"What Can I Do to Help?"

BECA gets quite a few e-mail messages from people we don't know.
 

I read every single one that comes in to us through our Contact Us page.

95% of the e-mails come from desperate people from Africa (mostly) and other parts of the developing world looking for sponsors. I reply to each and every one sadly informing them that BECA is only active in Nicaragua.

From time to time, another kind of e-mail comes through the door.

They go something like this:

Dear BECA,
I just stumbled upon the BECA.org website. Wow, you guys are doing something really fantastic. I'm really impressed. I think education is what developing countries really need. I once visited Nicaragua and I noticed . . . [blah blah blah] . . . What you are doing is very cool. What can I do to help? . . . 

Wait, it doesn't stop there. Here is the kicker.

"As a matter of principle, I don't give money."

Hmmmm.

Okay, fair enough. There are things this BECA fan can do and I am happy to oblige. He or she can:

• make a comment on a student blog
• sign up to get our newsletter
• join us on our Facebook page
• tell other people about BECA

Nevertheless, when I get e-mails like this, I can't help but scratch my head and wonder . . .

To what me-no-give-money principle are they referring? Does anyone know?

Hey, There's a Chicken Egg in My Closet

And just how did it get there???

BECA recently had a baby.

Could a baby chicken be next? Stay posted.

Punctuality and other Minor Irritations

Punctuality.

I remember when I learned about it. I was an early twenty-something whippersnapper showing up 17 minutes late for a meeting.

Yes, I remember the 17 minutes. I even remember the look of the clock on the wall. That would be 1:17 pm. Or should I say, that would be 1:17 pm when the dressing down began. Maybe 1:18 if we allow one minute for the peddling of my lame excuse (bad traffic, a classic right?).

It only lasted about 30 seconds -- the dressing down, that is -- but I've never forgotten it.

"No more late for me" I remember saying to myself.

So, here we go again. A little less than 30 years later. The punctuality pill rears its ugly head.

One difference. This time I'm on the other side of the fence.

Punctuality -- or should I say the lack thereof -- drives me bonkers here in Nicaragua.

During BECA's introductory 3 month computer course we stress the importance of being punctual. In fact, students risk losing their scholarship eligibility if they show up to class late too many times.

Most of them comply. Then they apply for their second scholarship, receive funding (if they are fortunate) and then . . . all hell breaks loose. Overnight, they just seem to care about it anymore. 

Ughhh.What's a person to do?

We've tried different tactics this year: rewards, punishments, cajoling, pep talks. Nothing seems to work very well.

It would help if the schools we partner with were like-minded. Unfortunately, they are often willing accomplices.

What the heck is the students' problem?

[pause]

[mucho deep breath]

They don't have a problem.

I do.

Tranquilo, Walter. [Take it easy]

P.S. How weird is that to find on the Internet an image of a clock displaying exactly 1:17 pm? I guess someone else has the same problem.

Here Comes the Competition

Big announcement the other day in combating poverty circles.

Kiva, the microfinance powerhouse, announced that they are beginning a pilot program of offering educational loans. As they say in their blog, "The pilot was born as a natural extension of Kiva's mission to connect people, through lending, to alleviate poverty."

If things go well, there is no doubt in my mind that they will extend the product to Nicaragua.

How do I feel about this? Will this make BECA obsolete?

Hmmm, it's a little early to say, but it appears that Kiva education loan recipients are all University students.

BECA came about because I saw a need. I came across some young people who managed to scrape through High School here in Nicaragua but then faced a dead end. They wanted to continue their education, but didn't have any money to pay for it.

Inspired by Kiva, my idea was to connect sponsors in other countries with these young people through the Internet. The loan model -- which I considered -- at that time didn't seem plausible to me. I figured that the last thing these young people needed was a loan, another encumbrance. What they were looking for was an opportunity.

So, ultimately, will the entrance of Kiva in the "marketplace" affect BECA's place here?

I don't know. In it's current incarnation, probably not. BECA gives technical career scholarships, not University scholarships. Second, the Kiva recipients appear to be a little bit better off economically.

Nevertheless, I would be happy to be wrong. I feel strongly that BECA serves a niche in Nicaragua that deserves service. If something -- like an organization like Kiva -- comes along that is more efficient, or better in any way, I would welcome it with open arms.

May I say I am proud of what BECA is doing but I am in no way married to it as an institutional entity.

Ultimately, what these young people deserve is a break.

With BECA or without it.