Caving In (a little bit)

Everyone here wants to study English. Everyone.

I have never been too crazy about the idea of qualifying scholarships to study English. How come?

I have a bunch of reasons.

1) BECA is about getting a job at the end. English is a fine complement, but it is not a technical career, per se.

2) Most English courses consist of two hours daily. At this rate, how long is it going to take to be literate? 5 years? 10 years? Ever?

3) Personal distaste. I just don't like the concept that a Gringo organization comes to a country that speaks Spanish and says . . . "Learn my revered language and get ahead." It has never sat well with me. I can't explain it any better than that.

However stubborn I may be, circumstances have changed to a degree.

The fact of the matter is that Call Centers represent one of the only growing industries in Nicaragua.These places desperately need English speakers and they pay pretty good. Moreover, we discovered an institute that delivers an intensive course in English at Ave Maria University. 7 hours a day, 5 days a week. They promise a TOEFL (English language competency exam) pass in eight months.

So, with my tail comfortably ensconced between my legs, BECA will pilot one student through the seven month course of English studies.

His name is Nosbal. And I have eight months to prepare my "crow" pie.

Here Come the Pulseras

From time to time, BECA gets visitors.

A couple of weeks ago, three U.S. University students -- Thomas, Margaret, and Chris -- showed up at our office.

They are part of . . .The Pulsera Project! I know, I know, it sounds like they are involved in some kind of wacky science experiment, but it is far from that.

Pulsera means "bracelet" in Spanish.

Many of you have seen these bracelets around. They are handmade woven bracelets. It so happens that Nicaraguans are expert pulsera makers.

The Pulsera Project group came up with a nifty idea. They buy pulseras from Nicaraguan artisans and disadvantaged youth. They buy them for a buck and then ship them off to the United States where University students and groups sell them for five bucks.

The profits are funnelled back to community projects here in Nicaragua. The real mission is to promote the importance of public service to young Americans and create awareness of international social causes.

Consider the following:
Gringo student sees pulsera >
           Gringo student asks about pulsera origin >
                     Gringo student learns more about Nicaragua >
                                Gringo student becomes involved selling pulseras to others.
Repeat.

The real keeners come to visit Nicaragua and see for themselves what is really going on. (Enter Chris, Thomas, Margaret and others.)

It's a simple concept. And that is why I like it so much.

Vacation Time Empathy

I'm in Canada for two weeks. (Happy 50th Anniversary Mom and Dad!)

While in Canada, I've been hearing a lot of this kind of stuff:

    "Wow, Walter* . . . what you are doing is fantastic . . . what a sacrifice you are making.I really admire you."
    or

    "I really have to hand it to you, Walter, for living in a place like that."
     or

    "I don't know how you do it. Don't you miss Canada? Don't you miss your friends?"

Okay, listen up people. I appreciate the kind words of encouragement and everything, but you make it sound like I'm living in some kind of concentration camp.

The fact of the matter is that it isn't that much of a sacrifice at all. Nicaragua is really quite an interesting place and my quality of life is actually pretty good. And . . . it doesn't snow . . . EVER.

Moreover, I'm having a lot of fun doing what I'm doing.

But here is the real kicker: it gives me a tremendous amount of joy doing something that I believe to be meaningful.
 
And I feel really lucky to be able to do it.

*Walter is the name I choose to use in Nicaragua. My family and friends call me by my first name, Howard. (To be explained in a blog entry coming soon.)

A Recap and a Dilemma

First, a quick refresher.

The BECA program consists of two stages: 1) Course One and 2) Intensive. Every BECA student has to pass the first stage (90 day computer course) to earn the opportunity to apply for the second stage (a technical scholarship, usually one to two years in length).

BECA had one Course One this year. 24 students started in April of which 23 finished in June. Of those 23 students, 19 earned the option to apply for a technicial career scholarship. It is our experience that between 50 and 60 percent of those eligible, apply for the second stage. That would mean of this group, 10 to 12 students will be looking for sponsors at the end of 2010.

All in all, not too shabby. 96% of the students finished Course One. That is the highest completion rate BECA has ever seen.

Personally, at this stage -- and with 9 BECA Course Ones under our belt -- I only have one concern. I'm not too happy with the place where we hold the class. The computers are often in bad shape, the software is dated, and the Internet connection is spotty and slow.

This brings us to an important BECA dilemma. I have always been dead set against setting up our own learning facility. I felt it was important as an organization to use the existing infrastructure in the community. However . . . at what cost? What do you do if the existing infrastructure cannot provide what you want? Or . . . is BECA being too demanding?

I don't have the answer yet. But let me tell you, this issue twists me right up.

In the meantime, I will bask briefly on that 96% figure and replay a few times the video recap for Course One 2010.