Manzanillo, Nicaragua 2013

In early spring 2013, Surf For Life and Waves of Hope are partnering to build a sustainable high school in Manzanillo, a small community in northern Nicaragua. Waves of Hope  is a Canadian based non-profit organization working in northern Nicaragua to help alleviate poverty and create a better future for all. Waves of Hope launched El Coco Loco Resort and Waves of Hope in 2009 in El Manzano Uno with the goal of contributing to the community in its development efforts, specifically focused on education and community infrastructure.

Waves of Hope began its education efforts at a small local elementary school. They added new classroom (grades 4-6), electricity and water installation, classroom upgrades and the supply of classroom materials such as textbooks, notebooks, white boards and much more. Due to these additions, enrollment has increased from 27 to 77 students in just three years and literacy rates are improving.

Unfortunately for these elementary students and many others just like them in the neighboring communities, daily education ends at grade 6 as the nearest high school is over 60 minutes away by bus. Waves of Hope and Surf for Life have decided it’s time to change this and we have committed to building a sustainable high school for this generation of students and the generations to come. The new high school is not only going to provide daily classes for more than 150 high school students, but it will also offer technical courses for the older youths and young adults such as mechanics, cooking, small business, computing and so on. The goal is that with this increased focus of education, community members will be able to break out of the poverty cycle that affects so many in the area. Volunteer projects start in early spring 2013, and there are a limited number of volunteer openings available so please register or donate now if you want to lend a hand!