Puentes de Esperanza

Puentes de Esperanza is a small and growing non-profit based in the U.S. with a mission to provide the tools and support necessary to empower low-income communities through education. We primarily work in the rural fishing village of Jiquilillo and the surrounding areas located on the northern Pacific coast of Nicaragua. These areas face many challenges, including unemployment and dependence on seasonal work, alcoholism and domestic abuse, high rates of teenage pregnancy, volatile and persistently low incomes, and a struggling education system. Children are often expected to work in the home or find employment to financially contribute to the family income.

We combat the multitude of challenges found in Jiquilillo through our programs, which include an afterschool program called Kids Club that has been running since 2004, a tutoring program, English classes, computer classes, community-based tourism training, a large scholarship program, school assistance, and capacity-building workshops. We employ locals and host a volunteer program wherein volunteers head and assist with the majority of our programs.