The Certificate

In Nicaragua, we have learned that "the certificate" is important.

In fact, they give certificates for almost anything.

Five year university degree: certificate
One year technical training: certificate
Weekend babysitting course: certificate
One day trade fair participation: certificate
Driving school course: certificate
90 minute changing a tire seminar: certificate

Okay, I'm only kidding about the last one, but do you get the picture?

When I lobbed the idea around with some locals that BECA was thinking of not offering certificates for Curso Uno (aside: those that know me know that I am absolutely obsessed with cutting out unnecessary fluff) -- well, they looked at me like I had just burned the Nicaraguan flag or something.

Eventually I relented because we figured out a way to do it cost-efficiently.

So, without further ado, I present to you the inaugural Curso Uno BECA.org certificate:

Guilty admission: I did kinda enjoy signing the suckers.

Testing the test

Pilot #2 is winding down, and I have been handed the responsibility of testing our becados on the material they have learned in BECA Course One.

How does one test a group of 40+ becados on typing, windows, internet, and Microsoft Word? Well...through the internet...of course! As novices in administering exams, and even more so in creating them, we decided to put our examen final before some graduated becados from Pilot #1, who are familiar with our course material.

This past Tuesday I set out to a local internet cafe to meet three of our graduated becados. Prior to testing the test, I was only concerned about one thing, "What will they score?" That simple-minded approach left me in a big pickle. Approximately one hour into the exam, I noticed the internet was running a little slowly. No biggie, I thought, this is Nicaragua! A few moments later the worst case scenario became reality, the internet was lost.

I was frustrated for several reasons. 1) The becados had no way of submitting the exam. 2) I did not have a back-up plan. 3) I was paying for the time on these computers, only to result in nada.

So here I am, five days away from the first exam, and still without any clear gauge on how our becados will perform. But at least I have a back-up plan.

Driving Ahead

The mission of BECA is to "combat poverty with education." The idea is to give Nicaraguans an opportunity to improve their economic situation via education.

When I talk to "Becados" I often ask them: "Why are taking this course?" (referring to CURSO UNO, the three month computer course)

Often I hear one of the following responses:
1) Quiero seguir adelante.
2) Quiero superarme.

In other words, they want to "keep driving ahead."

It is a noble thing to say, but frankly it won't be good enough if they want to apply for the second, more intensive scholarship.

They need to have a concrete, tangible career plan. In fact the career plan will represent 20% of their evaluation to see if they qualify for BECA Intensiva.

It is truly wonderful that the becados want to "drive ahead."

We want to know how.