Under the Sandinistas, education was a political symbol and a major priority in shifting attitudes and creating national unity. The most famous result was the national literacy campaign, but other major improvements included the establishment of a national textbook industry, the revision of curricula, and the introduction of new instruction methods.

But by the end of the 1980s, the shift in government spending from education and social services to defense and civil war gutted many of these educational efforts.

To read more about Youth and Education issues in Nicaragua, click here.

To support local youth care and education programs, FSD interns, volunteers, and donors work with community-based organizations to:

• Teach and tutor English, reading, science, vocational skills, photography, painting, music, crafts, math, computer skills, choir, environmental education, sports, and other subjects for marginalized pre-, primary, middle, and/or high school students.
• Help young boys suffering from extreme poverty and abusive social networks by teaching recreational activities and farming skills, and tutoring individual students in primary subjects.
• Offer special education workshops to preschool and primary school children who are deaf or suffer from developmental disabilities.
• Experientially train adolescents in subjects such as leadership, personal growth, drug use prevention, sexuality, health, environment, nonviolence, artisanry, civic participation, and rights issues.
• Rehabilitate at-risk youth who face negative familial and societal pressures, addiction, and violence. These children are removed from the streets and given a structured social environment, proper nutrition, education, counseling, and vocational training.
• Teach the parents of school-aged children about the ill effects of child abuse and the use of force to discipline their children.

Read more about Youth and Education programs and opportunities initiated by our Community Partners in Nicaragua.

For a description of the opportunities available in each development subject addressed by FSD in Nicaragua, click on the links below:

Microfinance • Environment • Health • Youth and Education
Women's Empowerment • Community Development • Human Rights

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