Registered Charity No.

1028085

Supporting educational initiatives and projects in Nicaragua

www.santarosafund.org

SRF NEWS No 51
July 2018

A COMPUTER FOR EVERY

PUPIL

See inside (page 2) for explanation

SRF Newsletter No.51, July 2018, page 1

 COMPUTERS FOR ALL
Half way through 2017, the Santa Rosa School in Managua became the beneficiary of a programme called
‘Una Computadora Por Niño’. The Fundación Zamora-Terán (FZT, a private business trust) teamed up
with the BanCentro (a major bank in Nicaragua) to provide every
primary-aged child in the school (1st to 7th grade) with a personal
computer – 416 mini-computers to be precise. Representatives of the
Fundación teamed up with MINED (Nicaraguan Ministry of Education)
officials to visit several schools in the capital. They selected two
schools in District IV of Managua to be part of the scheme and one of
those selected was the Santa Rosa School. (The other school is the
Escuela Santa Clara.)

The school is visited monthly by a team of one teacher and one

technician employed by the FZT to check that the programme is
progressing satisfactorily. The computers have internet potential, but this is not in use yet – a special code is
required, and the idea of allowing internet access is still under consideration. Each computer comes with a
charger and both computer and charger are allocated to an
individual who takes it home to charge it each day.

Clearly this is a business scheme designed to tie pupils in later

Taking care of the computer before going home
life to having bank accounts with BanCentro and computer
(accounts) with Fundación Zamora-Terán, but it is impressively
organised and controlled. Moreover there is no doubt that the
pupils enjoy it, benefit from it and are enthusiastic participants in
the scheme. Most of the software on the computers is geared to
the [tightly controlled] Nicaraguan school curriculum, and our
visits to 4th grade and 6th grade classes showed us that they
were in full use by all the pupils following the teachers'
instructions. Very impressive indeed.

SRF supporters might now ask where this leaves the Santa Rosa Fund support for computing at the school,
and the SRF trustees will be considering this issue throughout 2018. In the meantime, we are aware that the
computers supplied in the past by the SRF’s money are still very necessary and very much in use by both
staff and secondary students.

The ‘new’ headteacher

Mid-way through 2017, Santa Rosa School headteacher María Elizabeth
Aragón Roa left the school to take up a post in the Nicaraguan Ministry
of Education (MINED), and Jairo Antonio Acevedo Mayorga was
appointed as the new headteacher of the school. The Santa Rosa Fund
sends its best wishes and thanks to María Elizabeth for her service to the
school over many years.

Jairo (shown on the right) is 53, married to Miriam del Rosario Canda
López with whom he has two sons, Jonathan Elí and José David. In the
past he has studied primary education, science education, commercial
education and theology.

SRF Newsletter No.51, July 2018, page 2

 SRF funded projects carry on despite
the troubles
Very few SRF supporters will remain unaware of the violent protests that have been taking place in
Nicaraguan cities since 18th April this year. The work of the Santa Rosa Fund is not conducted in a bubble
and it is entirely appropriate that the Fund should comment on the situation and particularly on how it may
affect the work of our partner organisations in the country.

It is clear that over the years of the current Nicaraguan government, the country has made considerable
progress in many spheres of activity, including education and the alleviation of poverty. These strides are
real and have been widely and internationally acknowledged, not least by the United Nations. They have
been achieved, however, at the same time as a concentration of power in the hands of President Daniel
Ortega and his wife and Vice-President Rosario Murillo. They have consistently received high approval
ratings in the polls, but there has also been a quietly growing resentment of this concentration of power and
control over developments in all activities. Moreover, the power has sometimes been upheld with the help of
a pseudo paramilitary youth brigade, the Sandinista Youth (Juventud Sandinista, or JS) which over the years
has served to block, violently if necessary, any peaceful protests against government policies. The JS has
attempted to employ such tactics again during the current protests, a strategy which has only served to
worsen the violence of the conflicts.

At the same time, it also needs to be stated that there can be few who doubt that the original protestors
against a planned rise in social security payments have been supplanted by opportunists and in some cases
by gangs, some of whom receive support for their protest and violence from beyond the barricades which
they have built. The protests are not all peaceful and violence is clearly not all government sponsored as the
international media portray. In fact there has been reluctance on the part of the international media to blame
any of the violence on the opposition protestors despite mounting evidence of their use of lethal violence
rather than arguments.

The effects of the continuing stand-off between the government and the protestors are felt most severely by
ordinary people trying to get to work or to move their products to market or to get to school or to go out to
make daily purchases. Because of this the Fund has recently approached our partner organisations to ask
how their work is progressing in the face of these difficult circumstances.

For the Santa Rosa School, Jairo reported that:

“Given the situation here over the last two months, to date the most pertinent advances in our work are as follows:
1. We have a contract with Yota Internet to maintain the internet in the centre;
2. Teacher training (primary, secondary and pre-school) has taken place in the use of technology;
3. One pre-school classroom has been adapted and partitioned to
cater for two groups – shown in the photo on the right;
4. Construction of ramps for the transfer/movement of a mobile
technology unit which contains 40 tablets donated by MINED
for use by secondary students;
5. We’re developing information technology classes for 5 th and 6th
grade pupils;
6. Purchase of materials to support the cleaning, maintenance
and care of our centre;
7. We’ve carried out an initial maintenance of active computers;
8. As far as improvements to the Ben Dalton library go, currently
we are a bit behind and haven’t got going on it largely because
of the situation in the country, but we shall do it.
SRF Newsletter No.51, July 2018, page 3
In general, we’ve continued working, perhaps not to 100% as far as student attendance goes, especially in the
afternoon school session; but things have been much better with the morning sessions. Up to the 8 th June in the
primary and pre-school sessions, we’ve only lost one week; and tomorrow [9 th June] we have a meeting with the
parents to try to make an agreement about making up the days that we missed earlier in the year.”

For the Fundación Amigos de Holanda, María Lucila Cuadra reported at the end of June
in response to our request for information on how their projects have been affected by the
troubles. Excerpts from her reply are given below:
“We know that in the future there are big challenges, although at present we don’t know how to resolve this crisis,
and we live in uncertainty from day to day. Fortunately in El Viejo we have not seen so much repression, although it
has been bad in Chinandega. … The Fundación’s projects continue, and we have taken preventative measures to
avoid emergencies, and we have prepared a kiosk of first aid medicines. This is part of the reality that affects our
lives, and we are doing all we can to work towards peace.”

For the Fund’s other partner organisations in Nicaragua

At the time of printing we are awaiting replies from René Zamora (SRF agent in Managua who buys and
delivers the monthly purchases for the Santa Rosa School) and from the Quincho Barrilete Association.
Because of the difficulties in moving around in most cities in Nicaragua as a result of the road blockades set
up by protestors, we expect that Quincho Barrilete’s work that is focussed on the families of abused children
will have been badly affected by the troubles. Similarly, René’s ability to get to and from the Santa Rosa
School may also have been restricted.

An update on the effects of the violence in Nicaragua will obviously be given in the next edition of the
newsletter in November/December; although, like most people in Nicaragua, we are hoping that the violent
nature of the protests and the resulting restrictions on the movement of people will have subsided more than
a little by that time.

Fundación Amigos de Holanda activities in 2017

With financial assistance from the Santa Rosa Fund, the
Fundación Amigos de Holanda runs Casa Esperanza (the
centre for people with learning and physical difficulties in
the town of El Viejo), the El Viejo Youth Centre and the
Teodoro Kint Library. In December 2017, María Lucila sent
us a report on the activities of these three essential centres
during the year 2017.

The full report for activities during 2017 of the Fundación

Amigos de Holanda, however, is given on the Santa Rosa
Fund website, in both Spanish and English –
https://www.santarosafund.org/category/project-
reports/amigos-de-holanda-formerly-berriz-sisters/ Classes in the Teodoro Kint library in El Viejo

Casa Esperanza ViejoViejo

In January this year we were able to deliver some vital equipment they had requested for use with the people
who attend Casa Esperanza, a centre for people with learning and physical difficulties in the town of El
[Grab your reader’s attention with a great quote from
Viejo. See next page.
the document or use this space to emphasize a key
point. To place this text box anywhere on the page,
SRF Newsletter justNo.51,
drag it.]July 2018, page 4

[Cite your source here.]

SRF delivers Dr Bach’s floral remedies to the Amigos de Holanda in El Viejo
María Lucila Cuadra receiving the
complete set of Dr Bach’s floral remedies
In December [2017] we received a request from the Fundación
Amigos de Holanda (FAH) in the town of El Viejo asking if we
would be able to purchase and send or deliver a complete set of Dr
Bach’s floral remedies as they were unavailable in Nicaragua. For the
uninitiated, the remedies can be used to alleviate a number of health
conditions, including use as soothing and calming agents. They have
been especially useful in the past with the people with physical and
learning difficulties who attend Casa Esperanza in the town of El
Viejo, and particularly for those who suffer from ADHD syndrome
(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). The centre is run by the
FAH and their previous supply of the remedies had been bought in
Costa Rica but were now running out; hence their request to the SRF.

Normally, the full set of remedies would cost in the region of £400, but when we made enquiries to the
company that distributes them here and explained who and what they were for, the company donated the set
to the SRF. So in January this year, the complete set was delivered to María, the coordinator of the FAH.

SRF 50
In November last year the Santa Rosa Fund reached
the landmark 50th edition of its newsletter and to
celebrate we produced a bumper (12 page) edition.
We also held an event in Tavistock to mark the event
with local dignitaries in attendance – see photo to
right. Responses to the edition were particularly
kind and we produce a few of them below.

From Jon Roberts (Reading – San From Gill Holmes, 19.11.17:

Francisco Libre twinning link),
19.11.17:
Congratulations.
I wish we'd thought of a summary like
that for our 20th Anniversary. I'll
circulate this along with our
forthcoming Newsletter if that's OK.
Best, Jon.
Dear Santa Rosa Fund,
I've just read the 50th edition of the newsletter and wanted to
congratulate the SRF on an impressive record of its work in
solidarity with Nicaragua. The support provided by a small band
of tireless volunteers to different organisations and projects in
Nicaragua has touched many lives. The SRF is a shining example
of how international solidarity empowers ordinary people in
different countries and I hope the Fund continues its work for
many more years.
Best wishes, Gill

From Kate Clark, 19.11.17:

An especially excellent newsletter! From Rob and Kath Price:
Thank you for producing this Hi SRF,
anniversary issue, and to such a high Congratulations to the Santa Rosa Fund on this brilliant
standard. It’s very rewarding for all to milestone. It shows what can be achieved by hard work
see how far the Fund has come; may and dedication. … Good luck and we hope the event is a
the good work continue! success.
Congratulations and best wishes, Kate Rob and Kath Price.

SRF Newsletter No.51, July 2018, page 5

The Santa Rosa Fund accounts for 2017 are presented here, thanks to our treasurer, Pat Mayston.

SANTA ROSA FUND, ACCOUNTS TO YEAR ENDING 31.12.17

(All figures are given in pounds sterling unless otherwise stated.)

INCOME
Bank Balance December 31st 2016 represented by: CooP Bank 8644.83
CAF Bank 990.00*
Petty Cash 24.45
Total Balance from 2016 9659.28
Donations from supporters 8079.08
Fund Raising Event (Quiz Night) 534.30
Gift Aid 1315.74
Repayment from error in use of bank card 28.52
Total 9957.64

Total (Balance from 2016 + money raised in 2017) 19616.92

EXPENDITURE
Donations to projects in Nicaragua in 2017 9033.35
Represented by donations sent as dollars $11040.00
(Please note this indented section only is represented in $ (US dollars), equivalent to the £9,033.35 shown above.
These monies are transferred to Nicaragua as dollars, as follows.)
Santa Rosa School
Purchases of School Supplies $1500
School Fund $750
Computer expenses and running costs $1060
Shelving for Ben Dalton Library $360
Fees for disbursement of funds in Nicaragua $120
Projects in El Viejo $5750
Los Positos $1000
Associacion Quincho Barrilete $500
Total $11040
Affiliation fees to the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign 75.00
Fund raising costs (hall hire and publicity) 88.20
Printing of two newsletters 362.00
Postage for newsletters and event publicity to members 146.37
Co-op Bank Charges (Money transfers to Nicaragua) 92.00
CAF Bank Charges* 15.00
Donation to Performers Without Borders 50.00
Santa Rosa bank card used in error, money paid back 28.52
Total 9890.44

Balance on December 31/12/2017: £19616.92 - expenditure of £9890.44 = Total : £9726.48

*During 2017 the CAF Bank account was closed and, after charges of £15.00, an amount of £975.00 was
transferred to the SRF CooP Bank account.

Total Balance 31/12/17 Current Account 9702.03

Petty cash 24.45
Total 9726.48

Pat Mayston, Santa Rosa Fund Treasurer

Caroline Rae, Auditor

SRF Newsletter No.51, July 2018, page 6

 Interview with Claudia Pérez
In May 2017 visitors to the Santa Rosa School in Managua took the opportunity of their visit to interview the
then new librarian at the school on her work there. She is Claudia Pérez (shown here) and the full interview in
both Spanish and English is included in the SRF website. We can only give a few very brief excerpts from the
interview here.

Claudia Pérez:
My name is Claudia Isabel Pérez Rey. I am the new librarian at the Santa Rosa
College. I’m also a primary education teacher in Special Needs. And I find it
very enriching with the children here at this place, in both language and
literature. I’ve learnt more about the work and poems of Rubén Darío, and also
about Nicaragua and what is exceptional about it.

We are always giving follow-up and further work to the children so that they
study and get into the habit of reading, the habit of researching, and not simply of
sticking with a search of the internet. It’s important that they read and make use
of the books which MINED has provided. That’s the experience.

It’s a great experience and a great discovery here in the Santa Rosa College, also
with children who have special educational needs – that is those who have difficulty reading, but who can read
with the help of these special sheets. They do their reading by means of these sheets. So here, using the telephone
I’ve recorded the children reading – those who are weak at reading.

We also make use of the television and the USB stick on which we present stories from books which we also
have on video. We’ve downloaded the story of Little Red Riding Hood, all the stories of Rubén Darío, the
legends, the poems, including all the poems dedicated to all the months of the year. And we present them on
video too.

Also we’re preparing for various festivals. There’s one for the pre-school, like those we already do so well.
There’s music and their work. We video it all, and they also learn visually and through hearing.

SRF: And at times is the library used for meetings with the parents?

Claudia Pérez
Yes. Here we have use of the library from Mondays to Fridays from 7 in
the morning to 3 in the afternoon which is when I leave, after 8 hours
each day. So during that time we can also give attention to the parents –
we try to see them if they come here to the library from 8 am. They
might come to borrow a particular book, and we make loans. If we have
pupils in the library and there’s no space for the parents inside, we’ll
take them outside and move a table there for them. Similarly, when the
afternoon pupils arrive to make use of the books, if the library is
already busy with pupils from the morning school, we’ll take the
Deputy headteacher Marcia Ordeñana, the
SRF’s June Mowforth and Claudia Pérez in the tables outside and they can work outside. Anyway, we have a
Ben Dalton library examining some of the text timetable for each day.
books used in the library
SRF: And finally, do you enjoy your work here?

Claudia Pérez
I love it. The teachers support me a lot. We coordinate with the teachers, we get training from the Ministry of
Education as librarians.

SRF Newsletter No.51, July 2018, page 7

Privacy statement and safeguarding
SRF supporters will be aware that on 25th May 2018 the new GDPR regulations came into effect. The
regulations are designed to increase data protection and allow you to know what we do with data we hold on
our supporters. The SRF is committed to careful management of any personal data relating to our supporters.
In essence, this data amounts to names and postal and/or email addresses which we use for the posting or
emailing of newsletters twice a year along with the occasional, or even rare, notification of events. The full
GDPR-compliant privacy policy of the Santa Rosa Fund can be found on our website at:
https://www.santarosafund.org/privacy-policy-cookies/

Additionally, in light of the recent scandals experienced by Oxfam and other large non-governmental
organisations, we now have a safeguarding policy, and this too is on the SRF website at:
https://www.santarosafund.org/about/child-protection-and-safeguarding-policies/

FUND RAISING NEWS

Another famous Quiz Night
On the 23rd March this year, Malcolm and Judith Medhurst again ran the annual Quiz for the Santa Rosa
Fund. Once again they tested the extremities of our memories.

The Quiz Night raised a total profit for the Fund of £425 : 35, and we are extremely grateful to Malcolm and
Judith, but also to all who made cakes for sale, made teas and coffees, ran the raffle, and to everyone who
came along for the annual illustration of our ignorance.

Ocean City Half Marathon

On 20th May this year, long-time SRF supporter Martin Quinn ran the Ocean City Half Marathon in
Plymouth. He did so on behalf of the Santa Rosa Fund and through his
chosen online donation organisation, wonderful.org , he raised a total of
£985 : 25 (including Gift Aid). It was Martin’s first ever half marathon
and we are honoured that he chose to run it for the benefit of the Santa
Rosa Fund. It has also prompted the Fund to get its own page on the
website wonderful.org which means that anybody who wishes to do
anything for the benefit of the Santa Rosa Fund can now do so simply by
requesting all their sponsors to donate money to our page on the
wonderful.org website.

Wonderful.org is a non-profit organisation funded entirely by

philanthropic businesses. Unlike other online donation sites,
wonderful.org takes nothing out of the donations made to the charity.

SANTA ROSA FUND CONTACTS www.santarosafund.org

Chair: Pete Mayston, Rose Cottage, Tuckermarsh, Bere Alston, Yelverton, Devon PL20 7HB
Tel. 01822 840297 Email: pete@mayston.eclipse.co.uk
Secretary: Pat Blower, 4 Glebelands, Exminster, Exeter EX6 8AR
Tel. 01392 823646 Email: r.blower@btinternet.com
Treasurer: Pat Mayston – as for Pete (above), except email: mayston@waitrose.com
Twinning links representative: Rick Blower, 4 Glebelands, Exminster, Exeter EX6 8AR
Tel. 01392 823646 Email: r.blower@btinternet.com
Membership secretary: Martin Mowforth, 51 West St., Tavistock, Devon PL19 8JZ
Tel. 01822 617504 Email: mmowforth@plymouth.ac.uk
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER BY DART PRINT, TAVISTOCK

SRF Newsletter No.51, July 2018, page 8