My week volunteering at Ometepe Bilingual School on Ometepe island in Nicaragua, undoubtedly ranks as one of the most rewarding experiences of my travels.
The school has been set up to offer free education to the children of the Merida region of Ometepe. With the classrooms predominantly constructed using recyclable materials, the kids not only get to learn English, but to also understand the importance of recycling, living in a sustainable way and protecting the environment- an issue that sadly seems to fly almost completely below the radar in Nicaragua.
The kids were adorable, so keen to learn and chat and play. The teachers hard-working, friendly and humble and as for the founders of the project, Don Alvaro Molina and his wife Esther, there is nothing to say but thank you. You have my utmost respect.
If anyone would like to contribute in any way that they can – either through volunteering or donating – please click the link at the bottom of this page. Remember; no amount, however insignificant it may seem to you, is too small. The school is struggling to financially keep its head above water at times, as the political problems in Nicaragua have meant that tourist numbers have dropped drastically, as has funding and the number of volunteers.
If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading and I hope you will give up a few more minutes of your time to watch this video and get a much clearer idea of what the Ometepe Bilingual School project is all about. I can guarantee it is definitely worth your time…
https://youtu.be/ejkBFePxTso
For donations:
https://www.omprakash.org/global/hacienda-merida/donate