PROJECTS
TALLER XUCHIALT ART SCHOOL for YOUTH
While this is not a community in the usual sense of the word, it is a community of approximately 12 young artists who have organized, and teach in, a private art school for any children interested in attending. They offer weekend lessons in art history, in folkloric dance, but above all, in painting, primarily in the primativistic tradition of Nicaragua.
An example of primitavistic art done by one of the former art teachers.
The art school not only provides a laboratory for the young teachers to refine their own craft and learn administrative and pedagogical skills, but it serves to help children treasure their own artistic cultural heritage.
Paintings below were done by two of the young students.
The painting on the left was done by Nestor Danillo Morales Rojas , 13 years of age; the one on the right by Teresa Eugenia Perez Zelaya, 12 years of age.
Two members of the folklore dance class.
The photograph on the left is of (L to R) Soany, Gladys, Lenin and William doing a group exercise; the one on the right is of Carlos Gutierrez and Marlon Moreno working on the action plan and calendar of activities.
THE COMMUNITY OF SANTA ROSA
The small village of Santa Rosa lies northwest of León. PG/L has had an ongoing relationship with the village for 20 years.
Curently Santa Rosa is the location of three interrelated initiatives.
First: Casa Materna is a temporary residence for expectant women who, given the challenges of transportation, benefit from a place to stay near the medical center before giving birth.
A new mother and her 3-day old newborn at the Casa Materna
Two beneficiaries of the Comedor Infantil by the Casa Materna well
Second:The Program of midwifery is currently in transition to more of an educational effort, to aid pregnant women, many of whom live considerable distances from the medical center in Santa Rosa.
Midwife workshop in Santa Rosa
The 2006-2008 Board of Directors at CENTRO NURICIONAL MATERNO INFANTIL (CENMIN): (from left to right Eliseo Hernandez, 2nd spokesperson; Yolanda Aguirre, 1st spokesperson; Maribel Gonzalez, Fiscal oversight; Angela Pulido, Treasurer; Evelin Perez, Vice-coordinator; Noel Rastran, Secretary; Maria Magdalena, Coordinator; Dona Juana, Co-founder; Dona Bertha (not seen), Co-founder and legal representative; Dona Gabriella, Co-founder
Third A Nutritional Lunch Program for children.
Children at lunch
THE COMMUNITY OF EL PORVENIR
The entrance to the community, that is also the entrance into the nuclear zone of the Natural Reserve San Cristobal/Casita
PGL is collaborating with two other NGO's to serve this small coffee-growing community in the mountains northeast of León.
Some of the old coffee plants (40+years old!) at El Porvenir. One of PG/L's future projects will be a small loan to the cooperative to enable them to plant new coffee plants, replacing these old ones that have a much lower production rate
Other initiatives include:
1) Community Infrastructure Grant Fund
Through this relatively small fund communities can receive small grants for local projects. A total of $800 is awarded on a cycle of every four months.
2) Scholarship Program
Grants are awarded to youth for their expenses to attend school at various levels. For example, plans are underway to make awards to children who require financial assistance in order to attend the art school, Taller Xuchialt."
This page was updated in May 30, 2007.
