santa rosa fund newsletter no. 41 july 2013

8/10/2019 Santa Rosa Fund Newsletter No. 41 July 2013

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SRF Newsletter No.41, June/July 2013, page 1

SRF NEWSRegistered Charity No. 1028085 I ssue 41, June/July 2013

Supporting educational initiatives and projects in Nicaragua

www.santarosafund.org

Committed volunteering, flightlesstravel and reporting back to SRF

supportersJames Watson (below) was one of the Santa Rosa Funds 2007 volunteers who spent a month at the

Santa Rosa School in Managua to begin the process of training members of staff in how to use the

computers that had been provided by the British Embassy and the SRF. In November 2012, James

embarked upon an epic return journey to Central America. We describe it as epic because Jamesundertook not to fly during his travels. He has made regular inputs to a blog of his activities, and

this can be followed athttp://www.enca.org.uk/flightlesstravel.htmwhich is a site hosted by ENCA,

the Environmental Network for Central America. His blog entries make fascinating reading, but he

also sent various reports of his visits to SRF-supported projects, and we reproduce his latest report

as our main story here.

James with teachers at the Santa Rosa School
http://www.enca.org.uk/flightlesstravel.htmhttp://www.enca.org.uk/flightlesstravel.htmhttp://www.enca.org.uk/flightlesstravel.htmhttp://www.enca.org.uk/flightlesstravel.htm


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Mayra Caldern at one of theschools computers

By James Watson

For several years now one of the key benefitsthat Colegio Santa Rosa in Managua hasreceived from its connection with the SantaRosa Fund has been increased access tocomputer resources. In 2007 I was lucky enoughto be a part of some of the early stages of this

process, when I volunteered as part of a smallgroup giving classes to the teachers on the

basics of how to use some of the originalcomputers the SRF helped the school get. InJanuary this year I was in Nicaragua again, and

jumped at the opportunity to revisit the schooland deliver an SRF payment. While there I sawhow their computer lab see photo has

developed, and the role and importance theircomputers have assumed. It was a pleasure tosee the teachers again, and they were extremelywelcoming and eager to show me some of theother recent developments made possible by theSRF, and some of their ideas for the future.

I was in Nicaragua from November 2012 toMarch 2013 volunteering with a health clinic inthe north of the country. While there, I made aweekend trip to Managua to deliver to theschool US$1,960 on behalf of the SRF. $750 ofthis was for the SRF's general school fund,

US$360 consisted of 12 months' worth of staffbonuses to the two staff members who managethe school's computers, US$700 for the year'scomputer maintenance expenses, and an extraUS$150 for the purchase of a new mobileinternet donglesee later for explanationandcontract to increase the school's access to theinternet.

The school was in the long Christmas holidayswhen I visited, its students studying for

imminent exams, so I didn't see much of theclasses. However, in the two days I was there I

was shown around by several of the teachers Ihad known back in 2007, in particular MayraCaldern, now one of the main computerteachers, Subdirectors Marcia and Claudia, andDirector Maria Elizabeth.

When I was in Managua in 2007 the city wasstill suffering frequent long power cuts due to ashortage of power generation. Although theschool had recently received computers fromthe Fund, we were never able to use them in themonth we visited as the power was always out.This had been cut off by Union Fenosa thetransnational supplying much of the countryinan attempt to blackmail the government intoallowing it to raise its prices. Revisiting in 2013,

the Sandinista government has overcome thisattempt to hold the country hostage, and theschool has come leaps and bounds in theexpansion of their computer resources and howthey use them. They have a very smart littleroom in the central building of the schooldedicated to the computers, and with the help ofthe SRF have gradually filled this room up withequipment. As well as a couple of printers andother extra pieces, they now have 5 computersset up in the room. Mayra Caldern showed me

the most recent, just bought new with SRFsupport, a fast and up-to-date machine that anyschool in the UK would be proud of.

Having a couple of staff members paid todedicate extra time to the computers and theirmaintenance is probably a big part of thisintegration and development of the school to theuse of computers. Mayra one of the two staffreceiving an extra salary bonus from the SRF towork with the machines showed me some of

the programmes they are using and want to use


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Sub-directora Claudia in the library

on the new computer. It was clear she knew herstuff, and was an important part of passing thisknowledge on to the other teachers and the

pupils. She showed me a programme they'vebeen using with younger children combiningwriting, typing and computer drawing anddesign skills, and I copied across to theirmachines the free alternative to expensiveMicrosoft Office packages, Open Office, for

them to try out.

Another new addition to the computer room thatMayra was keen to show me was the airconditioning unit recently funded by the SRF.The unit must be a welcome relief for her andthe other people working in the compact spaceof the computer lab, with all its machinery and

the muggy Nicaraguan climate.

Outside of the computer room, SubdirectorsClaudia and Marcia, both of whom I'd worked alot with in 2007, also showed me around the restof the school. Marcia showed me the bigoutdoor washbasins provided with SRF moneyin 2010, impressive tiled constructions built toreduce crowding in the toilet areas. Despitevarious signs and warnings not to, Marcia see

photo showed me that they were also beingused to sit on, unfortunately sustaining someearly damage where tiles had fallen off as aresult.

Claudia showed me recently bought SRFfootball nets and other equipment to increase theoutdoor sports available to the students, and theimpressive library space that I rememberedfrom 2007. As well as shelves that the SRF hadenabled them to buy to maintain their stocks of

books, she showed me the new outer wall paidfor with SRF money to maintain the old

building. The school had asked the governmentto make the repairs to the library but they

responded that they didn't have the budget.However, Claudia told me that with the initial

investment from the SRF, the government hadbeen willing to further the repairs by paying toreplace the roof as well. The library still isn't upto the standard the school would like though,and Claudia suggested they were going torequest some of the next available funds fromthe SRF to go into it again. She showed me thatthey want to replace another section of the

building's walls that is still crumbling, andvarious tables and chairs that are damaged andthat they have found too big to use in the spaceof the library.

One part of the money I delivered for the SRFwas to be used to buy a new dongle a devicethat plugs into the USB of any computer andconnects it to the internet over the same networkas mobile phones use and to pay for thecontract to activate this connection. Mayra wasalready looking at the different internet

packages available when I arrived at the school.In Nicaragua, as in many developing countries,

Marcia showing the wash basins

Mayra pointing out the air conditioningsystem bought by the SRF


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James in 2007 being taught salsa byGabriela, a former pupil at the Santa Rosa

School who went on to represent Nicaraguain the national dance troupe

the physical wiring to provide a fast internet isgenerally not available, and mobile internettechnology appears to be a very popularalternative that is over-taking fixed internet. Imyself had already bought a Nicaraguan pay-as-you go internet dongle that had been serving mevery well in the North of the country, workingin the disconnected clinic and even in therelatively remote colonia where I was staying. Ihad found that with this internet connection Icould use all the resources of the internet to helpthe work of the clinic without having to leave itto go to an internet cafe, making me a lot more

productive in my time there.

Just as the Colegio Santa Rosa demonstrated tome its own rapid leap over the last 5 years into

successful, intelligent and efficient use ofcomputers, in Nicaragua as a whole computersare becoming more and more widespread andimportant. In the relatively rural area of El Viejowhere I was staying, personal computers arestill a rarity, but more and more people areaspiring to own their own. Computers areincreasingly becoming not just a benefit but anecessity to businesses and organisations, asthey have been in England for many years now.Easier and cheaper access to the internet as

provided by mobile internet dongles isexpanding this process further, adding the arrayof tools available on the internet to the benefitof computer access.

As computers become more and more commonboth at work and at home, the Nicaraguans Imet are increasingly seeing the importance of aneducation in computer skills. Unemploymentlevels in Nicaragua are depressingly high, andfor people hoping to be able to find a good job

especially in urban areas a lack of computerabilities is a real barrier. Similarly, businessesand social organisations struggling to maintainthemselves with the shortage of resources in

Nicaragua also find themselves held back by alack of knowledge of how to get the best out ofcomputers. In El Viejo I ran into this awarenessso much that as part of my volunteer work Idecided to run classes on computer skills for

people working in local unions and health careinstitutions.

The development of the Colegio Santa Rosa'scomputer resources and their skills using themis thus particularly valuable at the moment.With the stark lack of resources available tostate education in Nicaragua, the relativelycostly investments required for computerresources makes it an extremely worthwhile

place for outside donors such as the Santa RosaFund to focus their money. The new computersand trained and committed staff will be anincreasingly important boon for the students asknowledge of computers becomes more andmore expected of school-leavers. Particularlyimportant the new expansion of the school'sinternet access will allow more of its students tomake the leap into the staggering growth ofinternational social networks, the expanding

array of cheap tools, and near-infinite sources ofinformation that the internet now represents.

I am still in Central America at the moment, andhoping to return to the school one last time

before I leave to return to the UK. As well asseeing the successes they've had with theircomputer lab, it was great just spending a bit oftime with the very friendly and committed staffthere, who welcomed me back with open arms.Aside everything else, I had the opportunity to

go out with them and enjoy the atmosphere ofthe newly developed Malecon and PuertoAllende, the gaudy face of the Sandinistasefforts to develop their capital. More than

anything, I'm hoping to have another chance topractice my dancing skills in the heart of theircity!


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Performers Without Borders

In March this year, Liz Light, the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaigns woman in Managua, arranged forPerformers Without BordersNicaragua Troupe to entertain students at the Colegio Santa Rosa, the Santa

Rosa Funds twin school.

Rob, Emily, Bags, Jake, Jess, Moira and JL kept the kids raptured with hula hooptricks, juggling, slackrope walking, bench balancing, cristal ball manipulation,and more. The performers all hail from the UK and are self-funded volunteers forthe UK charity Performers Without Borders (PWB). They were in Nicaragua for3 months participating in festivals, entertaining in schools, and runningworkshops with different childrens projects. They have been working with theEscuela de Comedia y Mimo in Granada, CEINBA (Barrilete Integral Education

Centre Association) in Len and with Los Quinchos in San Marcos, as well astaking the time out to perform at schools in Managua that are supported by theIslington Managua Friendship Association and the SRF.

PWB is a volunteer run charity that believes in the transformative power of learning and performing the arts.It aims to help vulnerable children explore their potential by teaching them performance skills which will

develop their capacity for learning, creativity and team work, as well ashelping to build confidence, develop empowerment and overcome social

barriers. The charity PWB has existed for about five years but this was theirfirst sojourn to Central America and they hope it will not be their last. So dowe!

A few members of the troupe are fromtowns that have twinning links with

Nicaragua. Jake is from Swindon linkedwith Ocotal and Bags is from Bristollinked with Puerto Morazan. The rest ofthe crew are Rob from the ScottishHighlands, Emily and Tom fromBrighton, Jess from London, Moira fromEdinburgh and JL from Northern Ireland.

For further information on their good work, visit their websitewww.performerswithoutborders.org.uk

VOLUNTEERING ND INFORM TION EVENING FOR

SRF SUPPORTERS ND POTENTI L VOLUNTEERS

Friday 25th

October 2013 Tavistock Town HallThe Rundle Room

Mexican food / Film clips of volunteering in Nicaragua / Project updates / The opportunity to chat withformer volunteers

Tea, coffee, cake. The Town Hall bar will be open.

We are hoping that James will be present at the event, along with many other former volunteers to chatwith supporters and future potential volunteers about the work of the Santa Rosa Fund and the possibilitiesfor volunteering.
http://www.performerswithoutborders.org.uk/http://www.performerswithoutborders.org.uk/http://www.performerswithoutborders.org.uk/http://www.performerswithoutborders.org.uk/


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Two farewells

We say farewell and many thanks for all their work for the Santa Rosa Fund to two people who have been

really helpful to the Fund over the past few years, Nicaraguan William Vargas Daz and Canadian Bruce

Callow.

William Vargas DazIn 2008, the Berriz Sisters appointed William Vargas Daz to the post ofDirector of the Recreation Centre in El Viejo and he has done a wonderful jobof organising events and activities there. The place exudes organisation,energy, enthusiasm and creativity, and many developments have taken place inthe Centre during Williams management. These have been reported in the

SRF Newsletters. The Berriz Sisters used some of the SRFs annual donation

to their work to pay Williams salary, and each year William has sent us

detailed reports of the work of the Centre. The latest reports for 2012 are on theSRF website, and we urge all our supporters to pay a visit to them even though

they remain in Spanish as we have not had the time to translate them yet. Theyare worth visiting as they are full of photos which give a good idea of the valuable work done by the ElViejo Recreation Centre.

William has left to ply his creative and organisational skills elsewhere in Nicaragua, and he recently becamea very proud father for the first time. The Fund thanks William for all the work that he has successfullycompleted in his five years in El Viejo and we send him and his family very best wishes for the future.

Bruce Callow

Bruce Callow is a singer/songwriter but has workedas political and communications officer in the BritishEmbassy in Costa Rica for the last 9 years withspecial responsibility for Nicaragua. He has assistedthe Santa Rosa Fund, and more importantly the SantaRosa School in several of our projects, especially thedelivery of the computers to the school. It was Brucewho suggested that the school could have use of theEmbassys computers when they were being

decommissioned from the Embassy. The computers were very gratefully received, but sadly we nevergained any state secrets from them. Bruce initiated numerous other development projects in Nicaragua,

including improving prison conditions on the Atlantic coast. The projects he worked on were alwaysdesigned to improve the lives of the poorest and most marginalised in Nicaragua. His strong bond with theregion of Central America highlighted his two great commitments to social justice and inexpensive beer.

Bruce said: After nine satisfying years here at the UK embassy I have resigned to take on new challenges.This will include a 3 month work stint up in Canada. My last day here at the office is in May. [To the Santa

Rosa Fund:] I have enjoyed our collaborations over the years; thanks for all you do to make things a bitbetter in Nicaragua. It is typical of Bruce that his three month work stint in Canada means working atCalgarys biggest drop-in centre for homeless people.

You can read more about Bruce and listen to his music on: https://www.outboundmusic.com/brucecallow/


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Seventeen in Aberdeen

The Troofa bout the Garra Rufa

Zennorphobe

The seat by the toilet

I'm not Joe BrownNo Turners at the Turner

Like, literally awesome

When I'm 68

SRF Monies transferred to Nicaragua in January this year

To the Colegio Santa Rosain US dollars ($)total = $3,460: $1,500 for the monthly purchases of educational materials $750 to the General School Fund $360 paid as monthly bonuses to two members of staff to take charge of computing in the school $700 to cover the running costs of computing at the school $150 to purchase a new donglesee James account

To the Berriz Sisters in El Viejototal = $8,000:

$1,000 to cover the costs of the education of the children in the village of Los Pocitos $7,000 for the many educational projects run by the Sisters

To the Asociacin Quincho Barrilete (street children project): $500

The total transferred at the beginning of 2013 was therefore US$11,960.

[The Fund also donated 200 each to two other Nicaraguan educational causes, The Little Cob and Los Quinchos.]

Since our last newsletter we have had two fund-raising events, reported below.

Entertainment Evening, November 2012

Rob Barratt and Gadjo Guitares performed in Whitchurch Village Hall, Devon, for the benefit of the SantaRosa Fund. Rob has been a long-time supporter of the Santa Rosa Fund. He is a comic poet and singer andfor us he performed the poems shown in the box. You can find more details of his poems and songs atwww.robbarratt.co.uk

Gadjo Guitares (left) have performed forus before and gave another top class

performance of acoustic, flamenco, gipsyand jazz guitar. More details of their workcan be found atwww.myspace.com/gadjoguitares

64 people were there and the Fund made aprofit of 369.70 on the evening. We are very grateful to all who helped on thenight and all who made cakes for sale.

Quiz Night, April 2013

Yet again, we are ever so grateful to Malcolm and Judith Medhurst for running another SRF Quiz Nightwith a degree of difficulty previously unknown to humanity. Taxing questions, impossible for some of us,nevertheless fascinated all 11 teams present. Team names included Lashings of Ginger Beer, Have I got

Mews For You, Los Tontos and The Milk Snatchers. The Fund is grateful to all who helped us to raise

248 on the night, all who took part and especially to Malcolm who must spend the rest of the year devisinghis next quiz.

Volunteer opportunity with Street Child Football World Cup

Casa Alianza UK is looking for a Volunteer Project Coordinator for Team Nicaraguas participation in the

Street Child Football World Cup. In 2010, Casa Alianza Nicaragua was invited to participate in the StreetChild World Cup held in Durban, South Africa. Their participation was managed by Casa Alianza UK. In2014, Casa Alianza Nicaragua will participate with a girls team and a boys team and their participation will

be managed by Casa Alianza UK in partnership with Casa Alianza Nicaragua.
http://www.robbarratt.co.uk/http://www.robbarratt.co.uk/http://www.myspace.com/gadjoguitareshttp://www.myspace.com/gadjoguitareshttp://www.myspace.com/gadjoguitareshttp://www.robbarratt.co.uk/


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Attendance at meetings in London will be required along with attendance at a Project Leaders summit inCambridge. The Project Coordinator is expected to support the teams participation in the Street Ch ildWorld Cup in Brazil from 24thMarch to 12thApril, 2014. Fluency in Spanish is required. More details aboutthe post can be found at:www.casa-alianza.org.uk/ Applications should be sent [email protected]

2012 Accounts and a Note from the treasurer

With this newsletter you will find the Funds accounts for 2012. The Santa Rosa Fund has always tried to send asmuch money as possible to the projects which it supports in Nicaragua whilst always keeping a reasonable amount forcontingencies in our bank account and at the same time making sure that we never go into the red. Over the years wehave arrived at a system that works well and we thought that we should explain this process in the current newsletter.

We always hold a planning meeting in the late Autumn when we identify how much money should be available for thefollowing year and then allocate provisional amounts to the different initiatives which we support. These include theSanta Rosa school and for many years an allocation for disbursement by the Berriz Sisters to their projects and for LosPocitos. Most years we are also able to send a donation to the street children's project, Asociacin Quincho Barrilete,and new projects such as Little Cob. Once confirmed at the end of the year, these amounts are sent by bank transfer toNicaragua. Quite often smaller amounts of money are distributed by trustees later in the year when visiting Nicaragua.

This explains why at the end of our financial year we always have a healthy amount showing in our bank accountwhich could look as if we are holding too much money back in the UK. We plan for this amount to build up during theyear so that early in the new year we are in a position to meet all of our commitments in Nicaragua.

Of course none of this would be possible without the continuing loyal support we get from all of you; standing ordersfor whatever amount are particularly useful because they give us confidence in our forward planning.

Thanks to all of you,Pat Mayston, treasurer of the Santa Rosa Fund, on behalf of the SRF trustees.

Electronic version of the newsletterThe SRF is proud of the fact that we manage to send out a high proportion of the money we raise to the projects whichwe support in Nicaragua, rather than losing so much on propping up an administrationsystem. One of the majorcosts that we incur is that of newsletter production and postage, and one way of reducing postage costs is to encouragesupporters to switch from the paper copy to the electronic copy. Whilst we are pleased with each postage cost savedevery time someone switches, we are aware that some people prefer a paper copy, so we shall continue to producepaper copies of the newsletter. If, however, you wish to receive the electronic copy, please send an email to ourmembership secretarycontact details below.

SANTA ROSA FUND CONTACTS www.santarosafund.org

Chair: Pete Mayston, Rose Cottage, Tuckermarsh, Bere Alston, Yelverton, Devon PL20 7HBTel. 01822 840297 Email:[email protected]

Secretary: Jacky Rushall, Culliford House, The Down, Bere Alston, Yelverton, Devon PL20 7HGTel. 01822 841676

Treasurer: Pat Maystonas for Pete (above)Twinning links representative: Rick Blower, Cloberry Cottage, Brentor, Tavistock, Devon PL19 0NG

Tel. 01822 810600 Email:[email protected] secretary: Martin Mowforth, 51 West St., Tavistock, Devon PL19 8JZ

Tel. 01822 617504 Email:[email protected]

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santa rosa fund newsletter no. 41 july 2013

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