Nicaragua Initiative

FAST FOR HOPE

What is Fast For Hope? Fast for Hope is a District-wide initiative celebrated in February Club members are asked to forego a meal, or endure a hardship in recognition of those who have less Clubs donate the proceeds of the “fast” to the Fast For Hope Initiative Each club is asked to contribute a minimum of $10/member Annually, District 5960 averages $39,000 for poverty eradication efforts through club’s FFH activities 1998

Eradicating Poverty? 2006

“Creating ways for people to solve their own problems isn’t just an opportunity in It is an obligation.” Jacqueline Novogratz, founder of the Acumen Fund and author of Blue Sweater

Managua National Capital Masaya Departmental Capital

Partnerships Masaya Rotary Club AKF School District 5960 Rotarians

A Shared Vision Emerges Amongst the Partners Through accompaniment, partners and communities that desire participate in a process of development in order to achieve a sustainable, healthy and economically secure environment. 2009

Hopes For The Nicaraguan Initiative Long term sustainable development (hand up, not hand out) Recognition of cultural similarities and differences Wide ranging impact on all participants

Wide ranging impact on all… Who is all?

AKF School and Delegations Delegation and staff Outdoor classroom

Women of Tipitapa Making a living Teaching us Dreams of a better future Communities we visit…

Cuidad Sandino Rotary Club Presentation of fire equipment Rotary discussion

Rotarians, Friends & Family

People with whom we interact ERICA and her mother

As a delegation member…here’s one of my favorite stories…

And the communities with whom we work… El Corozo and Los Ampies And the communities with whom we work… El Corozo and Los Ampies

Hopes For The Nicaraguan Initiative Long term sustainable development (hand up, not hand out) Recognition of cultural similarities and differences Wide ranging impact on all participants

Cultural similarities/differences What is similar? Want for children to have a better life… Desire for education Culture of dependency Willingness to work hard to do better

Making FriendsBuilding Trust Generosity Curiosity

Pedro PabloReynaldo These community leaders and teachers are willing to actively engage in this initiative despite significant challenges

Cultural similarities/differences What is different? Culture of dependency Education level/access to education Basic infrastructure: roads, sewer, water, electricity

El Corozo Road to El Corozco…imagine it in the rainy season?

Typical Home

Hopes For The Nicaraguan Initiative Long term sustainable development (hand up, not hand out) Recognition of cultural similarities and differences Wide ranging impact on all participants

Define “sustainable development” When we talk about sustainable development what does that mean to you? Take a minute and think about that and when you are ready, we’d like you to share a few of your thoughts to the group

February 2012 Rotarian Magazine Levels of Sustainability Environmental Economic Cultural Social

“When a humanitarian project addresses all four levels of sustainability, it has a better chance of producing long-term benefits for the community it serves.” Rotarian Magazine February 2012

“This is hard….” Not the model we are used to following Many are learning from our missteps We have to redefine service from doing what feels good to us to doing the right thing for the community

Usually takes a generation – 20 years Rotary would like projects completed – 2 years years Identified need for new model 2008–09 Selected village mis-steps, need to re-evaluate vision 2010 Shared vision emerges amongst all partners 2010–11 Identified 10 communities, selected 2 to work in 2011–12 AKF Begins community development process Rotarians enter communities Cultural Change “This is hard….it takes time”

Nicaragua Initiative – Moving Forward Cultural delegations & Leadership development Be part of the “International” of Rotary International More time and interaction in Los Ampies and El Corozo Your participation is critical in the FFH poverty eradication efforts

Gracias Por Su Tiempo