CHESS (Children, Health, Education and Supporting services)
CHESS Nicaragua is the result of one of these alliances between part of the Nicaraguan private sector, Gran Pacifica, and Rotary Clubs in the USA, who are very excited to join forces with Programa Alianzas para la Educacion y la Salud (USAID/RTI). The aim is to improve the lifestyle of the people who live in Villa El Carmen, the vicinity of the Gran Pacifica development, knowing that healthier and more educated communities will contribute to a better relationship with the development and a more positive experience overall for everyone involved with the project. CHESS Nicaragua - aim is to assist the municipality in achieving community empowerment through improved primary school education and health.
CHESS Nicaragua is a 28 months project that covers 12 schools, 3 health posts and the Villa El Carmen main Centro de Salud within the municipality, each with different numbers of primary school aged children, all in dire need of study materials and qualified teachers to help them improve their educational experiences. Another important goal CHESS Nicaragua has is to teach the primary school children the English language, as this is an increasingly integral skill in Nicaragua for future employment and lifestyle improvement. Libraries are another important aspect of the project as well as security in the schools. In addition, we would like for every teacher and parent to know how to use the water filters CHESS Nicaragua is donating to ensure that water-borne illnesses are a thing of the past.
For Gran Pacifica, this is a long term commitment, which is why after this project is over (July 2009), they will continue working and investing in the community through Hope and Development Foundation, which is Gran Pacifica’s NGO registered in Nicaragua.
The programs currently developed through CHESS are:
Health and hygiene education workshops in schools - Given to 40 teachers, representatives from Ministry of Health and Education in Villa El Carmen on (1) Basic hygiene: washing hands, diarrhea and dengue prevention, (2) Recycling and (3) Brushing teeth.
Water filter project - CHESS has put a total of 67 in classrooms and health posts.
Continuing training for English teachers - CHESS has been working with Villa El Carmen English Teachers giving them access to trainings with University level English professors. They have also been paying for their registration at National Conferences of English Teachers (NICATESOL)
English for primary school kids - CHESS has been teaching English two hours per week in 11 primary schools to a total of 390 students.
Computer program - CHESS trained fifth and sixth grade teachers and tutor students in basic computer programs. Now they teach all fifth and sixth graders at Santa Rita School.
Educational programs for pre-school and primary teachers to enhanced the quality of education - (1) One day workshops for early elementary: dynamic, art and child based classes, (2) One week long trainings in three subjects with Global Education Fund (GEF brings US teachers to train Nica teachers) and (3) A four month long course with a local University- a diplomado- for 36 teachers on innovating methodologies in reading and self-reflexion.
Creating mini-libraries in rural areas - Gran Pacifica shareholders brought story books and encyclopedias to a school in the community of Santa Barbara, donation worth US$ 1740
Hands-on science, history and archeology - (1) With students and teachers: In 2008 we brought 303 students to visit archeological sites, (2) With archeological sites owners: trainings to talk about managing and protecting a site, and (3) The project is working on making two sites visible and accessible.
Physical improvements to schools and health posts- (1) Cyclone fence installed in four schools, (2) Five schools with small repairs: painting, fixing swings, latrines, etc.
Ongoing needs
Resources to cover the cost of workshops, courses and fieldtrips, water filters, computers, books and building materials.
Amounts that can make a difference:
- A health workshop can be held for 40 people for $350.
- For $30 a new water filter can be purchased and installed. For only $10 the water filter ceramic pot can be replaced.
- Trainings for English teacher are only $200
- 390 students can receive English classes twice a week for only $200 a month.
- A new desktop for these children can be purchased in Nicaragua for $400 and training them to use it is a course worth of $100.
- Trainings for 36 teachers to improve their teaching skills go from $9000 (for a 4 month diploma course from a local University) can be covered with $1200 (for a week training in three subjects with Global Education Group) to $550 for a one day workshop on early elementary.
- The cost of a mini library is only $390.
- The cost to take 300 students to visit archeological sites is about $408.
- In order to make two archeological sites accessible, $10 000 is needed.
- Fixing doors, roof and painting a latrine: US$ 61
- Fixing rusty swings: US$75
- Iron protection to windows: starting at US$150
- Cyclone fence around a school for US$3,500
