Carmen was born and raised in the city of Esteli. During Hurricane Mitch in 1998, her house was destroyed, and she went to the nearby community of Nuevo Amanecer to take part in the building project there. In Nuevo Amanecer Carmen and her neighbors worked together to build each other's houses.
When the construction was complete, the community organized themselves to address their problems. Everyone agreed that there was little work available within the neighborhood, and that they had to leave the area to find work elsewhere in town. In order to work away from home, they needed childcare. The community formed an assembly to organize a childcare center.
Carmen advocated for the childcare center to be housed in the small, wooden shack by her home, being one of the only places available at the time. Many people were interested in being teachers, but only Carmen was willing to devote herself to the work with the modest salary that the community could pay.
Carmen worked for three years in the wooden shack, with up to 40 children at a time, and only part-time help from the cook. Three years ago, however, Carmen managed to hire another great teacher, Edelma.
In the following years, while studying for her high school degree at an adult school run by a Canadian-funded cooperative, she met a man who helped her get funding to build a new building for the Child Development Center.
Carmen recently completed her high school diploma. Carmen has also completed one year of teacher training and numerous training workshops on childcare and teaching, which she continues to attend.
Carmen now takes care of the children, teaches, writes reports, plans instruction, attends trainings, and solicits donations of food supplies from local businesses, all for the Nuevo Amanecer Child Development Center. She has kept the Center running - providing safe, affordable childcare - for six years straight.
Carmen's vision is to serve more children, and find more funding - to improve the Center, and to buy the neighboring vacant lot to grow food and have more room for children to play. Carmen has a vision of always moving forward. She says that, "We must have faith." |
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