In the late 80’s, the small city of Achuapa used to have a thriving library. However, when Violeta Barrios de Chamorro won presidency in 1990, the library workers for some reason grew scared and emptied the bookshelves stealing and burning a majority of the collection. To this day the reasons for what they now call the riot, are not yet clear. In 1996 a woman named Rafaela decided to rebuild the library. She began with 57 books that were rescued from the fire. She contacted many people in the USA and was able to get book donations for the rebirthing library.

Located in the far southern part of Lake Nicaragua, the islands of Solentiname have an intricate history. It’s a history that cannot be mentioned without using the name of Ernesto Cardenal. Now in is 80’s, Mr. Cardenal is a well-known priest and poet born in Nicaragua. He was well educated in various countries and returned to live in Solentiname for approximately 14 years. During these years he began to develop the community on the islands. He taught that Catholicism is not just praying and meditating; but it also entails relating the Catholic beliefs and practices to daily life and activities. Cardenal, along with a couple friends, educated the Solentiname people by teaching them to read, paint, and create art crafts. Cardenal is still involved in the development of the islands.

The small library in Los Playones de Catarina shares its books with the neighboring community of Pueblo Nuevo. The library is part of a school built eleven years ago by a USA based organization called MEFEL.

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.

Located halfway between Nicaragua’s capital city, Managua, and the Costa Rican border is the City of Nandaime. Up to recent years the small city was thriving in agriculture and cattle-raising. Nandaime is now more commerce oriented due to the many tourists who travel through on the pan-american highway. Only minutes from the city is the natural reservation Volcan Mombacho, a dormant volcano topped with a rich rainforest. The Mombacho Volcano has many hiking trails and zip lines that attract many visitors from around the world.

Kayaskita, Jinotega…a community that can only be reached by a 3-hour boat ride down river. A 5-hour car ride from Managua on horrible roads precedes the boat ride. To say the least, this community is not easily accessible. The difficulty in getting to it has inhibited the community from receiving an education and knowing how to read and write.