La Dalia Project, Nicaragua

See the progress you helped make happen in your sponsored community

When the project started, school facilities were poor and many children weren't attending classes. Many families lacked clean water access. One in five children was malnourished and they were also vulnerable to family violence.

Thanks to your support, your sponsored child and other children in the La Dalia community have improved access to clean water, education and healthcare and they are better protected from neglect and abuse.

Together we've achieved so much

545 children started or resumed their education

This followed awareness campaigns about the importance of education run in collaboration with seven schools.

  • Libraries were set up and equipped with books and other learning resources in three schools to improve literacy education amongst 300 students.
  • 27 primary teachers and 29 pre-school teachers completed training on student-centred teaching methods so they can make their lessons more engaging and interactive.
  • The percentage of parents and teachers who support physical punishment fell from 44 percent in 2013 to 15 percent in 2016. This followed awareness campaigns on child rights and positive parenting skills attended by more than 130 parents.

32 community health workers have been trained

They are now monitoring children’s health and teaching the community about maternal and child health and preventative health practices.

  • The project collaborated with the Ministry of Health to ensure children aged below five are fully immunised. In 2016, over 9,800 vaccine doses were administered on National Vaccination Day.
  • The project worked with the Ministry of Health to carry out a major campaign to fight the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika virus and dengue fever in 2016-17.
  • 19 children from vulnerable families with complex health needs were provided with assistance to attend medical appointments and financial aid to cover specialist treatment and tests.

88 percent of families now have clean water piped to their homes

This is up from 64 percent in 2013.

  • In 2016-17, the project collaborated with the Ministry of Health to provide 300 households that remained without piped water, as well as seven primary schools, with water filters to improve access to clean drinking water.
  • Health and hygiene education amongst families contributed to a significant fall in the prevalence of diarrhoea in children aged below five. This fell from 52 percent in 2013 to 33 percent in 2016.

"It is possible to observe the wide level of participation of the families in development actions."

- Francis, community leader