One out of every two people on this planet struggles to feed and educate their children. When powered by opportunity, they have a chance to work their way out of poverty and transform their lives. For 40 years, Opportunity International has provided the savings, loans, training and insurance that all people need to create a better future for their families and their communities.
About this project
Support “Learn by Doing” Education at the Entrepreneurship Technical High School in Nicaragua.
The high school, entering into its 3rd year, is one of Opportunity Nicaragua’s innovative programs which serves 180 students in grades 7-9. The only high school in Nicaragua that provides both a high school diploma and technical vocation degree in Sustainable Tourism or Agri-Business. This school is adding 1 grade each year until it will be fully operational in 2016. Join us as we help the high school grow and prepare students in the country’s 2 leading job sectors with great potential – agric-business and eco-tourism with hands on experience working with local businesses.
Entrepreneurship High School’s Highlights from 2013:
- Entrepreneurship is the only high school in Nicaragua providing BOTH a high school diploma and a Technical Vocational Certificate to students
- 92% of students are working at grade level in all grades…this compares with the Nicaraguan average of only 60% of students at grade level.
- Entrepreneurship High School runs 3 businesses to provide hands-on experience for students and to generate revenue to cover the costs of operating the school
- Students participate in business plan competitions each year to develop their entrepreneurial skills and thinking!
Your support will help
Nicaragua is the second poorest country in Central America with 75% of the population living below the poverty line. In 2006, Opportunity International initiated a community economic development program in Granada, Nicaragua with visionary supporters and community development experts. Opportunity Nicaragua partners with local farmers, artisans, and community leaders to provide: access to financial resources, entrepreneurial education to future leaders, training and support for community-led projects to address chronic social issues impacting rural communities. This development model has resulted in farmer’s increasing their average net income by over 30%, average increase in income for artisans of 20% as well as local community leaders leading projects such as: construction of community water aqueducts, bringing clean water to the community; development of a network of 57 libraries providing books to rural schools; investment in an agricultural processing plant to provide access to value-chains for small holder farmers and establishment of 5 Young Life Clubs in the poorest barrios in Granada.
This project tackles the issue of lack of high school and technical education in rural areas with a sustainable model. In most rural communities the public school system only provides elementary education. Less than 10% of rural children finish high school. Opportunity has established the Entrepreneurship Technical High School to provide practical, entrepreneurial training in both the agricultural and tourism industries. The school operates small businesses for a dual purpose: to provide hands-on training for the students and to generate revenue to cover operational costs of the school.
This project helps create a self-sustaining the model by supporting the construction of the classrooms, development of the curriculum and operations in the short term. Within 3 years, as the small school-operated businesses grow, they will generate enough revenue to cover the annual operating costs of the school.
