Cultura y noticias hispanas del Valle del Hudson
A Multicultural Exchange: NIE, the Nicaragua Education Initiative
Young volunteers travel every year to teach English and more
Por María Herrera
March 2025It is common for college students starting their first year to look for clubs or recreational activities where they can meet new people, build social relationships, learn from one another, or even pick up a new hobby. At Bard College, there are also community initiative programs such as the Trustee Leader Scholar (TLS) Program, which, by the way, is the birthplace of this magazine, La Voz. TLS programs support leadership development through hands-on community engagement projects initiated by students and can be local, national, or international. The NIE, Nicaragua Education Initiative, is one of these projects.
The Nicaragua Education Initiative was started by students in the TLS program more than 15 years ago in Chacraseca, Nicaragua. Chacraseca is a rural community of 8,000 residents in the western part of the country, a region frequently affected by natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods. Over time, the program has evolved into a sustainable source of education."This opportunity taught me the importance of continuing initiatives like NIE. I saw how the children made the most of every minute we spent with them, and they taught me to be grateful for the life I have while studying at Bard College," reflects Karla Zarate, a third-year computer science student from Mexico at Bard.
This January, Karla, along with three other Bard College students, had the opportunity to travel to Chacraseca, Nicaragua, for two weeks to teach math, English, and science to children in the community. The students stayed with local families who provided not only shelter and food but also an insight into their culture and daily routines. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for the past five years, the initiative was unable to visit Nicaragua in person. However, students collected donations to send backpacks and other supplies to the children of Chacraseca.
Thanks to the donations collected last year, on January 8, 2025, four students were able to travel to Nicaragua for 14 days and reestablish a deeper connection with the children of Chacraseca. The students traveled with the hope of showing the children that education is not just about math and science but can be expressed in many different ways. They taught critical thinking and quick decision-making through a variety of educational games to make learning fun. The students also deepened their understanding of Nicaraguan life and culture. "I learned a lot about the political situation in Nicaragua. For example, I didn’t know that education in Nicaragua is free. Even though university is free for students, it remains inaccessible because transportation is very expensive and a daily expense. I also had the chance to try Nicaraguan food for the first time—it’s like a fusion of Dominican and Mexican cuisine," Karla recalls.
This initiative supports leadership development through hands-on community engagement projects initiated by Bard College students. The initiative welcomes anyone interested in participating and contributing. "Being part of this initiative doesn’t require you to be fluent in Spanish or to travel to Nicaragua. We are looking for people willing to get involved and support us in other ways, such as organizing events and fundraising to spread awareness and continue sending resources to the children. At the end of the day, our goal is to leave a positive impact on these children who eagerly await programs like this," explains Karla.
If you would like to donate or join this initiative, contact Karla at [email protected] or send a message via Instagram to @bardnei.
Translated from Spanish by Andres Pérez Rangelback to top
COPYRIGHT 2025
La Voz, Cultura y noticias hispanas del Valle de Hudson
This January, Karla, along with three other Bard College students, had the opportunity to travel to Chacraseca, Nicaragua, for two weeks to teach math, English, and science to children in the community. The students stayed with local families who provided not only shelter and food but also an insight into their culture and daily routines. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for the past five years, the initiative was unable to visit Nicaragua in person. However, students collected donations to send backpacks and other supplies to the children of Chacraseca.
Thanks to the donations collected last year, on January 8, 2025, four students were able to travel to Nicaragua for 14 days and reestablish a deeper connection with the children of Chacraseca. The students traveled with the hope of showing the children that education is not just about math and science but can be expressed in many different ways. They taught critical thinking and quick decision-making through a variety of educational games to make learning fun. The students also deepened their understanding of Nicaraguan life and culture. "I learned a lot about the political situation in Nicaragua. For example, I didn’t know that education in Nicaragua is free. Even though university is free for students, it remains inaccessible because transportation is very expensive and a daily expense. I also had the chance to try Nicaraguan food for the first time—it’s like a fusion of Dominican and Mexican cuisine," Karla recalls.
This initiative supports leadership development through hands-on community engagement projects initiated by Bard College students. The initiative welcomes anyone interested in participating and contributing. "Being part of this initiative doesn’t require you to be fluent in Spanish or to travel to Nicaragua. We are looking for people willing to get involved and support us in other ways, such as organizing events and fundraising to spread awareness and continue sending resources to the children. At the end of the day, our goal is to leave a positive impact on these children who eagerly await programs like this," explains Karla.
If you would like to donate or join this initiative, contact Karla at [email protected] or send a message via Instagram to @bardnei.
Translated from Spanish by Andres Pérez Rangelback to top
COPYRIGHT 2025
La Voz, Cultura y noticias hispanas del Valle de Hudson
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