Chacocente

Location

The community of Chacocente is the result of a project that strives to provide relief to Nicaraguans living in La Chureca, the Managua dump. The families are moved to a healthier environment where they learn skills and trades, and become positive participants in society. Because of the hard life these people were used to in the dump they continue to be hard working families. Some work in sweatshops, others are farmers, housekeepers, and others learn to make simple Nicaraguan products in their own homes to sell. The people of Chacocente are uneducated but have the desire to use the resources they have to educate themselves and their children.

The community of Chacocente began in 2003 and the school and library began to form in 2009 when a number of universities and churches from the States provided funding. Families that were living in the dump in extreme poverty are now receiving an education that will open up a world of opportunities they never would have imagined. Parents of students attending the school in Chacocente are extremely happy with the attention each child receives and the level of education the teachers give.

The Chacocente School has about 81 students in grades preschool through 6.. There are plans for a junior high and high school. The nearest high school is an hour walk. Having a school and library like this is a dream for these families. If you can imagine, difficult as it may be, living in a dump. You sift through the garbage each day to find things you may be able to sell. You breath the toxic fumes from the burning garbage each day and you can’t seem to keep your children healthy. What a gift it would be to get a chance to start over. Be a partner with these families and offer them resources to aid their education. Resources needed are:

Books

Tables, chairs

TV/DVD and DVD’s

Computers

Handcraft materials

False ceiling, A/C (because of excessive dust/heat)

Vilma has a 4th grade education, and because of the library in Chacocente she has been able to learn more using the resources there. She is the librarian in Chacocente. Vilma lived in the dump with her husband and son for 5 years. They moved to Chacocente to begin a new life. Vilma has learned to make handcrafts like hammocks, purses, earrings, and necklaces. She can sell these to help provide for her family. Vilma is a quintessential example of how offering opportunities can give a person just what they need to get over that hurdle in their life and move forward.

Partner with the community of Chacocente and offer new opportunities to people just like Vilma.