Pencils of Promise

El Terrero Primary School (Nicaragua)

Open: August 2011

Just 4km off the Pan-American Highway, this community of 700 inhabitants is located on the borders of two municipalities. Given its undefined political location, both government and non-governmental institutions alike have overlooked this community’s needs for several years.

Upon entering the community of El Terrero, potential for significant change and improvements is striking.  Despite the years of government neglect, teachers, students, parents, and elders have a tenacious spirit and a passion for education and overall improvement of their community.

The old classroom, built in the 1990s, was in extremely poor condition. It was built too small with low ceilings and very few windows, giving it a claustrophobic feel.  The doors were infested with termites, and the only front facing window openings were covered with insecure cyclone fencing.  The floor was in such bad shape that the teachers complained of fleas from the rats living in its cracks.  The entire community student body, totaling 86 students in 6 grades, had no choice but to abandon this decrepit space and attempt to share the preschool classroom built a few years ago.  This then overcrowded classroom was being used in the morning, simultaneously for two separate younger multi grade classes and in the afternoon for all upper grades.  The preschool classes were eventually canceled because it had been taken over by the primary school and the teacher had resigned.

The project has alleviated overcrowding and provided a high quality educational environment.  It is also highly probable that this provision of sufficient additional classroom space will motivate the Ministry of Education to reopen the preschool.

This project was conducted in partnership with Seeds of Learning.

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