Volunteer Spotlight! - Susanne Kennedy

Volunteer, Susanne Kennedy (pictured below at bottom right) joined La Esperanza Granada this past month from Australia.  She had previously traveled and volunteered in Guatemala before arriving to Nicaragua in mid October.  She describes some of her experiences below about her time as a primary school assistant in one of our La Esperanza schools.  We are so grateful for the time she and her fellow team members spent with the children –

Volunteers assisting the primary grades at Pablo Antonio Cuadra, 
Clockwise from top left – Rebeca, Felipe, Scarleth, Susanne, and Tiffany

Most Tuesdays and Thursdays a taxi pulls up in front Pablo Antonio Cuadra primary school with a box full of tablets and small laptops, which have been provided by La Esperanza, to rotate between the schools they support. Children line up eagerly at the door of the temporary 'computación' classroom when it is their turn. For most these sessions are their only opportunity to access information technology and advance their learning through interactive numeracy and literacy programs.

For the past month I have been assisting in the pre-school and first grade classes at Pablo Antonio Cuadra Primary School in Granada.  I am grateful for the opportunity to support the Nicaraguan public school system – which clearly lacks resources and high quality teaching training – through the La Esperanza program.  Working with a dedicated team of volunteers and the wonderful local children, who are open, resilient, big-hearted and hungry to learn, was a most memorable experience.

Engaged Students during computer class at Pablo Antonio Cuadra
Voluntaria, Susanne Kennedy, llego a La Esperanza Granada el mes pasado desde Australisa. Susanne, viajaba y era voluntaria en Guatemala antes de venir aquí en Nicaragua, este Octubre. Ella describe unas de sus experiencias abajo, sobre su tiempo como una maestra de primaria en una escuela la que se apoya por la organización.

Ayudante, Karina, spending time with 
one of the young students during a break time
Cada martes y jueves hay un taxi que viene a la escuela primaria, Pablo Antonio Cuadra, con una caja llena de tablets y laptops. Que dispone por La Esperanza y se alternan entre las escuelas. Los estudiantes hacen fila afuera de la sala de computación temporal esperando su turno. Por la mayoría, estas clases son la única oportunidad para tomar clases de informática y mejorar su aprendizaje por aritmética interactivo y programas de alfabetización.

El mes pasado, he estado ayudando en preescolar y primer grado. Estoy muy agradecido por la oportunidad a apoyar las escuelas públicas de Granada, las que falta los recursos  en general, también para ayudar a los maestros. Trabajando con un equipo de voluntarios muy dedicados y los estudiantes, los que son muy abiertos, maravillosos, resistentes, con gran corazones, tienen hambre de aprender, fue una experiencia formidable.


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