This summer I invite you to become a part of my journey to Managua, Nicaragua.  As a 4th grade teacher, I’m given the opportunity to work with amazing kids each and every day, but I still feel there is more I can do.  After much thought and consideration, I’ve decided to embark on an incredible opportunity to work with children in the second poorest country in Central America. After wrapping up my school year here in Oregon, I will head to Managua, Nicaragua on June 20th to work with children who suffer from extreme poverty, and I need your help to make this possible!

Managua, Nicaragua is the second poorest country in Central America, only to be surpassed by Hati due to the devastating earthquakes.  Within the country’s poverty exists the poorest of the poor -- those who live in the garbage dumps. Men, women, and children scavenge the heaps of garbage to collect what they can sell, and in return live off what most Americans would consider pocket change.  Family homes are made of garbage scraps, which proved little to no security, safety or protection. There is little to no education. Young boys are removed from childhood to work, and girls as young as eight years old are often prostituted out to garbage truck drivers for money or better garbage selection.  This poverty and injustice is beyond anything that can be communicated by words or pictures. It is just heartbreaking, and I’ve been inspired to help in whatever small ways I can through Hear the Cry partnered with Forward Edge International.

Forward Edge International (a non-profit organization in Vancouver, WA) decided to do something about this injustice.  They bought a two acre plot of land about ten minutes outside of one of these garbage communities, and began building homes for the young, at-risk girls within that particular dump.  In 2008, Villa Esperanza (Spanish for “Village of Hope”) opened their doors to girls living in La Chureca, one of the largest dumps in Central America. Due to the living conditions at the dump, these girls were in constant danger of being raped, kidnapped, physically harmed, or becoming ill from the toxins and debris. As mentioned, money was scarce and families did what they felt was necessary for their survival; many prostituted their daughters to the truck drivers who brought garbage into the dump. AIDS was prevalent. Education was scarce, and the average lifespan for a young woman was 18-20 years.

Villa Esperanza was founded and built as a long-term living solution for these girls to escape the cultural wreckage they were born into in exchange for a life of hope and opportunity.  Villa Esperanza provides girls with education, tutoring, mentorship, psychological counseling, teaching of trades, spiritual development, food, clothing, and the basic essentials every child needs and deserves.  And most importantly, Villa Esperanza provides each of these girls with hope - hope to break the generational poverty that seems inescapable in La Chureca.

Through Villa Esperanza, these young girls transition from timid, shy, physically weak, unhealthy, abused, and extremely weary into healthy, confident, successful, educated, happy young women.  Beyond that though, they are learning new realities such as: not all men are dangerous; and there are means to survival beyond thieving, stealing, and sexual exploitation. My heart has been called to help the people of Nicaragua and the girls of Villa Esperanza.  

This summer, I will volunteer my time at both Villa Esperanza and in the public schools of Managua, building positive relationships and helping to provide the basic needs of these children.  In order to make this possible, I write to you asking for your support. I ask for your support financially, and in prayer and positive thoughts. My goal is to raise $2,850 before June 1st. I would be beyond grateful if you are be able to financially support this opportunity and some of the people of Nicaragua.  To donate, please see the link and directions below. Donations are tax deductible.  Also, I encourage you to check out the video link below to see what life is like in the dump and how Villa Esperanza is impacting the lives of so many girls.

If you have any question about this trip, please don’t hesitate to ask.  Nothing gives me more joy than working with children of any age, language or background.  I thank you for your support!

Thank you,

Kristen Swan

Video Link:  “The Beginning of Villa Esperanza in Managua, Nicaragua”

https://vimeo.com/67691277