Barking Dog Coffee Roasters, Basque Boulangerie Café, Balletto Vineyards, Beth Beallieu, Bill Place, Blue & Gold Fleet, Brian Smucker, Buena Vista Winery, Café Citti, Sunflower Caffé, Cafe La Haye, Cline Cellars, Cottage Inn & Spa, Dr. Bruce & Ana Greenberg, Coturri Winery, Dian Jorgensen, Don Sebastiani & Sons Wine, East West Café, Ellen LaBruce, Garden Court Café, Gary Edwards – Sage Marketing, Flamingo Hotel, Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, Gundlach Bundschu Winery, Hanzell Vineyards, Highway 12 Vineyards & Winery, Homegrown Bagels, Hughes Goodwin, Iantosca Family, Joe & Cindy Wire, Joel Bennett, Kenwood Vineyards, Korbel Cellars, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Landmark Vineyards, Larson Family Winery, Lasseter Family Winery, Laura & John Benward, Laurie Dinwiddie & Chris Etherington, Linda Carroll, Linda Hale, Jim & Janet Leonard, MacCallum House, Mara Unger, Marge Evans, Mary’s Pizza Schack, Napa Valley Bistro, Nicholson Ranch, Olea Hotel, Parkpoint Health Club, Peet’s Coffee, Picazo Café, Prohibition Spirits, Ramekins, Rose Mary & Ed Schmidt, Sadiya Alilire & Roger Schiffman, Safeway, Schieberl Family, Sebastiani Theatre, Simco Restaurants, Sonoma International Film Festival, Sonoma Market, Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma Silver, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, Suzie Silverman, Swiss Hotel, Starbucks Coffee, Tammy Bushman, Ted & Deanie Wilmsen, Thanksgiving Coffee Company, The Crucible, The Red Grape, The Republic of Tea, Three Wine Company, Tommasi Family, Tonelería Nacional USA, Vella Cheese Company, Vicki Jones-Pittman, Wendell Rickon, Williamson Wines, Wyvern Restaurants Inc., & Yoga Community.
Thanks to our volunteers who helped make this event possible:
Allyson Etherington, Amantite Family, Anna Cline, Andrew Sorensen, Ava Rognlien, Bob Smith, Brooke Harland, Camryn Berger, Carsten Westby, Cathy Sowa, Chris Anspach, Chris Etherington, Chris Turgeon, Ed Schmidt, Eden Keys, Elizabeth Campos, Elsa Winter, Emily Barmore, Emily Chavez, Frank Braun, Grace Kayla Schmick, Kiser, Kylie Hopp, Jack Turner, JoAnn Consiglieri, Judy Frey-Cohen, Julian Hewitt, Kristine Sheerin, Laurie Dinwiddie, Leslie Boutell, Lucas Llodra, Lori Winter, Mara Unger, Mark Etherington, Matt Evans, Mia Benstead, Michael Murphy, Mike Witkowski, Pat Smith, Patti England, Reed Hewitt, Rose Mary Schmidt, Ruby Capriola, Ruby Eilert, Sandy Sanchez, Suzie Silverman, Tommasi Family, Tyler Phillips, & Windsor Green.
A huge thank you to our generous event sponsors:
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We moved our office in Sonoma!
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As of February 1st, we are now part of a shared work space, just above the Sebastiani Theatre at 470 1st Street East. We always love visitors, but we want to be sure we are there when you visit! So, if you want to come by, please just give us a heads up by calling or emailing so we can set up an appointment. We would love to show you around! Our mailing address, phone number, and email all remain the same.
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