Orange News | January • February • March 2021

Por los niños

Orange news N I C A R A G U January • February • March 2021

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World Vision Nicaragua and the Baptist Convention of Nicaragua aim at the integral well-being of children World Vision Nicaragua, in recognition of the church Comprehensive accompaniment as a preferential partner and under a collaboration agreement with the Baptist Convention of Nicaragua In November, the BCN was equipped with didactic (BCN) donated 45 kits with educational and material to strengthen the management of Sunday gamification supplies used in the Canales de Esperanza school teachers and community preschools, methodology from the Children and with the purpose of contributing to the wellAdolescents Free from Violence “Within the framework of the being of children at the psycho-emotional agreement, the capacities of key Program which is carried out by the and spiritual levels. staff members in the pastorals that organization make up the Baptist Convention of “Ana Alvear, World Vision’s Nicaragua Nicaragua have been strengthened LThe Channels of Hope National Advocacy Coordinator stated: and they have been equipped with methodology aims to develop new various resources with the intention of “Now with this latest installment, it models of positive parenting that providing gamification tools that allow contained manuals, workbooks and them to contribute to the protection eliminate all types of violence auxiliary material for conducting awareness of children and adolescents that the against boys, girls, and adolescents; workshops on the Channels of Hope model BCN accompanies”.

Likewise, from the theological for the protection of children”. biblical study it fosters harmony - Claudia López Meneses, Manager of the Children and Adolescents and equitable gender relations, so World Vision Nicaragua recognizes the Free from Violence technical program that, from the faith communities pedagogical trajectory that the Baptist states and churches, it would contribute Church has in the country from the to eliminate violence within church provision of academic training in its precongregations and families. school, primary and secondary school facilities.

Protected Children

Passing on the torch As part of the agreement, Radio Bautista which broadcasts on frequency 103.1 FM, provides a weekly spot to World Vision Nicaragua in the morning program Pasando la Antorcha (Passing on the Torch), in which issues regarding children and adolescents, family, comprehensive well-being and violence prevention are addressed.

Azucena López Namoyuren, World Vision’s Nicaragua Spiritual Nutrition coordinator stated: “With this spot, the Baptist Convention of Nicaragua and World Vision Nicaragua directly and indirectly contribute with messages of transformation to the more than 10 thousand radio listeners who tune in to the program; likewise, it is a partner at the time of the execution of communication campaigns that the organization develops”.

Through joint collaboration, various leaders from the Baptist Convention of Nicaragua are accompanied in various areas of the country where World Vision also has a presence to provide a more comprehensive accompaniment to children and jointly contribute to the prevention of various types of violence.

Protected Children

Congress on Technology, Religion and Children: A call for nonviolence against children The Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) –Chapter Nicaragua– recently carried out the third Congress on Technology, Religion and Children with the objective of raising awareness among religious leaders, adolescents, and youths about the acts of violence against children that are taking place on technological platforms.

Likewise, the congress sought to promote a dialogue with leaders of faith and highlight the importance of their roles to support the dignity and protection of children and adolescents in the digital world.

At the third Congress on Technology, Religion and Children, topics such as challenges and opportunities in the digital world, good practices developed on the digital platform were addressed, and a consultation period was established to collect the opinion of adolescents and youths on self-protection in the digital world.

beings. The greatest degree of vulnerability of children on the Internet is due to the violence they experience in cyberspace, which is not a new type of violence, but the transfer of existing manifestations in their physical environment to the virtual context, where they acquire a different dimension in terms of scope and potential damage”

As part of the congress, a discussion was also held on the Protection of Children in a digital world, which had the participation of representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Nicaraguan Coordinating Federation of NGOs that work with Children and Adolescents (CODENI), Viva Juntos por la Niñez (Live Together for Children), and GRNC. “We all know that we are

experiencing a technological boom in the digital world, which represents opportunities and risks for children and adolescents. Among the opportunities that digital technology offers, is to expand the scope of education and improve its quality, expand knowledge, skills, and abilities, and promote citizen participation, especially of young people, however, it has also opened doors for various forms of violence against children and adolescents to migrate towards a digital environment”

The Global Network of Religions for Children is an organization present in several countries. In Nicaragua it is made up of World Vision, Seicho No Ie, Live Together for Children, Grassroots Ecclesial Communities, Jewish Community and the Faith and Hope Chaplaincy Ministry.

- Azucena López, World Vision Nicaragua’s Coordinator of Spiritual Development stated:

Lopez stated: “There are serious risks and threats, particularly for children and youths, situations that can violate their fundamental rights and dignity as human

The different presenters contributed, each from their experience and knowledge, to emphasize the importance that each sector of society must unite to build a safer place for children and adolescents in the digital world, breaking intergenerational barriers, transforming paradigms, and actively involving each member of society: parents, teachers, the private sector of the telecommunications industry, governments and, above all, religious institutions, and groups.

Protected Children

Schools and educational personnel receive 39,000 guides for socio-emotional support World Vision Nicaragua delivered to the Ministry of Education (MINED), 39,000 guides for socioemotional accompaniment, with the aim of providing schools with the necessary tools and resources to provide better educational counseling to boys, girls, and adolescents.

“The guides will be distributed to teachers and key personnel of the educational counseling area at the national level, and it is expected to be a useful tool to provide care and support to children and adolescents, in their classroom and their immediate environment”, said Claudia López, World Vision Nicaragua’s Children and Adolescents Free of Violence Program Manager The socio-emotional accompaniment guides have a special section with elements of the Parenting with Tenderness model. In turn, to achieve a greater scope, 188 teachers from eight municipalities of the country have been trained in the Balsam of Tenderness model.

Gloria Esperanza Moncada López, Head of the Directorate of the Technical Accompaniment and Psychosocial of MINED’s Centra Office said: “The

socio-emotional accompaniment guide will be distributed in initial education learning centers, primary and secondary education centers, and nationwide.

This will contribute to the prompt socio-emotional accompaniment before risk situations such as sexual violence, bullying at school, teenage pregnancy, addictions, suicidal thoughts and attempts and suicide, grief, violence” Gloria Esperanza Moncada López, Head of the Directorate of Technical Accompaniment and Psychosocial of the Central MINED.

“The United Blessing” Prayer Campaign allows space for hope this time for Lent When the cases around the world already exceed more than 112 million related to COVID-19, Catholic and evangelical leaders from different denominations in Latin America and Spain joined in the day of prayer for hope -The United Blessing - on March 20.

Leaders such as Lucas Leys, Itiel Arroyo, Martín Valverde, and Monsignor Azuaje were part of this event under the “The United Blessing” motto, which was organized by Vitae, Cáritas and World Vision and which marked a space for prayer. It was held on March 20 at the following times: 12pm Central America-Mexico time, 1pm Bogotá, 2pm Miami, 3pm Argentina and 7pm Spain.

The free and virtual event was broadcasted live on the Vitae YouTube channel and also on the local Facebook profile of Cáritas, VITAE, World Vision.

Aware of the reality that we live in and with the desire to give room to hope in the world and under the Day of prayer #LaBendicionUnidos, hashtag the organizations decided to open a space for prayer, together with churches and Christian organizations in Latin America.

“It is a joy to know that we are brothers and sisters in this time marked by pain and uncertainty in the face of the Covid19 pandemic. Expressions of solidarity such as the one that you experience during the day of prayer further

Protected Children

strengthen these bonds of brotherhood, since, as Pope Francis says, “no one is saved alone.” Furthermore, like in the case of Caritas, these gestures encourage us to continue being a testimony of dedication and service”, said Fr. Francisco Hernández Rojas, Regional Coordinator of the Caritas Latin American and Caribbean Secretariat (SELACC).

“The difficult situations that we have experienced in this last year call us to solidarity. And when that solidarity is inspired by our Christian convictions, it includes prayer.

To pray is to recognize that, beyond our efforts, we can trust in the grace of the God who loves, comforts, and encourages”, said Harold Segura, Regional Director of Faith and Development for World Vision Latin America and the Caribbean. “For this reason, in this day of prayer, World Vision enthusiastically joins Christians from different churches and denominations throughout Latin America to pray together, as a sign of unity, invoking the same God and Father of all,” he added.

Luis Quinelli, president of the Vitae Foundation commented that “COVID-19 affected us all without distinction. But we believe that when we come together in common agreement, God is in our midst and works mightily. It is a privilege to unite

in prayer and action for those who have been affected by the pandemic, making our prayers louder than the bad news we hear daily”.

The main objective of the day was to create a space for prayer in the face of the pandemic. In this context, the organizations promote the reproduction of the song “The United Blessing”, on Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms, which will generate resources for the response to this emergency. Vitae launched “The United Blessing” last December, under the slogan “Press Play for Hope”, together with 22 international artists, in order to raise funds for those most vulnerable who have been affected by COVID-19.

With the free reproduction of the song that people make on the predetermined platforms, funds will be raised that will be donated entirely to Caritas and World Vision to respond to the needs of the people most affected by the pandemic. The funds obtained will be allocated to projects of both entities focused on the prevention of contagion, support to health systems and protection of health personnel and the response to the effects derived from the coronavirus in education, child protection, nutrition, and economic security of the families in a more precarious situation.

Igdadina López Radwel, Sobreviviente de femicidio

Education

World Vision Nicaragua inaugurates two Job Placement Units for young people in the municipality of San Marcos Imara Callejas, a young attendee at the opening ceremony at the San Marcos Mayor’s Office Job Placement Unit said: “We are very happy, because now we have this new tool to apply for any job thanks to the support provided by World Vision”.

Imara is one of the young women from San Marcos who from now on will have two Job Placement Units to access technological resources and Communication and Information Technologies, in order to be trained on continuous training and adequate job search.

The Youth Job Placement Units were inaugurated under the Youth Ready methodology of the Educated Children during and for Life program of World Vision Nicaragua, the Municipal Mayor’s Office of San Marcos and the Association for the Promotion and Integral Development of Municipalities (APRODIM in Spanish).

Sathya Bermúdez, Education Specialist at World Vision Nicaragua stated: “World Vision’s staff was in charge of training the people who will be providing support to the Job Placement Units on topics such as communication skills, how to attend and present themselves for interviews, emotion management, free online training courses, digital literacy and general advice on job search”.

Unit are equipped and attention is on a one-on-one basis The Youth Job Placement Units were equipped with computers, printers, microphones, removable drives, etc. and the partners will ensure internet access and equipment maintenance. One of these units is located in the San Marcos Municipal Mayor’s Office and the second one is located in the Guardabarranco Library from the Villa Emerlinda neighborhood, which is administered by APRODIM. Bermudez affirmed that “World Vision Nicaragua under the Young Ready methodology has established Job Placement Units in different municipalities where it carries out the Education program, however, with the objective of aiming at the sustainability of said units, it has begun work in partnership with other social actors”.

The services and accesses provided by the Youth Job Placement Units are free of charge. Young people who wish to be attended to should make an appointment to receive personalized attention and avoid crowds. Each unit meets the hygiene standards for the prevention of COVID-19.

Education

World Vision, in partnership with Inhijambia, launches EmpowerMe, a website to empower adolescents World Vision Nicaragua, in conjunction with the asociación Inhijambia, launched EmpowerMe, a website to personally, socially and economically empower adolescents and youths on issues related to sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, youth ready for employment and tools to develop life plans.

EmpowerMe is a project funded by Grand Challenges Canada and was initially aimed at 300 adolescents and youths in the 13-19 years of age range living on the streets, exposed to violence and abuse who live in marginalized neighborhoods of Managua, and who are served by the Inhijambia association.

Janice Tellez, Coordinator of the EmpowerMe project at World Vision Nicaragua said: “Each participant will have personal access to enter the website, here they will find five modules with various topics focused on sexual and reproductive health, and rights, soft skills and employability, likewise, they will have access to forums to share their concerns, doubts and experiences”

Within the website, the beneficiaries will also find orientation sites on health centers and units which they can access in case they require medical care.

The modules and forums within the page will be managed by specialized personnel from both organizations to provide adequate support on each topic that the EmpowerMe website will address.

One of the things we mostly want to focus on is the strengthening of self-esteem and the hope of achieving a better future, we seek that adolescents and youths have a different vision and are sure that they have the ability to get ahead in life” said Tellez.

As part of the project, the provision of internet balance recharges for each adolescent and young person is included, in order to ensure their access to the digital platform, likewise, evaluations will be carried out after each module to evaluate the learning acquired.

Following initial grantee coverage, it is intended that EmpowerMe educational resources are available to the general public, with the exception of group forums.

Education

More than 14,000 boys, girls, and adolescents will receive educational packages for their enrollment to the school year World Vision Nicaragua , from its Children and Adolescents Educated During and for Life program, began the distribution of 14,360 educational packages that will Benefit boys, girls, adolescents, and youths in vulnerable conditions who do not have the conditions to purchase school supplies.

The school supplies kits will be distributed in the municipalities of Limay, Condega, La Trinidad; Maipaisillo, Posoltega, San Ramón, San Dionisio, Esquipulas, San Lorenzo, San Nicolás, Santa Lucía; Tipitapa, San Francisco Libre, La Concepción; San Marcos, and Nandaime.

The packages consist of a sports bag, an unruled notebook, a geometric set, a box of colored pencils, three college ruled notebooks, three stapled notebooks, four pens and four pencils.

The delivery is part of the program’s execution activities and aims to influence educational continuity, mainly in a pandemic context that has affected school attendance and the economy of the households.

“The objective of the delivery to special cases is to provide direct support to the most vulnerable boys, girls, adolescents, and youths, through the delivery of school supplies that help them to Access the formal educational system on equal terms, asserting their right to education” stated Liseth Espinoza, World Vision Nicaragua’s Children and Adolescents educated during and for life Program Manager.

“Given the pandemic and the aftermath of the impact caused by the Eta and Iota hurricanes, families prioritize other expenses such as food and not school supplies so that their children can attend classes. This delivery made by the organization is complementary to the efforts made by the Ministry of Education to maintain and respect the right to education of Nicaraguan children, adolescents and youths” said Espinoza.

Safe Water

World Vision Nicaragua will provide a year of drinking water to more than 6,000 families in a state of vulnerability

A total of 6,220 families in the country will benefit from the Clean Water for Nicaragua project, which consists of the delivery of P&G water purifying sachets for families without access to clean water and affected by hurricane Iota and hurricane Eta. Each Purifier sachet donated by Procter and Gamble (P&G) has a technology that allows the purification of 10 liters of water. The project contemplates the distribution of 2 million 270 thousand 200 purifying sachets to achieve the cleaning of more than 22,700, 000 liters of water in its year of execution.

“With the execution of the project, we seek to support vulnerable families who do not have a safe water source and are supplied by communal wells or stagnant rivers, as well as families from communities seriously affected after the hurricanes and contribute to the prevention of COVID-19”, assured Viafra Palacios, World Vision Nicaragua’s Social Technical Specialist of the Safe Water program.

Clean Water for Nicaragua contemplates the delivery of 365 purifying sachets per family, so that they can have access to 10 liters of clean water a day for a whole year.

The project will be carried out in the municipalities of San Rafael del Norte, San Nicolás, Limay, Yalí, Matiguas, Pantasma, San Dionisio, Larreynaga, Tipitapa, Nandaime, San Marcos, Puerto Cabezas and Siuna.

Palacios stated: “This product not only has the opportunity to turn contaminated water into drinking water, but also to save lives. Children in particular are victims of diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhus or polio due to the consumption of unhealthy water”.

Training of Ministry of Health staff and community leaders As part of the project, training on the use of these water purifying sachets for Ministry of Health personnel is included, who will support the distribution of the purifiers in the selected communities, as well as the volunteer community leaders from World Vision Nicaragua to carry out constant evaluation and follow-up visits.

Palacios stated: “As an organization, we have established a quarterly delivery process, in order to achieve greater control in the delivery, monitoring and use of the water purifying sachets, in the same manner, we will be giving priority of distribution to the communities with the greatest needs.”

P&G Purifying Sachets According to information provided by Procter and Gamble (P&G), the purifying sachets have a purification technology developed together with the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) and with their use the following is achieved in just 30 minutes: • Eliminate microorganisms that cause disease.

• Remove more than 99.99999% of common bacteria from water (including those that cause cholera), 99.99% of viruses from water (including those that cause hepatitis A), and 99.99% of protozoa.

• Reduce the incidence of diarrhea by 90%.

• Remove dirt and other contaminants.

• Produce clean drinking water for the whole family, including children. The World Health Organization has classified this technology as a source of comprehensive protection.

The donation of the sachets for World Vision Nicaragua is the result of the work in partnership between World Vision USA and the Procter and Gamble (P&G) company.

Safe Water

World Vision Nicaragua and UNICEF distribute water filters in schools in Siuna World Vision Nicaragua and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) joined forces to distribute nearly 1,000 water filters in communities from Siuna and Prinzapolka, on the North Caribbean coast, which was severely affected by the impact of the Eta and Iota hurricanes at the end of last year.

José Santos, Safe Water Specialist at World Vision Nicaragua said: “We are starting the process of delivering water filters in various schools in the communities that we accompany in Siuna, in turn, we are providing talks on hygiene, prevention of the COVID-19 virus and training on the use and care of filters”.

The delivery is part of the Immediate Response and Recovery project in WASH, Education, Protection and Gender to meet urgent needs of the communities affected by the Eta and Iota hurricanes, in particular the most vulnerable children and adolescents. In this area, dozens of latrines were destroyed, and the wells contaminated, preventing access to drinking water.

The donation started in 10 schools in the Salto Verde and Negrowas communities from Siuna. The filters are delivered in the presence of the school authorities, students, and parents’ committee, who are also trained in the aforementioned topics.

The project, executed by World Vision Nicaragua and UNICEF began in December and will end in June, during which time 10,691 families will be accompanied in 10 communities in Siuna and eight in Prinzapolka; Under the project, a total of 974 water filters will be delivered in both municipalities.

In turn, the project will affect various areas of primary recovery such as provision of water, sanitation and hygiene, education, child protection and gender equality.

Safe Water

Call for sustainable access to drinking water and care of water resources

In commemoration of World Water Day, the 5TH National Meeting of Public-Private and Community Actors “Water and Sustainable Development” was held, in which various organizations recognized the urgency of caring for water sources and sustainable access to drinking water and sanitation.

Likewise, work sessions were held in order to reinforce the aspects related to the Establishment of the Interinstitutional and Sectoral Commission for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (COMISASH), Subcommittee on Strengthening Capacities and Targeting Investments by 2030.

The congress had a space for a plenary session where topics such as Drinking Water and Sanitation, Identification of needs and improvement of information management systems and monitoring of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services were addressed to follow up on the 6th Sustainable Goal, Reform to Law No. 620 and the General Law of National Waters, among others

“The great achievement that we want to achieve is to establish in various territories the working subcommittees that are installed at the national level, to see what has been done and how we can improve it so that we can have coordination mechanisms and make a national development plan of capacities” said Idalia Lau Blanco, Head of Planning, Training and Cast Nets of Nicaragua, and Member of the Nicaraguan Water and Sanitation Network (RASNIC).

Importance of joint work The congress emphasized the importance of joint work between public-private actors to develop specific actions to contribute to access to drinking water and sanitation at rural and urban levels in an equitable manner.

Likewise, contribute to the impact that joint work would represent at the level of community development and protection of children and women in areas with the greatest shortage of drinking water.

“As an organization we recognize the importance of working in partnership to cause a greater impact on vulnerable communities. We do not have the technical and financial capacity to reach all the communities, however, through association, it allows us to exchange experience and technology that is reflected in the projects that we develop together with other entities in various communities in the country” said Javier Moncada, World Vision Nicaragua’s Safe Water Program Manager.

Sustainable Development and Access to Drinking Water As the central axis of the congress, the importance of caring for water sources and the environment was reaffirmed to ensure the consumption of clean water and the renewal of these sources in relation to the rate of consumption.

“Sustainable development translates into guaranteeing something for tomorrow, this is our moment to take care of our water sources, we cannot believe that we have guaranteed water if we are not taking care of our water resources. This is the time to take specific actions and be able to inherit a world where no one lacks or dies for lack of drinking water” said Luis Moreno, Deputy Director of the Global Water Partnership in Nicaragua.

Various government institutions participated in the congress such as the National Water Authority (ANA), the Emergency Social Investment Fund (FISE), the Nicaraguan Institute for Municipal Development (INIFOM), the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA), among others, as well as the organizations that make up the National Water and Sanitation Network of Nicaragua (RASNIC) and Global Water Partnership.

Sponsorship

World Vision Nicaragua expands its coverage to care for boys and girls in the northern part of the country With the aim of contributing to the integral well-being of the most vulnerable children in the country, World Vision Nicaragua began the accompaniment of 12 communities in the Pantasma valley, in the municipality of Santa María de Pantasma, in the department of Jinotega.

During the visit, Oscar Chicas had the opportunity to meet with community leaders, faith leaders, boys, girls, and adolescents accompanied by the organization, who shared their perceptions of the organization’s work and the most urgent needs of the area.

“Our advocacy in the Pantasma area is a challenge for the organization and its staff, however, we also recognize its urgency in order to contribute to the well-being of children in the area,” said Thelma Lagos, World Vision Nicaragua’s Coordinator of the North Center Core.

“As leaders of the organization, we need to maintain contact with the population we serve, to know their situation, plans and challenges, which allow us to guide our work with families and communities. It is also essential to listen to how they perceive our organization and the work it does, how the different methodologies are applied and their impact on the lives of children and families” said Oscar Chicas.

The recent Pantasma Area Program has the comprehensive coverage of the Sponsorship program and the three technical programs: Educated Children During and for Life, Safe Water and Violence-Free Children and Adolescents.

“The accompaniment to the field teams is a key element in our work, as it gives us the opportunity to observe the work being done, listen to them, identify situations that require support from the central office and make recommendations in search of continuous improvement that impacts on the lives of vulnerable children” said Oscar Chicas Oliva, World Vision Nicaragua’s National Director, referring to a recent field visit by the organization’s board of directors.

World Vision Nicaragua is present in 11 departments of the country, including Estelí, Jinotega and Matagalpa in the northern zone.

Transformation Story

“It was the first time in my life that I did not drink contaminated water” Since his childhood, Victor has been certain that water is essential to “survive”, even though he did not understand why the water he drank made him get sick from stomache, diarrhea and constant fevers.

For him “it was normal, because all the children in the community went through the same thing.” Victor and his family went every three days to the creek or the river in their community to get water. This was the activity that no member of the household could miss because each one had the responsibility of filling up and carrying a container. He carried two three-liter bottles of water and was afraid that he or a member of his family would fall into the stream.

Victor is 13 years old. He is the youngest of three siblings and lives with his parents in a rural community of Nandaime, in the Pacific Zone of Nicaragua. “At the start of summer, I knew what sadness felt like. The stream dried up and we had to go to the wells of other communities to collect water; They never looked down on us but leaving my house to walk to another place located an hour away was very sad”, he said.

Every time Víctor went to the creek or the river, he noticed garbage, plastic bottles, used diapers and even dead animals in the water, this was the water that he, his family and the more than 450 inhabitants of his community drank, used to cook and to clean themselves.

“A year ago, World Vision started a project so that the community had safe water to use. You cannot imagine the joy I felt because we were no longer going to walk to the creek or the river to get water and we were going to have clean water” he said.

At the end of 2019, World Vision Nicaragua’s Safe Water program started the building of a water system using an electric pump in Victor’s community which would pump water from a 250-foot-deep well to a water tank with a storage capacity of 13 thousand gallons (49,210 liters).

With the execution of the project, 11 community posts were created that benefited 100 percent of the community.

Each post is intended to supply 10 families to prevent the inhabitants from walking long distances and being exposed to accidents.

“The whole community took part in this project, from the children to the elderly. Can you imagine? It was safe water!

We were excited and provided support to get the project done” he said.

Empowerment of the community: The project also included the creation of the Potable Water and Sanitation Committee (CAPS in Spanish), which, was trained on preventive maintenance of the water system, on the establishment of a consumption fee and on Law 722, “Special Law of Potable Water and Sanitation Committees”.

Victor accompanied Mrs. Reyna, his mother, to the preventive maintenance training workshops.

She is part of CAPS and he “felt like learning how to take care of the water tank. It was the first time in my life that I did not drink contaminated water” he commented.

“At the beginning, I was afraid of not being accepted because I was a teenager at a meeting full of adults and in board meetings, but since day one I felt welcomed. Don Juan Carlos, the president of the CAPS, congratulated me and told me that he was glad that I was involved in the project because it is us the adolescents who are going to take charge in the future”, he stated.

Community transformation and youth empowerment Likewise, World Vision Nicaragua implements the Healthy Family, School and Community (FECSA) methodology, which aims to transform personal, family and community hygiene habits, to take care of the environment, water resources, and prevent diseases and learn about ways to purify water at home.

Victor is part of the volunteers from FECSA, and he truly enjoys sharing the knowledge that he acquires, “I feel excited every time I do door-to-door visits. Most of the people welcome us very well and put into practice everything we teach them. I feel good helping others to have safe water and to take care of the community”, he stated.

“FECSA has helped me to value our water system even more; I learned the ways in which the waters are polluted, and I remembered when I drank water from the stream or the well, the farmers of my community would wash the pumps there, which means that they left poisonous residues in the water ... the water that we drank”, he stated.

At his 13 years of age, Victor is a teenager committed to his community, to caring for the environment and his neighbors.

In the way he expresses himself he displays ownership of the knowledge and leadership skills he has acquired. For him, the admiration and pride he feels for his mother drives him to serve his community.

Since October 2019, World Vision Nicaragua has benefited more than 2,900 people in various communities in the country with the creation and rehabilitation of water systems that allow them to have access to safe drinking water. Likewise, two thousand people have been part of the FECSA methodology.

Victor states that the most significant change that the Safe Water project had in his life was the transformation of his health, “I no longer get sick as before from drinking water from the stream and the happiness I feel to see that the people of my community go to the community posts to collect clean water”, he concludes.

World Vision Nicaragua, through its Safe Water program, helps boys, girls, their families, and the most vulnerable communities in the country to have access to drinking water, promotes hygienic habits and cares for the environment.

With your donation we can bring Safe Water to more people like Victor and contribute to the transformation of the life of another family and community in these times when we fight against COVID-19. Donate at https://bit.ly/2q2VqHe

Donations in Kind

Mediterranean Shipping Company and World Vision Nicaragua will support more than 1,100 people affected by the ETA and IOTA hurricanes MSC Foundation y World Vision Nicaragua will benefit 1,165 people affected by hurricanes Eta and Iota in different municipalities of the country, through a donation of US $ 10,000.00 provided by the international shipping company.

The donation is part of an agreement between the two entities and with it 233 hygiene kits and 32 supply kits will be purchased, which will be delivered to the most affected families, in order to contribute to the immediate supply to cover basic needs.

The family hygiene kits include a package of 50 disposable surgical masks, four toothbrushes, four rolls of toilet paper, three bags of detergents, three soaps to wash clothes, three body soaps, two deodorants, two packages of sanitary pads, a toothpaste, a bag of bleach and a packet of garbage bags.

On the other hand, the supply kit includes two bedspreads, two mats, two mosquito nets, two rolls of rope, a bucket with a dispenser and a lid, a black plastic roll and a barrel with a lid.

Gregorio Campos, who is the General Manager of the Mediterranean Shipping Company, stated: “The objective of our donation, as an organization committed to our values, especially Care for People, is to return to the people of Nicaragua, as a form to show our gratitude for all the support we have received from our collaborators and clients; and we want to repay this support by helping the people who need it most, in this case, the people affected by the two hurricanes” .

The process of acquiring supplies for the kits and distribution in the territories will take a period of three months.

Enrique Villegas, who is the Gift In-kind Coordinator, stated: “for us the donation received is very important because it is a response to the call that the organization has made through various means and we are very grateful that they have trusted us for the purchase of hygiene kits and supplies, as well as for its distribution in our territories”.

The donation of the kits will be made in the territories where the organization has a presence to ensure that the supplies reach the beneficiaries in a direct manner.

Campos stated that: “we decided to give the donation to World Vision because it is a world organization of great prestige and of which, we believe, is the appropriate one in the country to handle this type of activity. As in other countries, Mediterranean Shipping Company has a relationship with other World Vision offices, and we wanted to take advantage of the experience in Nicaragua”.

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is an international company working in the maritime transport and logistics sector. With presence in 155 countries, MSC facilitates international trade between the world’s major economies and emerging markets on all continents. mercados emergentes de todos los continentes.

Donations in Kind

ECS-Nicaragua Ministry makes and donates masks for World Vision volunteers The Ministry of Community Health Evangelism (ECSNicaragua) gave World Vision Nicaragua a batch of 1,000 reusable masks that were made by a group of women trained in sewing by that institution. The donated masks will be distributed among the community volunteers of World Vision Nicaragua.

María Félix Centeno, Legal Representative of the ECS Ministry, explained that this donation of masks is “a thank you to World Vision because they have also collaborated with us. They have supported us with donations of fabrics, threads and school supplies for children, clothes, shoes... All of this has been of great help to the communities we serve.

Thanks to World Vision we have blessed all these low-income people”, she said.

Centeno explained that the ECS Ministry is present in Managua, Chinandega, Chontales, Matagalpa, Rosita (North Caribbean Coast) and other departments. “We train women and people who have not being schooled, on topics such as sewing, beauty and clothes design; Currently with the COVID-19 crisis and the lack of work, we are creating family orchards and raising minor species: chickens, pigs, among others, to help families obtain an income and also have food for their homes”, he stated.

About the masks, Centeno said that “they were made by a group of women that we serve, they learned sewing at the ECS Ministry. We train women, we help empower them.

Many of them do have knowledge, but basic, what we do is raise their capacities so that they can achieve development both in their community and their family, and that they can also generate income in their homes”.

For his part, Enrique Villegas, World Vision Nicaragua’s Coordinator of Donations in Kind thanked them for the donation of face masks and recognized ECS Ministry as a “strategic partner”. In turn, he confirmed that the masks will be distributed among the community volunteers of the organization. “They are our strong arm in the communities we serve, and they are also exposed to diseases like COVID-19,” he commented.

Meanwhile, World Vision’s medical staff, taking into account the recommendations of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), certified the cloth masks for their use.

Dr. Aleck Pérez stated: “These masks that were received can be used mainly during field work, where social distancing is more feasible; its use in closed places or in group meetings is not recommended. We will send these indications to the end users through the people who are going to distribute them”.

Donations in Kind

World Vision Nicaragua recognizes the work of Juntos Vamos a Superarlo in the prevention of COVID-19 World Vision Nicaragua awarded the Together We Will Overcome it fund for the great support it has provided to the country’s most vulnerable families and communities with the donation of 15,000 food and hygiene kits, and more than 2,000 tanks with water to prevent the spread and contagion of COVID-19.

Since June 2020 to date, both organizations have worked in partnership to distribute thousands of food and hygiene packages in communities that are highly vulnerable to the pandemic, including the North Caribbean Coast.

Edda Callejas, who is the Executive Director of the Together Let’s Overcome Fund said: “It is a great privilege to work with World Vision, I would like to thank the staff of both organizations, because they have worked hard to bring this aid to all the corners where the people who need it most are found”.

Said packages have been distributed directly to beneficiary families in different communities that World Vision Nicaragua accompanies through the execution of its various projects and programs. Likewise, it has made distributions in the North Caribbean Coast together with the local association called Nidia White Women’s Movement.

Oscar Chicas Oliva, World Vision Nicaragua’s National Director stated: “At World Vision, we are convinced that the best way to respond to human needs is by joining the efforts of different actors, who share the same purposes, values and principles. The needs are many and the resources are limited, so we look for ways to expand the impact with the contribution of the capacities and resources of the different partners with the sole purpose of accompanying and serving vulnerable populations”.

New delivery to contribute to the food security of families affected by the pandemic As part of the continuity of the work in partnership, Together We Will Overcome It has delivered a new donation of 6,500 food packages to be distributed to families that have been directly or indirectly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to World Vision Nicaragua.

The food packages are intended to contribute to the food stability of families that have been affected by the virus, either by contagion, by the death of a relative and / or who are unemployed.

Enrique Villegas, World Vision Nicaragua’s Coordinator of Donations in Kind said: “It has been a very satisfactory job because we have been able to benefit needy people throughout the country, our presence in the most vulnerable communities of Nicaragua has allowed us to know the state of the families and to be able to accompany them with the donation that we have received”.

World Vision Nicaragua has established donation delivery protocols, so that each collaborator and place where distributions are made comply with the necessary standards for the prevention of contagion and / or spread of the virus.

“We are very satisfied with the transparency, diligence and commitment, with which World Vision has distributed the food and hygiene packages intended to accompany families affected by Covid-19” said Edda Callejas, Executive Director of the Together We Will Overcome It Fund.

To contact Enrique Villegas, Gift In-kind Coordinator, write to the email: enrique_villegas@wvi.org or you can donate through our website or through our bank accounts at BAC Credomatic: Cordobas: 363252701 Dollars: 363252776 Concept: Hygiene Kit

Launch of the “We prevent COVID-19 as a community” Campaign COVID-19 has made us face a global health crisis that is unlike any in the last hundred years. This disease has exacerbated existing inequalities for girls and women, in regards to health and the economy, to security and social protection.

It is in this context that the “Communities resilient to COVID-19” project is developed, an initiative coordinated by Educo, Horizont 3000, Children Believe, and World Vision.

Executed by the Miriam Project Association for the intellectual promotion of women, Tuktan Sirpi Children’s Association, Casa Alianza Nicaragua, the Association of Parents with children with disabilities Los Pipitos, Bluefields Indian & Caribbean University (BICU), Batahola Norte Cultural Center, Foundation NITCA and Inhijambia Association, funded by the Delegation of the European Union.

Mauricio Castillo, Educo Nicaragua’s National Director, commented that “As Educo, we are coordinating the consortium of the ‘Communities resilient to COVID-19’ project, financed by the Delegation of the European Union in the ‘Together for Nicaragua’ strategy. With this project, which began last year, we want to strengthen the resilience capacities of boys, girls, adolescents, youths and their families in vulnerable conditions before the pandemic in the departments of Managua, Estelí, Jinotega and the Autonomous Regions of the Caribbean Coast”.

Alliance against Covid-19

This context has highlighted the need to prevent together to get ahead of this pandemic. Because of this, we know that we cannot do it just as individuals and families, but as a community. That is why we created “We prevent COVID-19 as a community”, because it is everyone’s responsibility to take care of ourselves and take the necessary measures.

Within the framework of the project, a multiplatform communication campaign is being developed that will impact a significant group of Nicaraguans in the project’s areas of action. Its objective is to provide information and awareness to the general population about the pandemic and the consequences in different aspects. Our audience will be equipped with the basic tools and knowledge of COVID-19 prevention measures, as well as good practices for hand washing, mask use and role distribution at home.

It will be implemented on television, radio, digital channels and with printed materials in the impact area of the organizations involved. It is a nationwide campaign aimed at the general population and target groups of the organizations that are part of the project in the departments of Managua, Estelí, Jinotega and the Autonomous Regions of the North and South Caribbean Coast.

The emergency arising after the aftermath of Eta and Iota, led to rapid action to accompany more than 7,000 families with the delivery of sanitary kits. Its objective was to contribute to the self-care and protection of the target groups and final beneficiaries. The project directly supported two actions: on the one hand, the purchase and distribution of sanitary kits that included containers for the safe storage of water in the homes; and on the other, the purchase and distribution of food packages for children, adolescents, youths, and the families most affected by the crisis.

These actions reinforced the population’s prevention capacities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and its conditions to mitigate the impact of the hurricane. The sanitary conditions of those affected by the hurricanes have been improved by delivering elements and products necessary to implement prevention measures and prevent to a certain extent the spread of the virus, mitigating the effects on both the access to quality water, and seeking prevention in a context of exposure of people to crowds and overcrowding.

Children speaking clearly, clearly about the effects of physical punishment and humiliating treatment

it better today, and provide us with ideas and practical alternatives on how to relate in a more respectful and tender manner with boys and girls”

World Vision Nicaragua launches the protection campaign Speaking Clearly, Clearly that aims to raise awareness about the inappropriateness of physical punishment and humiliating treatment as accepted forms of parenting and the consequences that these forms of violence can leave in children.’

Speaking clearly, clearly allows boys, girls, and adolescents to be heard saying clearly and convincingly to adults that it is urgent to eliminate forms of parenting based on violence and the need to form a more just and equitable society with children. In turn, they represent 2 out of 3 children in Latin America who suffer physical punishment and humiliating treatment in their homes.

Haydee Calderon, World Vision Nicaragua’s Specialist in Psychosocial Accompaniment stated: “Many times we repeat harmful parenting patterns because it is the only thing we know. This type of campaign helps, then, to open our eyes to what has historically been wrong in the treatment of children, to reflect on how we can do

The campaign will last for just over two months and it is aimed at parents, guardians, teachers, religious leaders, adolescents, youths, and adults who are willing to question all kinds of violence against children and raise their voice to defend the most vulnerable.

Global Campaign

“The World Movement for Children estimates that in Nicaragua there has been an increase of 46% of cases related to violence against children in the context of the pandemic within the last year. For this reason, it is urgent that we all take the actions that are within our reach, from our families, communities, and organizations, to stop this situation” stated Calderón.

World Vision Nicaragua has designed various communication materials that will reinforce the message of non-violence against children, which will be transmitted by various media at the national level and in the official media channel of the organization on social networks.

Speaking clearly, clearly in the media The implementation of the campaign will have the support of VosTV, in order to bring the message of non-violence against children to a greater number of people on a nationwide level, for this purpose, it has made use of all its televised reach and digital platforms to promote and make this issue a visible one.

Yessenia Cortez, General Manager of VosTV stated: “At VosTV we are committed to the protection of Nicaraguan children and we consider that by joining World Vision’s campaign we strengthen that commitment to the prevention of violence against children. We know that as a means of communication we have a very important role in society in the construction of values, in the promotion of a culture of peace and in building a better world for the well-being of families, especially our children”

Speaking Clearly, Clearly is part of the five-year global campaign We Need Everyone to End Violence Against Children, which was launched in 2017 in more than 95 countries where World Vision is present, as a response by the fellowship to the situation of violence that affects more than 1 billion boys and girls every year in the world.

You can join this campaign by practicing tenderness at home. You can also support World Vision’s effort through a contribution that will allow the most vulnerable children in Nicaragua to have access to quality education, access to healthy water and be free from child labor

You can also contribute through our BAC Credomatic accounts: BAC Credomatic: Cordobas: 363252701 Dollars: 363252776 Description: Children Free from Violence

“People don’t even North Caribbean Coast two Two months after Hurricanes Eta and Iota passed through Nicaragua, the country’s North Caribbean Coast still faces the great damage caused by the cyclones and deals with the increase in poverty, violence and need in the area.

Many of the people have rebuilt their houses with the remains of wood that could be rescued, with part of rafts and boards that the sea has thrown out, however, these do not have the minimum conditions to be safe spaces for their inhabitants.

As a consequence of the damage inherited due to the hurricanes in the North Caribbean Coast of the country, there is a high rate of unemployment, food shortages, an increase of the cost of the quality of life, little access to drinking water and an increase in viral and stomach diseases.

“There is still a need to work on the issue of food security, it is not true that people do not need food, people need food to continue because they do not have resources,” shared Shira Miguel Downs, Director of Nidia White Women’s Movement.

Humanitarian Response

have enough to eat”: o months after the hurricanes The threat of COVID-19 Family income has fallen drastically due to the damage suffered by the rafts and fishing boats, which served as a work tool for most of the population in the area that does fishing as a means to survive.

“It is considered that more than 40 thousand families are in a high risk situation in regards to food security in the area after the passing of the hurricanes, both Eta and Iota worsened the state of vulnerability in which people already lived on the North Caribbean Coast; unfortunately, this is a reality that will be around for a long time” said Bayardo Figueroa, World Vision Nicaragua’s Coordinator of Security and Humanitarian Affairs.

Likewise, the destruction of fruit trees and root crops has increased the food insecurity of families and reduced the possibilities of marketing said products.

“Given that the dock is damaged, the ships are not docking, which means that they have less possibility of stockpiling and of having economic resources.

The issue of food security is important because the people in the communities lost all their production, they are also worried because in February are the months where they plant cassava, arrow leaf elephant ear and they have no seeds and the hectares where they are going to plant are still damaged, there is a lot of accumulated water ”, assured Miguel Downs.

The wells in the area were contaminated with garbage, sea water and waste from the latrines, therefore, access to drinking water continues to be one of the main needs of the area.

For Miguel Downs, the water shortage issue is urgent and emerging, the wells are contaminated, people are drinking rainwater, but they need filters to be able to purify the water and thus avoid stomach diseases that are affecting many communities, mostly the communities that live on the seashore.

In a context of scarcity, an increase cost of the quality of life and overcrowding, inhabitants of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua do not have the resources or supplies to face the threat of COVID-19 in the area.

“People don’t even have the resources to eat, much less to buy masks and alcohol and disinfect their home. The conditions are very complex to take follow means of prevention. If before one family lived in a house, now three families live there. So, how do you avoid getting infected by the virus? We are aware that we must keep insisting, but, for the area, the provision of COVID-19 protection kits is important. He also stated that they are necessary.

Violence: a permanent crisis The Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua is one of the regions with the highest rates of violence and gender-based violence, in a context of health crisis and of a natural disaster, according to Miguel Downs, citizen security indices have decreased due to the rise in robberies, assaults and the increase in child labor.

“You can notice an increase in child labor because women have to seek the support of the family and in this case the children, to be able to go out and sell oranges or some things that they may have, so that it generates economic resources for her. Likewise, we have noticed an increase in citizen insecurity as many people have opted for illegal alternatives to obtain their resources”.

Similarly, the overcrowding that resulted after the loss of their homes increases the vulnerability of boys, girls, and women to be victims of various types of violence.

For Shira Miguel Downs, psychosocial support at all levels, for men, women, children, and adolescents is something urgent, in order to work the emotional part with the entire family.

“Safe spaces for girls are even

more scarce, if girls were abused in many houses, now they are at greater risk because it is not just a family that lives in a house, now they are from three to five and that increases the fact that they may suffer conditions related to abuse due to overcrowding”

- Miguel Downs

Likewise, with the support in the creation of labor access conditions that allow the generation of resources, community aid to improve access to drinking water, hygiene, and sanitation; as well as, with the accompaniment to the health providing facilities.

Immediate Humanitarian Response Projects Two weeks after the impact of the hurricanes, World Vision Nicaragua began the humanitarian accompaniment in Puerto Cabezas with an on-site evaluation of the state of the area, likewise, during this visit 2,200 food kits were delivered, a thousand hygiene kits, a thousand clothing kits and 2,592 rations of rice with soy for affected families and gamification kits for psychological first aid activities for children.

“After the results of the evaluations, World Vision Nicaragua began the execution of a project focused on water, sanitation and hygiene, protection and education; our most urgent task is the rehabilitation and sanitation of community wells and donation of water filters”, Figueroa said.

This project will benefit approximately one thousand families, will last six months ending in May of this year and is being executed with various partners in the area.

Similarly, together and thanks to the United Nations Fund for Children - UNICEF, a project is being executed that will benefit 10, 691 families in 10 communities of Siuna and eight in Prinzapolka, which is focused on influencing issues related to water, sanitation and hygiene, education, protection and gender in families and communities affected by the hurricanes.

“After an on-site evaluation, we saw the great need in the area and with the support of UNICEF, we were able to start the implementation of a special immediate response project in various areas essential for family and community recovery. This project will last six months and under which wells will be rehabilitated, water filters and hygiene kits will be delivered to communities in Prinzapolka” said Javier Moncada, who is the Manager of the Safe Water Program at World Vision Nicaragua.

Two months after the hurricanes, the country’s North Caribbean Coast still faces the great damage caused by the hurricanes and deals with the increase in poverty, violence and need in the area.

With your help you can bring a ray of hope to these families, make a donation on our website and together we will help the victims.

Humanitarian Response

More than 98,000 people will be benefited with food stamps and hygiene kits More than 98,000 people from the departments of Managua, Matagalpa, León and Estelí will be benefited with the delivery of food and hygiene kits, thanks to World Vision’s Nicaragua COVID-19 Emergency Response project implemented with funds from USAID.

More than

98

thousand people will be benefited

The project has a duration of eight months and its objective is to contribute to the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 and to the food security of 17,800 families who were directly or indirectly affected by the virus.

This will be carried out in the municipalities of Tipitapa, San Francisco Libre, Matagalpa, San Ramón, Larreynaga, Achuapa, El Sauce, La Trinidad, Condega, San Nicolás and Limay.

The food kit includes 25 pounds of rice and beans, 12 pounds of cornmeal, 9 pounds of oats, 6 pounds of chicken, 4 liters of cooking oil, 3 cans of sardines, 2 pounds of salt, and a box of eggs.

On the other hand, the hygiene kit consists of six 110-gram body soaps, 7 425-gram soaps for washing clothes, six 450-gram bags of detergents, five reusable triple-layer masks and a 22-liter bucket with cover and water dispenser.

Reneé Cajina, who is the Coordinator of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Project, stated that “the food and hygiene kits will be provided to families for a period of four months”.

Additional components As part of the project, a communication campaign will be carried out, in order to sensitize the population about the prevention of the virus and the correct washing of hands; Likewise, 1,232 portable washing stations will be delivered in strategic public places in the municipalities of Tipitapa, Matagalpa, San Ramón, Larreynaga, La Trinidad and Condega, with the aim of allowing as many people as possible to maintain good hand hygiene .

Similarly, psychosocial care will be provided to beneficiary families, through training in community networks, using the Problem Management Plus (PM +) methodology, which is part of the Action Program to overcome the mental health gaps in the community outlined by the World Health Organization and treat common conditions like depression, anxiety, stress disorder, etc. This methodology is designed to be administered by minimally trained (and supervised) unskilled service providers, such as community volunteers.

First donations In mid-December, the first distributions of food and hygiene kits began, reaching 6,610 families and which were delivered “through local suppliers in order to stimulate the economy of the municipalities,” says Cajina. Hygienic and social distancing measures for the prevention of COVID-19 are being taken at each delivery post.

Ena, who is a farmer and a mother of two minors, who benefited from the project in San Nicolás said: “I feel very happy because it is a great help that they have given us, since we have lost many crops and it is a great help for me and my family. My husband and I planted beans and corn and only part of it was left for our own consumption and to save seeds for the next year”.

From the design of the project, parameters were established to select the beneficiary families, among these are: households with one of their members infected with COVID-19, households with a member over 60 years of age with a chronic disease, households that do not have access to drinking water to guarantee essential hygiene measures, farming families who lost crops, low-income families, households led by women, families with individuals with disabilities.

Mr. Vicente, who is the grandfather of a girl, shared the following with World Vision Nicaragua’s Sponsorship program: “In my family, we are all farmers and this year we did not have the crop yields we expected and what we collected was for the use of our household, so, I thank World Vision for giving us this little help with food”; he benefited from the project.

Inhabitants of Siuna provided food packages and tanks filled with water As part of the accompaniment to affected families after the devastation caused by hurricanes ETA and IOTA, World Vision Nicaragua will deliver 1,300 food kits and 2,600 tanks filled with water to households that are at a higher state of vulnerability.

“The food package is made up of 4.4 pounds of rice, four pounds of beans, four pounds of sugar, two tanks of water, two bags of oatmeal, and one liter of cooking oil,” said Enrique Villegas, World Vision Donations in Kind Coordinator.

The packages were delivered to World Vision by the Together We Will Overcome it (Juntos Vamos a Superarlo in Spanish) fund, in order to contribute to the people affected by the hurricanes and in a context of a health crisis due to COVID-19.

The distribution will be made in the week of December 25th to December 31st directly to the beneficiary families and will be carried out by the organization’s collaborators who will comply with all hygiene standards for the prevention of contagion and / or spread of COVID-19 .

“We are grateful to the Together We Will Overcome it fund for its constant support and for trusting in World Vision Nicaragua to bring this donation to the most vulnerable,” said Villegas.

Humanitarian Response

Immediate Recovery Response

The distribution will benefit families accompanied by the special Immediate Recovery Response project executed

by World Vision Nicaragua in association with UNICEF, which is focused on influencing on issues related to water, sanitation and hygiene, education, protection and gender in families and communities affected by cyclones.

“After an on-site evaluation, we saw the great need in the area and with the support of UNICEF we were able to start the implementation of a special project for immediate response in various areas which are essential for family and community recovery,” said Javier Moncada, Manager of the Safe Water Program from World Vision Nicaragua.

The project will last six months, ending on June 15th of this year, and under which water wells will be rehabilitated, water filters and hygiene kits will be delivered to six communities in Prinzapolka.

Similarly, in various schools in Siuna, water, sanitation and hygiene facilities will be built, filters and school hygiene kits will be provided.

Humanitarian organizations trained to monitor the health situation of their beneficiaries in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic With the intent to ensure the comprehensive wellbeing of children and their families, 25 employees from various humanitarian aid organizations will be trained in Excel 2016 and Excel Data Analysis with Power BI, in order to comply with the real-time monitoring of the health situation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic of its beneficiaries.

This activity arises directly from the Boys, Girls, Adolescents, Youths, and their families resilient to the Covid-19 health emergency in Nicaragua project financed by the European Union and executed by the consortium made up of the international organizations EDUCO, Horizont 3000, Children Believe and World Vision.

At the same time, eight local partner organizations participate in this consortium, among which are: Casa Alianza Nicaragua, Proyecto Miriam, Asociación Tuktan Sirpi, Asociación Los Pipitos, University of Bluefields Indian and Caribbean (BICU), Centro Cultural Batahola Norte, Asociación Inhijambia and NITCA Foundation.

“To comply with the monitoring in an efficient manner, each organization selected two collaborators, (three in the case of World Vision), to be trained on the use of Excel 2016 (Level 1 and 2) and data analysis using the functionalities of the Business Intelligence plugins (Power BI)”, assured Víctor Márquez, Project Coordinator for World Vision Nicaragua.

Humanitarian Response

The selected participants are technicians and oversee the operational and financial monitoring of the activities related to the project. At the end of this course, its participants are expected to develop skills and competencies in the following areas.

01

02

Data processing in Excel 2016 using intermediate level formulas.

Master the data analysis techniques available in Power BI Desktop.

03

04

Advanced information analysis through data modeling and complex calculations with DAX

That the participants make a proposal for executive reports of department indicators and preparation of Advanced Dashboards.

This course is key for the development of competencies in the staff in charge and for them to be able to execute the evaluation and monitoring systems remotely in a prompt manner; likewise, present data and information that contribute to the organizational decision-making process”, shared Márquez.

The trainings began last Friday, January 22 and will last 45 hours in a virtual manner; the American University - UAM will provide them. This course will be taught every Friday from 1:00 to 5:00 PM.

Humanitarian Response

World Vision Nicaragua continues the accompaniment in Siuna and Prinzapolka Members of World Vision Nicaragua’s leadership management team visit communities from Siuna and Prinzapolka as part of the continuity of the Immediate Response and Recovery project in WASH, Education, Protection and Gender to address urgent needs of the communities affected by the Eta and Iota hurricanes, in particular the most vulnerable boys, girls, and adolescents.

The project implemented between World Vision Nicaragua and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) accompanies 10 communities in Siuna and 8 in Prinzapolka, in order to influence components connected to education, protection, water, hygiene and sanitation of the areas most affected by Eta and IOTA. “As an organization, it is important to know the new territories where we are working because it allows us to know the perception and acceptance that the communities have about our work and also, access to knowledge of the terrain and cultural issues because it is necessary to be sensitive to it” said Oscar Chicas, World Vision Nicaragua’s National Director.

At the same time, Chicas assured that “knowing the consequences of the damage caused by the hurricanes contextualizes and allows us to identify response options in an extreme scenario and thanks to the experienced team from the area that makes up the project, we can build new initiatives to accompany these sectors”.

The visit to the communities has encouraged community leaders, faith leaders, boys, girls, and adolescents, and educational personnel to express their perceptions of the execution of the project and, in turn, express the needs that still exist and with which they need accompaniment.

“It is important to hear from the stakeholders the impact it has had and how they feel about the execution of the project; likewise, the experience gives us ideas on how to continue our mission in this territory,” said Rigoberto Shelevy, World Vision Nicaragua’s Director of Operations.

As part of the project, deliveries of water filters have been made in schools and communities, leaders and parents on prevention of violence against children and gender-based violence, and reading camps.

“There is a great motivation on the part of the actors for self-management and community organization, they give alternatives for joint work and manifest their commitment to the development of children,” said Shelevy.

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we are able to benefit

41,894 children from

470

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Find out more about the work of World Vision in Nicaragua.

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Donate now: WorldVisionNic www.worldvision.org.ni Contact: Vittoria Peñalba - Director of Sustainability CA4 vittoria_penalba@wvi.org