Nicaraguan Childrens Friendship Committee

TO HELP POOR AND ABANDONED NICARAGUAN YOUTH BECOME HEALTHY AND SELF-SUFFICIENT BY PROVIDING A PATHWAY OUT OF EXTREME POVERTY.

LAS ESPERANZAS PROGRAM: PROVIDES HIGH-RISK ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN AN URBAN IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITY THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: ACADEMIC TUTORING AND COUNSELING, COMPUTER CLASSES AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES, VOCATIONAL TRAINING(SEWING & CRAFTS), PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CLASSES, ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES (DANCE CLASSES, BOOK CLUBS, AND EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS), AND WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS' PARENTS.

SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM: PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR IMPOVERISHED YOUTH IN NICARAGUA TO ATTEND HIGH SCHOOLS, VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, AND COLLEGE. STUDENTS ORIGINATE FROM NCFC'S TWO VOCATIONAL PROJECTS AND TENICO LA SALLE VOCATIONAL SCHOOL IN LEON. SCHOLARSHIPS FUND EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES, TRANSPORTATION TO SCHOOLS AND MEAL ALLOWANCE. MEDICAL AND HEALTH EXPENSES ARE COVERED ON AS NEEDED BASIS. GRADUATES RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE TO HELP DURING THEIR JOB SEARCH.

LOS CAMINANTES CARPENTRY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM: PROVIDES FUNDING FOR HIGH-RISK BOYS TO ATTEND A ONE-YEAR BASIC CARPENTRY PROGRAM AND WORK IN A COOPERATIVE MAKING FURNITURE AND CRAFTS. FUNDING IS PROVIDED FOR CARPENTRY EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, MATERIALS, AND CARPENTRY TEACHER'S SALARY. THE PROGRAM ALSO ASSISTS STUDENTS FINISH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION BY PROVIDING ACADEMIC TUTORING. FUNDING IS PROVIDED FOR THE ACADEMIC TUTOR'S SALARY, COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. THE PROGRAM ALSO FUNDS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES BY PURCHASING SOCCER UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT; AND FIELD TRIPS TO ECOLOGICAL/HISTORICAL SITES. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, SOME OF THE STUDENTS WITH EXTREME FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS ARE GIVE EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES.