In the United States, we view education as a basic right of all citizens, regardless of social position or socioeconomic status. This is our reality. In Nicaragua, as in many developing countries, the philosophy is similar, but the reality is quite different.

In Nicaragua and throughout the world, education levels are directly related to social and economic development. Statistics indicate that nearly 70% of school-aged children in Nicaragua do not complete higher than a 4th grade education.

Despite more than a decade of democracy and subsequent opportunities for economic growth, Nicaragua continues to be among the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere. According to the World Fact Book, 50% of the population live in poverty, and 19% live in extreme poverty.

These conditions contribute greatly to the stark inequities among the social classes in Nicaragua. Despite such disparity, however, many of Nicaragua’s poor and disadvantaged continue to value education and show a strong desire to educate their children.