Improving education in vulnerable areas of Siuna

• At least 1183 benefited
• Through the Education in Conflict project

03.04.2014. Managua, Nicaragua. Andrea Núñez-Flores Rey

Save the Children has benefited 15 schools with the Education in Conflict and Catastropheproject in Siuna, in the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN) since 2012. The activities have included reforms and rehabilitation of educational infrastructure -such as latrines and water systems-, construction of new classrooms or spaces -such as school lunch room teachers- and training for children and teachers from kindergarten to 2nd grade primary.

"We only record 1183 children because they are beneficiaries who received the training; they are students from preschool to 2nd grade. However, the actual number is much higher as students of 3rd to 6th grade also enjoy improved infrastructures. In addition, we are promoting that educators explain to other teachers what they have learned, "says Ivonne Rodriguez, coordinator of Save the Children (SC) in Prinzapolka.

This project is implemented with the partner Institute for Development and Democracy (IPADE) and ends on December 2014. 15 schools were covered, eight of which are in urban areas and seven in rural zones.

Improvements in education and child protection

On the other hand, SC has also drawn up a Code of Child Protection to reduce the risks faced by children, "since SC and IPADE drafted the Protection Code, children, teachers and parents exposed the risks they observed to arrive and at school”, said the deputy director of a rural school, Marbelí Picado.

"There have been many changes in the education and in the motivation for learning, among others. In addition, school enrollment has increased and the dropout is reduced”.

Among other activities, IPADE has facilitated the organization of families. “The effort of parents is amazing, how much they are helping and supporting children”, explains Salvador Bucardo, teacher and director of the rural school Rosa Grande.

"Parents and teachers are responsible for raising awareness among families of children out of school to come to study", says Ventura Herrera, IPADE technician.

The training also promoted the teaching with affection and the eradication of physical and humiliating punishment. Damaris Ramírez, a parent of a child in the urban school 3th March says "my son, who studies in preschool, says he loves his teacher because she is warm; the teachers now are very loving.”

"With the new facilities, we have a different environment and students are more ecited to come", adds the director Salvador Bucardo.