Community Projects
COMMUNITY BATHROOMS PROJECT: Escuela Mercedes Mondragon Located past the southern edge of the Market, the Mercedes Mondragon school which serves roughly 1000 students is in a neighbor often overlooked by visitors.The inadequate bathroom situation came to our attention when "Si Quieres, Pueden Reir" – a three person project spearheaded by a Casa Xalteva's Juan Carlos and Jose Andres and former student/volunteer Kathryn Moncour – went to assess school supplies. There were only 2 bathrooms. That is, 1 bathroom for teachers and for students. Neither flushed.
The project work included building an underground septic tank, constructing 3 new bathrooms and 1 urinal, replacing actual toilets, adding two sinks, and placing 50 meters of underground water pipe to supply the bathrooms.
"Si Quieres" funded the project and Casa Xalteva contracted the construction team and provided volunteers.
Visit the "Si Quieres, Pueden Reir" Project page http://www.puedenreir.blogspot.com/
In 1997 a class of University of New Mexico students met with a grassroots women's organization that was raising funds to build low cost housing for families of maquiladora factory workers. The students were so inspired that they returned to the U.S. and raised more than $16,000 in a few weeks to purchase a piece of land for construction of 50 houses. The land has been purchased and with the help of Spanish foundation, construction on the first houses and on a day care center has begun.
SPORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN
Casa Xalteva has fully organized and run sport events and leagues for children. Little League baseball 2009 in Granada was a great success. Granada representation in Little League went on to win nationals and to represent Nicaragua in the Latin American eliminations where the team made it to semi finals. Currently, September 2009, our first basketball league for children is undergoing with 7 teams from different communities (Barrios) in Granada. Casa Xalteva chess team placed second and third in an under-14 chess tournament in Granada. Casa Xalteva children had just been playing chess for about 6 months when they placed 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the tournament. We still can use all the support anyone can offer, especially in coaching Granada children teams.
PEACE PALS PROJECTCasa Xalteva staff and volunteers are participating in Peace Pals, an international program that links up Nicaraguan and U.S. school children. Currently kids in our day care program and students from some rural schools outside of Granada are linked with two schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and are exchanging letters about themselves and their lives.
learn about our Green Initiatives ->