Friday, February 12, 2010

Every child who goes to school here in Nicaragua is required to wear a uniform and pay a monthly fee that varies depending on the school. Here is a typical list of required materials needed to enter elementary school:

3 roles of crape paper
3 roles of shiny colored paper (similar to what would be used on a bulletin board)
5 pieces of large graph paper
3 shiny poster boards
3 regular poster boards
6 markers (similar to crayola markers)
2 permanent markers
2 rolls of packing tape
2 large bottles of glue
1 pair of scissors
1 box of colored pencils
1 box of crayons
1 box of molding clay
1 paint set
1 pack of construction paper
2 packs of lined paper
2 packs of blank paper
2 rolls of toilet paper
1 hand towel
1 bottle of hand soap

Also they need to bring the following medications:
Something for headaches
something for stomachaches
cotton balls
rubbing alcohol
iodine
gauze
bandages
and disinfectants

For these expenses alone, many kids in Nicaragua are not able to go to school. This is something we hope to help change through a program we call Unidos. This program will help provide school supplies to those kids who are in need.