What Would You Do?

What Would You Do?

If a good friend of yours had a daughter who wanted to be a nurse but lived in poverty, what would you do? What could you do?

Or, how about…

If you knew a child who was eager to learn, but did not have the money for school supplies, would you help out?

Many of us would want to mentor them, lend a hand, or support them in some small way.

Pat McCully, the founder of Circulo de Amigas.

This was the situation that an intrepid school teacher faced when she traveled to Nicaragua to witness the inequalities brought on by war in an impoverished country. However, Pat McCully was profoundly compelled to help.

Pat not only helped a few young women set up a small sewing business, but their meager income helped the daughters to stay in school. In time, Pat set up an educational sponsorship program to link donors with students that survives to this day.

This program has turned into a nonprofit tax-exempt organization called Circulo de Amigas Foundation (Circle of Friends) and we’ll show you how you can help.

Why Nicaragua?

Some of the girls we support.

You may ask why you should support a program in Nicaragua when there are students in your own city or almost anywhere in the world that could use the same assistance?

Yes, kids everywhere need help. But, this program capitalizes on an established setup with a passionate group of people determined to make a difference and personalizes the attention for each student.

All of the funds collected in the U.S. are put to work and provide a support system to help students succeed in school. This includes:

  • An onsite library,
  • A tutoring program
  • Numerous workshops in our center

Students that receive funding are hugely vested in the program and also participate by donating several hours per month to the center.

The entire US-based operation is made entirely of volunteers who donate their time to enable the organization to operate.

In Nicaragua, we have a community center run by Nicaraguan staff who tap into the Ministry of Health for health workshops, hospital doctors and even the US Peace Corps volunteers that assist with some projects or presentations.

 

Why Girls?

The sponsorship program is aimed at girls because, like many countries around the world, women and girls are more disadvantaged than men both culturally and in the workplace.

Helping girls stay in school through university level gives them a chance to break out of the cycle of poverty. The more education they receive, the better their chance to get a better job, earn more and bring their entire family out of poverty.

This year alone, nine girls are graduating from the university in fields such as nursing, marketing, environmental engineering and law school.

 

This Program can Change You.

When you meet a child in need of sponsorship and see her face light up when you can provide an educational grant, there is nothing like it.

Some donors become more involved in volunteer work, not only with our organization, but in their own community.

Volunteer work can create more skills, open new opportunities for personal growth or perhaps even direct you in a new direction in life.

Our Fall Appeal

All good programs require cash infusions to keep up the good work. Our organization is no different.

Funds are needed to support our:

  • Educational grant pool
  • Tutors
  • Librarian
  • Utilities
  • The dedicated handful of staff at our educational center.

While many of the students’ parents have helped our center by volunteering time and some funds to defray occasional maintenance costs at the center, we still require upgrades to the electrical wiring in the library and computer center.

 

Corporate Sponsorships

Financial sponsorship is a great way for companies to show their global citizenship with a great return on investment. By helping the Circulo de Amigas Foundation companies can

  • demonstrate their character of giving that shows no boundaries
  • bind their employees through a common cause
  • learn about a new part of the world (high in the coffee country of Central America)

All proceeds are tax deductible.

Although we are a small nonprofit, our programs provided a benefit to 5,000 individuals in a small town in Nicaragua.

Corporate sponsorships can be $1,000, $5,000 or even $10,000 per year or one time only.

This is one of the best returns on investment around!

 

Individual Sponsorship

We have opportunities for individuals as well as companies that may wish to help. We have several girls in elementary school and high school that are in need of educational grants.

  • Grant giving for specific scholarships amounts to roughly $2 per day at the starter level
  • We also have a need to help our tutor fund at levels of $20/month.

For individuals who want to take it a step further and get involved, read on!

 

We Need Volunteers

There is no better satisfaction to helping a nonprofit organization than to roll up your sleeves and do some real physical work. Volunteer work requires creative thinkers, artists, bookkeepers, engineers, and anyone who has a skill that can be extended to a person in need.

Do you have writing skills and want to help with our blog?

Do you have connections to organizations or companies that are looking for tax write-offs?

Do you have teaching or technology skills?

Drop us a line on our website and ask to see how you can help in the US or onsite in Nicaragua.

Without your assistance, our world is deprived of a unique legacy.

However,

With your assistance, our world is a better place.

The many faces of our students in Nicaragua that have been assisted from elementary school through university.  Without sponsorship, most could never graduate.

Circulo de Amigas Foundation

Alleviating Poverty, One Girl at a Time.

www.camigasfoundation.org

 

 

This page was provided free of charge by myScienceBlast, an online platform for educational courses.