Our Development Work in Nicaragua | WE Villages at WE.org

A country of beauty and challenges

“Visually stunning” may be the best way to describe this Central American country that boasts lush valleys and rainforests, stunning mountains, lakes and volcanoes, picturesque beaches, and Spanish-colonial towns among its most beautiful features. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east, the largest country in Central America truly is a feast for the senses.

Unfortunately, Nicaragua is also the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with limited access to education, employment and resources such as sanitation facilities and medication. Damage from frequent extreme weather conditions has limited economic growth and the government’s ability to make improvements throughout the country, in particular to the education sector. Access and quality are poor, especially at the secondary level. This has left nearly 17.2% of the population illiterate (CIA World FactBook, 2015) and 25.9% of 10 to 17 year olds engaged in economic activity (ILO, 2012).

Nicaragua by the numbers

Literacy Rate (CIA World FactBook, 2015)

Average years of schooling (UNDP, 2018)

Of 10-17 year olds engaged in economic activity (ILO, 2012)

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Every dollar you donate helps us put in place sustainable solutions that empower communities in rural Nicaragua.

Our work so far

WE Charity’s history in Nicaragua goes back to the late 1990s, when we were able to construct or rehabilitate many classrooms and schools in the country. Our work has grown to include working in several communities in the Central Pacific Region of the country to implement the WE Villages program, with a focus on providing access to education for children. Through our work so far we have:

Built over 80 schools in Nicaragua
Launched women’s empowerment programming with artisan groups in two partner communities
Implemented programming in four communities in the Carazo Department of Nicaragua
Implemented four community water projects, providing clean water to 1,400 community members

Our Pillars of Impact

In every country where WE Villages operates, we tailor our programs to meet the unique needs of the communities we work with, while still adhering to our five Pillars of Impact. Read how these have been implemented in Nicaragua.

Education
In Nicaragua, the lack of education greatly affects not just children, but the futures of all. Within the Carazo Department of Nicaragua, our goal is to increase access to education through rehabilitating and constructing schools that provide quality education to children for generations to come. Through this, we can ensure all children have the tools to uplift themselves and those around them, paving the way for brighter futures.
Water
Health
Healthy communities are thriving communities. However, some rural populations in Nicaragua still have limited access to health care and health institutions. That’s why we work to provide marginalized communities in Nicaragua with basic health care, including preventative services, community gardens, nutrition programs and workshops that enhance the public awareness of health practices. We focus on building a community’s capacity to prevent diseases such as the dengue virus and chikungunya, which are common in the country.
Food Security
When families are healthy, communities can prosper. But factors such as climate change and rapid economic development are harming the country’s agriculture programs and rural communities from growing food. We focus on implementing school gardens that help support government-provided school lunch programs, community agriculture and food security workshops, ensuring the sustainability of gardens and expanding local knowledge to develop agriculture skills among community members.
Opportunity
Farming is the main source of income for many communities in Nicaragua but many men move to urban areas for higher-paying jobs while women stay at home and are responsible for the household. Under our opportunity pillar, we help form women’s groups that focus on creating and selling artisan projects. By doing so, women can increase their household income, build their savings, send their children to school and invest in the futures of their families.