Anielka, a working girl in New York

• Watch the video and read the story of Anielka
• A Nicaraguan working girl, nominated for awards: "Young Woman of the Year"
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyhHkH-1lU4
• CNN interview (Spanish): http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video/spanish/2014/11/11/cnnee-montero-in...

10.11.2014 Managua, Nicaragua. Andrea Núñez-Flores Rey

Anielka, 15, from San Peñas Blancas, Jinotega, was honored last night with a Glamour Women of the Year Award at Carnegie Hall in New York City.  Anielka was among 10 girls from around the globe recognized for their perseverance in overcoming challenges to get an education.  The girls shared the stage with other honorees such as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, philanthropist Chelsea Clinton and actress Lupita Nyong'o.

Anielka works in the coffee fields to support her family but this has not stopped her from going to school as well as tutoring other children in reading. She lives in a small rural village, and is a leader in a program with CECESMA, a local organization with whom Save the Children partners. The program has helped build her self-esteem and confidence. She reads to younger children in her community, including her sister, and participates in drama workshops to teach other children about important issues like child labor and child rights. Anielka works to support her family by picking coffee beans, and goes to high school, which is only open on Sundays.  After she completes her education, she aspires to be a writer.

During the ceremony, Anielka received a letter from Mrs. Michelle Obama congratulating her on the award and stressing the importance of girls receiving an education. “When girls thrive, nations thrive,” writes Mrs. Obama, and continues: “That’s why my husband and I are so grateful for the example you have set for young women in your country and around the world.”

Anielka was joined by another Save the Children-supported schoolgirl from Bolivia in New York City.  In addition to participating in the ceremony, they took in the sights and sounds of famous landmarks and experiences of New York City, including the Statues of Liberty, the Empire State Building, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the New York City subway, the Museum of Natural History, and Central Park, among others. They also visited with students at a school in Long Island, New York and met with their consulates, including H.E. Maria Rubiales de Chamorro, Permanent Representative and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Permanent Mission of Nicaragua to the United Nations.

READ HER STORY

<<This is a story about Anielka, a happy 14-year-old girl from a small village in northern Nicaragua who loves going to school and inspire other girls to do the same. Anielka is a promoter with the Centre for Education in Health and Environment (CESESMA), a non-governmental organization that works with children and young people in rural Nicaragua. One of their principal interventions is to train young community educators (promoters) to become empowered to take on a leadership role in their communities. The Promoters are educators, animators, organizers and activists in their communities and work with groups of younger children on a range of informal educational activities. Since joining this program Anielka has overcome her shyness and serves as an inspiration for other girls and children. Anielka still faces many challenges. She needs to work both in the fields and at home and there are only classes on Sundays.

Anielka wears her hair in braids and is very sweet and polite. She smiles all the time, although she is embarrassed to show her teeth because she has several metallic dental crowns. She lives in the community San Francisco de Peñas Blancas, a small rural community located 30 kilometers from El Tuma-La Dalia down an unpaved road or about four hours north of Managua by car.

Anielka is from one of the 175 families living in San Francisco de Peñas Blancas, where coffee production is the main source of income.  Despite the remoteness of the community, children have access to secondary education. “I am in the third year of high school in my community, although classes are only offered on Sundays”.

Anielka lives in a simple house with her two sisters (aged 5 and 12) and her parents (aged 31 and 37). “I work on farms, I pick coffee beans, mostly during the harvest season. My dad grows coffee and my mom helps him.”

“One of my favourite activities is reading stories to children”

“I’ve been with CESESMA since I was 9 years old. They came to school looking for kids who wanted to join handicraft workshops. I joined and participated a lot in the workshops, as well as other reading activities. They read me stories and I loved it; so I began reading to other children,” Anielka explains with a smile.

“One of my favourite activities is reading stories to other children in my community school and elsewhere, like [the city of] Matagalpa. I travel with CECESMA to other communities and then I go back to home. I like reading to the kids a lot because they get excited and pay attention.”

It is clear that Anielka is very close to her family, especially to her younger sister, Gabriela, to whom she also reads. “Her favourite book is Winnie’s Magic Wand,” says Anielka, while Gabriela happily shows us the book. Gabriela, who is quite shy, giggles for a while, before finally introducing herself.

Anielka’s mother, Blanca, assures us that she is happy about her daughters’ participation with CESESMA. “I am glad my daughters participate in CESESMA because they are learning a lot. My 12-year-old daughter is in the Agro-ecological Promoters Training group,” Blanca says. “I don’t worry because the organization is very responsible and they take good care of her. When she was younger and started to take part in activities in other municipalities, I was worried; but not anymore. I know she will be fine.”

Anielka tells us: “Other topics we cover are violence; child labour; the Girls’ Network; self-esteem or how to feel good about ourselves; gender; and ‘machismo’. After receiving training, we have to organize a group of kids and explain everything to them, mostly at schools”.

Working on self-esteem has been very important to Anielka. “I was very shy before I began participating with CESESMA. I felt completely ignored because no one invited me to do things nor asked my opinion.  The teacher did not help me to think independently or to participate more. I knew nothing about self-esteem. Now, I know what it is to feel good about oneself, to feel comfortable with who we are, to know we are special. I see many problems involving self-esteem; such as when someone thinks they are not able to do what others can do; or when someone is embarrassed and unsure of what others think of them.”

Anielka clearly understands how much the involvement with the organization has influenced her life. “My family has changed a lot since I joined CESESMA,” she told us. “Now they see me as being important; they admire me a lot. Kids in school approach me more, sometimes because they do not know something, or because I have a good relationship with the teacher. Community members also listen to me more, and to my sister.”

A very responsible and intelligent adolescent

“I would like to be a social worker because I like what they do in non-governmental organizations. I like how they support people, encourage them, and share with them. Now I am a promoter, and I notice changes in the children who participate in trainings and talks. Before, there were kids who hardly went to school. Now, they do their homework, they study more, they make an effort.”

Anielka’s father, Alejandro, told us with conviction, “the most important thing is for the girls to learn. Ever since they were little we have wanted them to study. Anielka is also very intelligent and a good girl. She always helps my wife with household chores.”

The girl does not just help; she has now assumed the role of caring for the household because her mother works in the fields.

Anielka explains, “I get up at 5:30 a.m. and make breakfast for my parents; I grind corn for tortillas, make coffee and cook rice. Then, I do household chores like cleaning; and for lunch, I prepare rice, juice and sometimes salad. At night, my mom cooks. In my free time, I like to read and draw.”

Anielka is very intelligent. After much prodding, Anielka, shyly confirms that she receives good grades in all subjects. She asserts that she has to thank her teacher for this; her teacher was a CESESMA promoter. “She is no longer with the organization but she supported me a lot and continues to do so. On the other hand, the teacher I had in primary school did not encourage us to participate; she hit us and shouted a lot,” Anielka tells us.>>

READ THE LETTER SENT BY MRS. MICHELLE OBAMA