La Esperanza Granada

Just returned home from delivering a birthday cake to Laguna Apoyo.   Outside my job description I know, but these things come up from time to time. A student group from Derby High, UK, has been painting the school at Pablo Antonio Cuadra.   At the end of a week of hot hard work, they were spending today cooling off at the Laguna.   Today was Ella’s 17 th birthday and as a surprise for her, her friends arranged a birthday cake which I offered to pick up and deliver for them.   A vividly colored work of art with ‘Felicidades Ella’ in bright pink.   (The local bakery may have thought it a little strange to be inscribing the cake with what literally translates as ‘congratulations she’.) I had three bonuses from the trip.   That of helping a young lady, far from home, feel special on her birthday. (in later years she is going to forget the homesickness, and just love telling people she spent her 17 th swimming in a volcanic crater lake in Nicaragua). I ...

Volunteer Michael Schulmeyer about his work for la Esperanza Granada How did you come to work at La Esperanza and what are you doing here? We were planning our round the world trip and wanted to do some volunteering during the trip for 2 months. We searched on the internet for organizations in Central America and stumbled across the La Esperanza page. We liked the concept and reviews and established contact with Pauline ... and here we are! What was your education like? I am a computer scientist and I have a Master degree in Computer Science. I don't have any educational background and had never worked with little children before. I only taught a course at a University in Vietnam once before, which I enjoyed a lot.  What has been your best experience working here?      After 5-6 weeks there are finally some kids who really want to work and appreciate the help that is offered. Especially that one boy, that is usually always hyperactive and aggr...