Walking with Communities towards Holistic Sustainable Development through:

Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and has one of the highest skewed income distributions, with the lowest Human Development Index score only exceeded by Haiti (limited income and highly inequitable distribution). After analyzing the Nicaraguan context, FH has developed the following strategy as a response to the greatest barriers to the transformation of targeted areas.

Education

While maintaining a holistic approach that takes into consideration all aspects of the national context, FH concentrates its efforts on improving education. Education is key to the development of Nicaragua because it is the greatest contributor to the vast inequality.

Improving the education level gives children more opportunities and tools to address the causes of low income through innovative solutions.

FH Nicaragua’s focus is:

• Allow for greater access to the education system, a higher percentage of children completing secondary education.
• Access to improved quality education – children expand their education and develop analytical skills.
• Develop relationships - parents and children have greater understanding of their roles within the family – parents support their children in pursuing completion of high school or higher education.
• Improve teamwork with key players – Ministry of Education, parents, teachers and community leaders to encourage and support each other in an integrated and transformational education process.

FH Nicaragua also focuses its strategy on two complementary areas: health and economic development. FH walks with civil society organizations, churches, community leaders, and families to strengthen its intervention.

Health

Without good nutrition and access to medical services it is difficult for children to reach their intellectual and physical potential. Health initiatives are directed to ensure that children are able to attend and take full advantage of their schooling opportunities.

FH works with specific communities and regional government institutions to build within families and children an understanding of the importance of personal and public health, improving nutrition and hygiene practices, and reducing illness so children can develop to their greatest physical and psychological potential. This is accomplished through direct interventions that support families in specific communities, as well as through influence and support to the national Ministry of Health.

Economic Development

Without improved resource management and income generation capabilities of the family, it is difficult for children to attend school. Through these programs, families have the resources necessary to send children to school, instead of sending children to work to provide for the basic needs of the family (food, shelter and clothing).

FH expands parents and families’ understanding of the resources available to them and how they can be administered to support their children’s education without sending their children to work before completing high school. FH also teaches families to prioritize basic needs over wants and desires, and to build financial management skills to secure financial services (savings groups). Other areas of intervention include food security, sustainable agricultural development and disaster mitigation responses.