About SOL Seeds of Learning is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving educational opportunities in rural Latin America. We work with North Americans and Central Americans to build and equip schools in Nicaragua and El Salvador, educate children and adults, and promote cross cultural understanding. We have a US office in Sonoma, California and field offices in Ciudad Darío, Nicaragua, and San Salvador, El Salvador. Each year, Seeds of Learning sends ten to twelve work groups of volunteers to Central America. These volunteers spend between 7 and 14 days working with communities in Nicaragua or El Salvador. While there, volunteers partner with communities, form relationships, build bridges and explore each others' cultures while erecting or improving a school building.
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Seeds of Learning Newsletter, Spring 2010
Table of Contents
Scholarship Program Grows with New Home in San Salvador and More Students in School SOL university scholarship students in San Salvador moved in to a newly rented SOL home in February. This house, located near the National University, is now the new home for five SOL students studying in the capital city. The students are able to support and mentor one another in an academically supportive environment. SOL also utilizes this house for the new SOL office. The students were excited about this new home and look forward to mentoring new students as they revolve through the program. There are 103 students in Nicaragua and El Salvador studying in elementary, secondary and university levels this year with a SOL scholarship. Each one of these students would likely not be continuing their education today if it were not for the support they are receiving from SOL. In addition to providing the students with the needed school and living costs to afford an education, SOL is providing leadership, mentoring and training to these students. All of them are actively engaged in giving back to their communities and inspiring others as model citizens. SOL's scholarship program not only offers the gift of educational opportunities, but offers encouragement, and helps develops confidence for the marginalized people it serves. Emma del Socorro Emma del Socorro, from Puertas del Cielo, Nicaragua lives in extreme poverty with her family of 8 in a humble rented home made of plastic and sheet metal near the municipal dump. Her parents do not have steady work and leave the home daily to seek work, often shoveling dirt into trucks to make brick. With what little they earn they hardly cover the basic necessities of the home, much less the costs of sending Emma and her siblings to school. Emma loves to spend her time after school at the SOL Learning Resource Center (LRC) playing games and taking advantage of the educational activities offered. When we asked her how she likes the LRC she said, "I do not get bored, I feel free, I'm happy in the learning center. I improved my handwriting and now it is pretty. Rebecca helps tutor me and now I have more friends, they help me put together puzzles and read stories to me and now I can read better stories." She has gained confidence in herself and developed creativity and responsibility this year, taking a lot of pride in her work. We asked her about her dreams for her future and she shared, "My dream is to be the teacher of my little school and teach them numbers and to read. I like funny stories. When I grow up I want a great big house, but not in my neighborhood, because there is a lot of garbage." Her whole family migrated from a rural area of Nicaragua and were very timid acclimating to their new environment in Dario. Her mom and sisters are now attending the SOL sewing classes. Emma's mom shared, "Coming to the activities and meetings I have lost my fear of speaking in public and feel more confident in myself. The help SOL gives Emma is helping all my children. I can see a big change in Emma already. Before when I asked Emma what she wanted to be in the future, she said she would wash and iron clothes to make money, now she says she wants to be a teacher." 
Karla Diaz Karla Diaz, of Ciudad Dario, Nicaragua is studying her 3rd year of Banking and Finance in the University of the North of Nicaragua (UNN) in Matagalpa. She lives with her grandmother, mother and aunt. Her mother earns just enough for the family to put food on the table by washing and ironing clothes by hand for other people. Her grandmother is disabled and her aunt suffers from eye, feet and back injuries after an accident she had and is unable to work. Karla is a young woman without a father who lives in a modest house that the local municipality donated in a housing project many years ago. Karla hopes to make a career in a professional in her field, hoping to be able to earn enough money to help pay for the medical needs of her family and to relieve her aging mother of the pressure to work so much. "My aunt was a great support in my life, but she had a freak accident and is paralyzed now, but I thank God I can count on Seeds of Learning, at the most opportune moment of my life. Just when I felt alone and without any help to continue my education this great opportunity came that I am taking advantage of to the fullest and am always grateful for. After graduation from high school I had no idea what to do with my life. I imagined a boring life, without being able to study or work, for the lack of jobs. Since having this opportunity to study my life has changed, I feel security and purpose in my life." She has gained a lot of confidence and overcome shyness in working on her social service project at the SOL Learning Center. She now speaks with great confidence and elaborates activities creatively and expressively with the youth. 
Will Alfredo Calderon Will is passionate about learning and about expanding his world. He still works as a farmer on the weekends helping his family tend to the crops. While he comes from agricultural and very modest humble beginnings, he is eager to discover what life has to offer outside of his rural upbringing. He is a philosopher at heart, always eager to discuss the deeper questions of life. Will is studying English after briefly pursuing a philosophy degree at the National University. He and SOL colleague Jose have become close friends as they come from the same community and are now both studying English. Will has dreams of using his English to one day be a teacher at his home elementary school. He likes to find connections in people and cultures alike. He loves soccer and helps in his home community to teach younger kids soccer and serves a role model to them for the playful yet disciplined life he has lead. "I wake up every morning thankful for the life that has been given to me and eager to take advantage of the opportunities that I have. To be studying in the university today is a dream come true and one that I do not take for granted. I try to learn from every moment, from every experience. To those who have been so gracious to extend some of their concern for others, in the form of the gift of education, I am greatly thankful. I thank Seeds of Learning for blessing me with this opportunity that has opened up my life to so much more. I hope I can give back to others in the same way that SOL has given so much graciously to me." By Ena Sokney A Life Changing Experience for an International Sonoma Teen - Ena Sokney Ena Sokney is a student at Sonoma Valley High School. Her family is from Cambodia. Last summer, with the help of Seeds of Learning, the Matt Schekel Memorial Scholarship from SOL, the Valley of the Moon Teen Center, and the Outreach Committee of the First Congregational Church of Sonoma, she went to El Salvador to help build a school. It was a community wide fundraising effort, and to help raise the funds for her to go, her family cooked Cambodian food, and sold it after church at the FCC church, she sent letters out, and the three organizations and the community came together to make it a reality. Please read below how the trip affected Ena. The beginning of Seeds of Learning is an inspiring story created to help others in need without expecting anything in return. Seeds of Learning provide the Salvadorian people with the tools to help themselves and also strongly advocates volunteers to travel to the working sites. I chose the Seeds of Learning project because I wanted to help others, build character, travel to a different country, and learn about other unique customs and culture. Education has always been an interest of mine because I have seen first hand how the lack of education affects a person throughout their lives. I want to help kids who do not have the same opportunities as I do at a higher education because if my family was in the same position I would want someone to lend a hand and help out. My parents has had a difficult life growing up in poverty during the Cambodian civil war which had deprived them of a proper education. Both my parents are not high school graduates and they struggle everyday to support our family. 
Because I am Cambodian, I was once asked why I didn't choose a project that traveled to Cambodia to help other Cambodians. The thought never even occurred to me before because I feel that helping other kids get an education was rewarding enough. To me a person's nationality or race doesn't matter when it comes to helping others because everyone is suffering. I feel that everyone's suffering should be equally recognized. I sought to build my character by over coming my fears. I wanted to challenge myself by doing something I wouldn't normally do. For example traveling alone to a different country with people that I had only met three or four times before or by speaking publicly about my trip experience. All very difficult things for me but I wanted to grow as a person by stepping outside my comfort zone. When I see the smiling faces of the kids, upon our arrival it makes me want to work harder to help build a school that allows them to reach their goals through education. I believe that everyone deserves an education to be able to strive to reach their goals. Although the group was a small group of six adults and five teens, the amount of effort put into building schools in El Salvador was equal to that of a group of twenty. I was lucky enough to have the most compassionate, kind hearted and patient people in my group. I remember thinking during one of our pre-departure meetings that I too wished to be like these incredible people. Every time they talked about their trips to El Salvador or Nicaragua, you could tell by the passion in their voice that they are committed and love what they are doing. They taught me the true meaning of selflessness. Traveling to El Salvador I have received a lot more good from the trip than I thought I would. From this experience I have gained more self confidence in myself, a difference perspective on life, and amazing friends. I feel as if this experience has helped me open up a little more to people and be more outgoing. It has showed me the sanctity of life and that life is not only about work and your next destination. I have discovered many incredible people who make me marvel at their kindness and selflessness. Before the trip I didn't completely understand the need of sending volunteers to help build schools in El Salvador. I imagined that employing the people living in El Salvador would make more sense because this would created more jobs and would provide better wages. After traveling to El Salvador I have come to understand that the volunteer portion of the program is just as important to the Salvadorian community as it is to the volunteers. The volunteers not only demonstrate to the people that we truly care by directly contributing to the constructions of the schools. Volunteers can connect with the community despite the language barrier and motivate the children to do better in school. Many of the group members have been multiple times to El Salvador or Nicaragua. They would often tell the group stories of the many years they have been with Seeds of Learning. How they have met certain children when they were young and later became a Seeds of Learning scholarship students. My personal favorite story was of Tito and his brother, who we were able to meet in person. They came from a refuge camp with a slim chance of receiving a decent education. Tito over came his hardships and was awarded a Seeds of Learning scholarship for his academic achievements. His older brother however didn't receive a scholarship because of the competitive nature and number of scholarships being awarded. After discovering that his brother didn't get a scholarship Tito decided that he was going to share his scholarship with his brother. Seeds of Learning supported them until they finished their university education. Tito is now the youngest director of San Salvador Theater and his brother is head of a police department. From this story I have come to see the immense impact that the Seeds of Learning program has because it is not just an impersonal money donation. Instead of giving handouts Seeds of Learning provides the tools for the Salvadorian people to help themselves by pursuing their education. Seeds of Learning is based on charity but the project itself is more than just about the money, it's about humanity. It is about people helping another person whom they don't even know out of the kindness of their hearts. I learned that even when our own problems seem to be immense there is always some way to help others whether it's volunteering time or physical labor. I hope to one day return to El Salvador to visit all the new friends I have made there and doing it all over again. Upon my return I made a goal to strive to be like those who are involved in the Seeds of Learning project and be more involved with my community. I am grateful to be apart of a project that has affected so many lives throughout its course. I want to put forth my efforts to making another person's life better because of my involvement. It is hard to put my emotions into words but my experiences with Seeds of Learning program was the most rewarding and heart felt experience. By James Hall 
Last New Year's Eve I looked back on everything I had done in 2009 and what surprised and saddened me was how quickly the year had passed by, and how few projects I had undertaken which really spoke to my heart. If you're not careful, it's easy to get wrapped up in routines, and to keep doing what works without pushing your limits, and so I made a vow to myself that in 2010 I would seek out projects that inspired and excited me. I left the month of February open and contacted friends and family via Facebook, asking them if they knew of any great organizations I could work with in Central America. One of them messaged me back and put me in touch with Seeds of Learning. What impressed me the most about my time working with them in Ciudad Dario was how much passion and love they have for what they are doing. Being around people who have realized their purpose, who have found their mission and are pursuing it with everything they've got is contagious. They wake early in the morning and usually don't leave till long after the sun's gone down. The surprising beauty of SOL was that in the midst of this intensity was an abundance of joy- laughter, compassion, conversation. And I think this is why so many children line up outside the door before the LRC opens each morning- because it is a loving community, a place where they are listened to, supported, and taught to see that your present resources should never limit your future dreams. Even after spending just a few days there, I too felt inspired and included in this family. I plan on having a long-term relationship with Seeds of Learning- I want to help tell these stories, to share how their program is transforming people's lives, giving them hope and a new confidence in their future. I can't wait to share what I've captured with everyone, and am headed back this summer to continue documenting this work. By Annie Bacon, Executive Director 
Rose Mary Schmidt is one of those volunteers, who several times throughout the year, I am eternally grateful that she has chosen to focus so much of her energy on Seeds of Learning. For the past five years, she has taken part, and in the last few years, taken the lead on coordinating Seeds of Learning's annual fundraising event and projects. During Rose Mary's first trip to Central America with Seeds of Learning, after a long day of mixing concrete to pour a floor in a rural community outside of Ciudad Dario, Nicaragua, in an evening reflection meeting, Rose Mary said to the rest of the group: "You know, we all just worked hard today to help build that school, but those young children, grandmas, and adults alike are there every day building a school for their kids, we should all commit to doing more." As she reflected and discussed the impact of seeing the lack of and definite need for schools in the areas we visited, as well as how talking with students who wanted nothing more than the chance to continue studying, impacted her, she rallied fellow volunteer work group members to each raise $10,000 for the organization. And, upon returning, from Nicaragua, less than six months later, Rose Mary organized one of our most successful annual fundraisers to date. From the dinner, to the silent and live auction lots, raffle, and the sold out house, it was a smashing success. She more than raised her $10,000. But she also followed up with the others who sat there that afternoon, in the hot Nicaraguan sun, and who had made that same commitment. Through here efforts, we received another $10,000 donation, as well as additional funds, and volunteer efforts from the others in her group. Through her close relationships, and respect in the community as well as unwavering generosity, enthusiasm and belief in the organization, she successfully solicited wine donations, procured sponsorships, interested key players in the community to attend the event, brought in well-known chefs, and more. 
And each summer, she puts on her work boots, and continues to volunteer to mix concrete, lay bricks, and help build schools each with Seeds of Learning. When she's not in Nicaragua or El Salvador shoveling cement, she is out in the community, talking to store owners, individuals, community members, and tourists alike about Seeds of Learning. She solicits most of the wineries in the area to give to our October annual fundraiser event, and is rarely refused. While I believe that the people Rose Mary solicits donations from give to Seeds of Learning because it is a worthy mission, I am convinced that they give mostly because it's her enthusiasm, genuine interest, and passionate attitude about helping others that inspires them to give. And Seeds of Learning is not her only nonprofit organization that she supports AND runs the fundraiser for. The Sonoma Developmental Center Parent Hospital Association also benefited by Rose Mary's superb leadership, enthusiasm, organization, and volunteerism. For a number of years, she was in charge of many aspects of that event as well, and helped to bring in thousands of dollars. She is also involved with helping to found, and now fundraise for the Sebastiani Theatre Foundation. Rose Mary not only has the enthusiasm, passion, and commitment to the nonprofits that she serves, but she demonstrates it by example. Instead of talking about the importance of supporting school building projects in Central America, and why someone should support them, she goes to Nicaragua and El Salvador herself, shovels trenches to build the foundation, ties rebar, plays jump rope, and lives with the people who she is benefiting. From teenagers, to elderly people, she inspires. Rose Mary was also awarded an annual Pulse Award from the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation, which honors Valley women who have made significant contributions to their community through community service. Read more here! SOL would like to highlight those special volunteers who go above and beyond for our organization. We are looking to write about volunteers who: have a passion for SOL's work, have volunteered or are in the process of volunteering to further SOL's mission, and have or are inspiring others to support SOL's work as well. If you are one of those people or know of someone who you'd like to recommend, please email us at info@seedsoflearning.org.
Community Members and International Volunteers will Build 8 New Classrooms this Year 
In April SOL will break ground on a three-classroom school in Agua Fria, 45 minutes from Dario. The new school will be constructed with the help of five volunteer groups from the US. The community relocated to its current site after being pushed off of their old land in 1998 from the damage of Hurricane Mitch. About 50 students continue to walk a difficult path to attend classes at the old and unsafe school site a few kilometers from where they now live. For more photos click here: Agua Fria. North of Dario, outside of San Ramon, Matagalpa, SOL will also begin to build a new school in the community of Santa Isabel. Four US volunteer groups will help with this 2-classroom project that is located on a large coffee farm. The community currently hosts school for preschool through 6th grade with 2 teachers in a single room dilapidated wooden structure with a dirt floor and no electricity. For more photos, click here: Las Marias (Santa Isabel School). In Utalco, El Salvador a 3 classroom new school project began in March with the help of a volunteer group from Jesuit High School of Portland, OR. Four more groups from the US and Canada will help to finish the school this summer. The existing school of 125 students and three substandard classrooms is built with mud, bamboo, rocks and plastic. Volunteers will stay in Suchitoto and work with community members from Utalco. For more photos, click here: Utalco. At the end of 2010 SOL will have built or remodeled 122 classrooms in Nicaragua and El Salvador. All of these communities are grateful for the support that SOL is giving to help bring a dignified learning space to their communities. Additionally these communities appreciate and value the friendship and solidarity of the volunteer workgroups that work alongside them to make these dreams a reality. They know and remember that SOL and it supporters care about them as human beings and the rights that they and their children have for a good education. El Blandon, Nicaragua, School completed - SOL inaugurates El Blandon School with Community Members on April 17, 2010 
The school of El Blandon in Nicaragua serves students from five of the surrounding and growing neighborhoods just outside of the city of Dario. The overcrowded school of 205 students was using the broken bathroom structure in addition to the 3 classrooms accommodate the children. In November 2009, SOL began the 2-classroom project with a volunteer group from the First Congregational Church of Sonoma. Later, in February, students and teachers from El Molino High School worked with community members on the school. The community was highly organized and generous with donated labor and materials and completed the school in March this year. SOL also welcomed volunteers from Pencils of Promise, including PoP founder Adam Braun who worked on the school, and Pencils of Promise raised $10,000 for the school construction. This was the first school that SOL partnered with Pencils of Promise on, and we look forward to partnersing with volunteers on the Agua Fria, Santa Isabel and future schools. Among donations for this school, SOL and PoP would like to thank The Wiggins Family, The Sorensen Family, Van Biesen Family, Taitz Family and Larry Petretti. For more photos of Blandon, go here: Bo. San Jose - El Blandon (El Molino Group Feb 2010) By Daniel Plies, Program Director 
SOL construction project ignites other inspirations in the community of Las Trincheras The community of Las Trincheras sits in a fertile valley at the base of the nearby volcanoes in the department of Sonsonate, El Salvador. The community has grown quickly, but with little outside resources to support them. Being located on the border of 2 municipalities, the community has been ignored by and never offered resources or services from the local government on both sides. In 2009 SOL volunteers helped this marginalized community build 2 new classrooms and a school kitchen. This additional infrastructure has resulted in a student enrollment increase from 210 to 400! The 1-6th grade school is now able to offer a 7th grade. 
The mothers of the students volunteer to prepare food for the children in the school. They are delighted to be able to cook collectively in a clean structure. Before the new kitchen was finished they would cook at home and haul the heavy pots of food to the school. With the help and encouragement of Sofia Baires, SOL's El Salvador Coordinator, the community has initiated a school garden that is managed by the kids and parents of the school. They are growing onions, cilantro, tomatoes, and other produce to use in the daily meals. The children help to maintain the garden and the parents have come together to focus on this community led project. The school construction project was one of the first projects that unified the community. The men and women learned in this process the impact of working together and have now replicated this model of community organization to initiate the school garden project. Sixty-eight old volunteer Victor Manuel, who is the grandfather of over 50 kids, said, "This school project has been such a success. We have brought the community together over this common cause as we all know that the hope for the future depends on the good education of our kids." SOL's impact has not only given a more dignified place for more students to learn, but has enabled children to eat healthier food, helped to organize and unify a community, and has given one additional grade to the school. SOL Partners with Five New Organizations to Increase Access to Education, Work and Collaborate with Others, and Strengthen Impact SOL is very pleased to announce and celebrate partnerships with the following organizations: Pencils of Promise (pencilsofpromise.org) to construct and send volunteers to build three schools in Nicaragua, including: El Blandon, Agua Fria (preschool), and Santa Isabel. Power to the People (powertothepeople.org) to install solar energy on a SOL constructed school in Nicaragua. SunPower Foundation (sunpower.org) to provide solar energy and education to a SOL constructed school in Nicaragua. Walking The World (walkingtheworld.com) to fundraise for a two-classroom school in Agua Fria, Nicaragua. One Dollar For Life (odfl.org) to help construct and fundraise for the costs of building schools in San Martin, Nicaragua, Santa Isabel, and Utalco, El Salvador. 
Children's Book and Beautiful Note cards for Sale Sonoma author Sara Donnelly and illustrator Sally Carnahan Lewis have created a heartwarming, bilingual children's story. Esperanza and the New School; Esperanza y la Nueva Escuela grew out of Donnelly's years of service in Seeds of Learning. Esperanza depicts this experience as seen through the eyes of one little girl. This story of SOL would be a perfect gift for your children, grandchildren, anyone trying to learn Spanish, your local school, or library. All proceeds from the sale of each book are generously donated to Seeds of Learning to support our programs of education. Each book is $15. Buy 5 or more copies, $12 each! Prices include handling and mailing costs. Purchase Note cards - Each card is one of 19 beautiful illustrations from the bilingual children's book, Esperanza and the New School / Esperanza y la Escuela Nueva (2009). The story, inspired by the educational mission of Seeds of Learning in Nicaragua and El Salvador, tells how a little girl's life is transformed by the creation of a school in her village. Each packet contains 6 cards, and is $10 per packet. Books and postcards are both available at the SOL Online Store! Nicaragua (Ciudad Dario)
The cost for participating in a group is $1300 (if paid by due date) per person plus round trip international airfare. All groups are subject to cancellation or change. Minimum group size is 10 people. Please call for details and availability, (707) 939-0471 before applying. With some exceptions, most groups leave the night of the departure date listed. SOL would like to sincerely thank and appreciate each and every person who made a financial and volunteer contribution to support its programs in 2009. With the support of hundreds of individuals, we were able to offer outstanding programs to thousands of people. Below are the financial contributions made to SOL in the 2009 year. In addition, thousands of volunteer hours in the US, Canada, Nicaragua, and El Salvador were given.
Seeds of Learning's Annual Report for 2009 is available here. [pdf] |
© Seeds of Learning 2010