In augauration of Bosawas Schools

April 16, 2013

Two new schools give education its rightful place in BOSAWAS

It is no small task to construct a building in the remote BOSAWAS biosphere reserve. The long journey for each bag of cement includes hours on a river boat and long hauls on the backs of many committed Miskito community members. But a school is worth the pain of every single pound. Adequate space for youth to learn is truly a dream come true.

In late January we inaugurated the 5 classroom Secondary School in Walakitang and in March we inaugurated the 4 classroom secondary school in Yakalpanani.

These two Miskito indigenous villages in the BOSAWAS biosphere Reserve in northern Nicaragua now possess the infrastructure to educate their children beyond grade 6.

The high school provides education for grades 7-11 (11 is the final grade in Nicaragua) in alternating time-slots throughout the week. Teachers’ salaries are paid through a cost-sharing arrangement between the Indigenous government and the Nicaraguan Ministry of Education.

A top priority for the Miskito indigenous government in BOSAWAS, secondary education is necessary for a population that has recently gained self-government rights to their traditional territories.

The incredible generosity of our donors has helped Change for Children work successfully with the local Miskito government to realize their goals of an educated population capable of managing the forest reserve that is important to us all.

Bosawas Central America and the Caribbean Construction Education In The Field Indigenous Peoples Nicaragua School