Location: Ciudad Sandino Setting:
Urban Established: 1972 Staff:
49
Subject Areas
Community
Development: Social
Responsibility, Food Security
Youth and
Education:
Communication, Complimentary Learning, Child and Adolescent Development, Counseling,
Social/Moral Development, Teaching
Human
Rights: Child
Advocacy
Environment: Environmental Education
Women’s
Empowerment: Gender Equity Strategies,
Reproductive Rights
Organization Objectives
Escuela Autonómo Nacional
Bella Cruz provides low-cost K-12 education to children from the marginalized
areas of Ciudad Sandino. Its goals are to:
- Provide a strong academic
base for children whose families are living in poverty
- Offer technology training for
middle and upper school students
- Support musical instruction
to enhance students’ learning and self-esteem
Program Information
1. Technology Education
Escuela Bella
Cruz was able to start a technology program a few years ago when the Latin
American Development Bank financed new computers. Although the pilot project
ended after one year, the computers have become an instrumental part of the
school’s curriculum. For extracurricular use, students pay a small amount (20 córdobas, about USD $0.02 per month) to use the internet,
which helps keep the program self-sustaining.
Opportunities
- Teach computer classes to 5th
grade through high school students. Course topics include, but are not
limited to:
- Basic computer skills
- Word processing
- Typing skills
- Email and internet research
- Specific computer programs (PowerPoint,
Excel, etc.)
- Website creation
- Write grants to potential
donors and contributors to expand the program
- Fundraise to offset the
membership cost of the program for students who cannot afford the current
fee
- Organize and implement a
school website development project for one or more classes. Students can
be assigned different roles based on their abilities and interests, and
can contribute to the website throughout the year by adding updates,
pictures, and/or blogs
Requirements
- Basic Spanish
- Interest or experience in
teaching, technology, computers, website development, fundraising, and/or
related topics
- Ability to take initiative,
work with others, and work independently
- Patient and enthusiastic with
children
2. Banda
La Banda de Música is a popular
and important part of many Nicaraguan high schools; this is especially true at Escuela Bella Cruz. The school won first place in a
citywide band competition in the fall of 2006. The band includes a large drum
corps, flutes, tubas, bells, and trumpets.
Opportunities
- Assist the band teacher in
providing instruction to students
- Provide one-on-one music
lessons for students
- Organize band practice times
and schedules
- Establish a dance
troupe/cheerleading team to accompany the band
- Fundraise to help students
who wish to participate in the band to obtain instruments
Requirements
- Basic Spanish
- Interest or experience in
teaching, music, dance/cheerleading, and/or related topics
- Ability to take initiative,
work with others, and work independently
- Patient and enthusiastic with
children
3. English
Thanks to the parent-teacher
association, Escuela Bella Cruz has an English
program that begins in the first grade. This is rare, as most Nicaraguan
students start learning English in high school. However, the current
schedule—as well as the lack of teachers and resources—means that students do
not have enough hours in the week to learn English effectively. Past FSD
participants have integrated English lessons into their schedules together with
teaching extracurricular activities.
Opportunities
- Teach English classes to
Bella Cruz students
- Research and gather materials
to open an English Learning Lab
- Write grants and/or acquire
donations for books, media, and language workbooks to expand the school’s
library
- Implement a mentoring program
to enhance the English Language Program by recruiting university students
and/or FSD volunteers to work with students informally on a one-on-one or
group basis
Requirements
- Beginner to Advanced Spanish
- Interest or experience in
teaching, working with children, and/or related topics
- Patience and enthusiastic
with children
- Ability to take initiative,
work with others, and work independently
4. Sports
Currently, Escuela Bella Cruz only offers
basketball and soccer (known as fútbol sala, which is played outside on the cement
playground). The school would like to expand the playing field to include other
sports such as volleyball, baseball, cross country, and/or Frisbee, as well as
attract more students to the programs.
Opportunities
- Coach (or assist in coaching)
Bella Cruz’s sports teams
- Encourage more age levels and
girls to join the sports teams
- Form dance teams/groups as a
separate class
- Develop sports/dance
activities, including but not limited to:
- Volleyball
- Baseball
- Cross country
- Frisbee
- Dance (baile folklórico, breakdancing, hip hop, modern)
- Yoga
Requirements
- Beginner to Advanced Spanish
- Interest or experience in
working with children, teaching, coaching, dance, and/or related topics
- Patience and enthusiastic
with children
- Ability to take initiative,
work with others, and work independently
5. Community Work: Gardening and
As mandated by the Ministry of Education, all 5th and 6th grade students
must receive environmental education that includes learning about pollution,
garbage, and water conservation. In addition, 4th and 5th graders must
participate in community work or service learning. Currently, students are
teaching adults how to read. Both of these projects could use assistance.
Opportunities
- Assist teachers in
environmental education classes
- Organize and implement
interactive and supplemental activities, including but not limited to:
o
Visiting the early humans’ historical site in
o
Drawing plant anatomy to learn about their biology
o
Planning an environmental hazards/pollution walk
around the school’s neighborhood
o
Inviting speakers to present environmental topics to
students
- Organize regular trash
pick-up days with incentives such as prizes for bringing in the most bags,
etc.
- Plant a small vegetable and
herb garden with the 5th and 6th grade students
- Facilitate strategy sessions
with students to allow them to participate in the decision-making process
for the garden (i.e. where to build the garden, what to grow, whether to
sell the vegetables, etc.)
- Meet with students and
illiterate adults through the school’s literacy program
Requirements
- Beginner to Advanced
Spanish
- Interest or experience
in working with children, teaching, environmental issues, and/or related
topics
- Ability to work with
others
- Patience and
enthusiastic with children
o
Visiting the early humans’ historical site in
o
Drawing plant anatomy to learn about their biology
o
Planning an environmental hazards/pollution walk
around the school’s neighborhood
o
Inviting speakers to present environmental topics to
students
- Organize regular trash
pick-up days with incentives such as prizes for bringing in the most bags,
etc.
- Plant a small vegetable and
herb garden with the 5th and 6th grade students
- Facilitate strategy sessions
with students to allow them to participate in the decision-making process
for the garden (i.e. where to build the garden, what to grow, whether to
sell the vegetables, etc.)
- Meet with students and
illiterate adults through the school’s literacy program
6. Night School Assistance
Escuela Bella Cruz has a night school program that caters to students ages 14-40 that work during the day and thus can only attend school at night. It is a different demographic than those students that attend school full time during the day. Assisting in night school classes such as English or other subjects in which the interns have a specialty would be a unique experience and offer insight into a lesser-known area of Nicaragua’s educational system.
Opportunities
- Assist in teaching English classes in night school.
- Assist in teaching classes and helping students with in-class work for subjects in which the intern has a special knowledge, such as mathematics.
Requirements
- Beginner to Advanced
Spanish
- Interest or experience
in working with children, teaching, environmental issues, and/or related
topics
- Ability to work with
others
- Patience and
enthusiastic with children
Program Supervisor (All Programs)
Maria del Carmen Gómes Rivera is
Director of Escuela Bella Cruz and has a background
in teaching.
Note: Responsibilities offered to each participant will be proportionate to their
level of experience. Participants who are new to development work may
predominantly support and assist current project agendas, while those with much
applicable experience may be able to assume greater responsibility. Research
projects are strongly encouraged by this organization to support each program’s
objective because minimal resources are currently allocated for research.
Working Conditions
As with
any other school, working as a teacher involves patience, flexibility, creativity,
and the ability to provide discipline when necessary. Since interns and
volunteers will work from 8am to
Organizational Background
Escuela Bella Cruz is a public K-12
school located in Zona 8 of Ciudad Sandino. It is one
of the oldest schools in the city, constructed 30 years ago when the city was
still a rural backdrop to
About Escuela
Bella Cruz’s Clients
A number
of students who are unaccounted for in educational achievement statistics never
reach high school; 35% of high school students do not graduate; and 60% are
unable to attend a university. To help their families confront poverty, many
children work part-time as street vendors or assist their parents in microbusinesses. Mortality of infants and children under five years old are persistent problems, in addition to
malnutrition, respiratory illnesses and diarrhea, non-potable water, trash
buildup, and environmental pollution. The children themselves, however, display
creativity and resilience through fashioning impromptu toys and games out of
materials at hand, babysitting little brothers and sisters, and participating
in cultural activities with traditional dances and music.
