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PROJECTS
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Working with fneUM gives you immense opportunities as a leader. You will be have the opportunity to create and develop unique after-school enrichment programs for the students. There have been many instances of community development projects that have been spearheaded and implemented by fneUM volunteers. For example, the 2008, our delegation transplanted and distributed over 3000 tomato, radish, and hibiscus plants to 300 families in Barrio Camilo Ortega. U of M students were responsible for maintaining a garden and used it to educate the school children about scientific, environmental, and nutritional topics.
In a more recent example, the 2011 U of M delegation helped erect a fence around a local preschool. Due to increased traffic on the newly paved road adjacent to the school, the community members were concerned for the safety of children playing around the building. The fence was set up by a group of volunteers during their time on the trip.
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Then the 2017 U of M delegation helped paint a Mural in the Richard Streb Memorial Library to help liven up this community space and to renew public interest in the after school activities for children offered there and in the classes for children and adults in Math, and English.
fneUM remains open and flexible to the needs of the people and continues to seek out and develop projects that improve the community and their everyday lives.
HEALTH
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FNE has a clinic that provides basic medicines to the community that runs all year long. As volunteers, working in the clinic is an option, as well as educating the community through public health talks.
Many community members attend each workshop and a group of dedicated individuals are committed to sustaining them throughout the year. Through both the clinic and health presentations, we hope that our efforts provide not only valuable health care but also teach community members to improve their every day health, nutrition, and hygiene.
Our fundraising provides valuable support for American and Nicaraguan doctors and nurses, a variety of medical supplies, and a stock of medication. Services ranged from general check-ups to pediatric care to gynecological services, provided for the community free of charge. The clinic also contains a small pharmacy to provide medications. Delegation members help with many administrative tasks, including preparing patient files, taking simple biometrics, checking in and directing patients, and assisting at the pharmacy.
Over the course of the trip, groups of FNE students work with Nicaraguan professionals and community members in the facilitation of workshops addressing local health issues. Topics included water treatment and conservation, women's health, sexually transmitted diseases, nutrition, and natural medicine. The projects funded by FNE are some of the only sources of health services that are available to the neighborhood.
DREAMERS​
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Teach english to a variety of skill levels. Practice your spansh as well! In addition to lessons, we like to have a little fun with our after school program, inviting students to come play games and start projects, like mural painting!
BIOINTENSIVE FARMING
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The soil in Nicaragua is often void
of many nutrients, minerals, and
water required for quality farming,
especially for items like vegetables. A
new method has proven successful to revitilize the soil, and we would like to bring it to Chacraseca. It is a simple method of “double-digging” the soil and adding natural compost. This year, our delegation will teach the community and the Dreamers class described below this simple method so that they can help grow the soil to be rich with nutrients. This allow the community to farm vegetables and other healthful foods. Check out http://bionica.org/ for more information!
RICHARD STREB MEMORIAL LIBRARY
This sustainable, solar-powered public library in the community of Chacraseca, Nicaragua. The library serves a critical role in the development of educational services in the community. Serving the needs of both children and adults, the tools and skills learned will enable many to break the cycle of poverty.