Casa Abierta will give children at risk in underprivileged neighborhoods the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty in their families and communities by providing integral after school services that will show them a different perspective from what they are exposed to on a regular basis.  Casa Abierta will offer extra-curricular activities, support with school supplies, and pedagogical and psychological support.

Name of Project:
Casa Abierta (Open House)
 
What will it do?
Casa Abierta will give children at risk in underprivileged neighborhoods the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty in their families and communities by providing integral after school services that will show them a different perspective from what they are exposed to on a regular basis. 
 
Casa Abierta will give people who are willing to give time or money to support the children the possibility to have a positive impact. Young professionals do not have a lot of time to dedicate to social work; however, they are willing to contribute with resources and time if they are given easy and manageable choices to give back. 

Who/what will it benefit and how?
Casa Abierta will start by supporting at least fifteen children from a neighborhood that is very close to Managua’s new downtown where hotels, restaurants and malls are concentrated. 

How will it be implemented?
We will start by opening or supporting one house in Managua in 2008. 

We are in the process of setting up Casa Abierta as a non for profit organization.  However, the process to get legal approval is lengthy.  We will not wait until for legal approval.  We have already started supporting one family and will start to support and existing foster home that houses 11 children.

What is your role?
There is a group of six volunteers who are contributing to Casa Abierta.  I am in charge of marketing and of getting Casa Abierta approved as an organization by the National Assembly.    I am also helping to develop schemes to get contributions from corporate donors and young professionals.  
 
How it will be measured?
Success in the first 12-18 months will be measured by the number of children being attended by the program, their grades and their progress in the extra-curricular activities. 
 
Does it meet the criteria for projects laid out in the project descriptor?
I strongly believe that I have the responsibility to give others the opportunity to make a difference in their lives and their communities and Casa Abierta will be the reflection of that belief.

Why is this project worthy of CALI?
Casa Abierta will be a clear expression of CALI’s influence on my taking action to move from personal success to significance.   

CALI has made me “uncomfortable” about not making enough of an effort to make a difference. My job in development with the United Nations gives the opportunity to get involved in projects that are aimed at reducing poverty in Latin America.  Casa Abierta will be my direct contribution to the pressing need represented by children without the hope of a better future in Nicaragua.

Name of Project:
Linkaid
 
What will it do?
Linkaid will be a network that brings together people in need of funds, legal advice or medical attention together with donors, lawyers and doctors that are willing and able to provide support. 

The network will build on the experience found while putting together Casa Abierta.  There are individuals who do not have a lot of time to dedicate to social work; however, they are willing to contribute with resources and time if they are given easy and manageable choices to do so.  Linkaid will be based on information sharing between those in need and their potential supporters.  For example, if someone needs to go to the cardiologist, the appointment will be made through the network and the doctor will only have to provide time slots to see the patient.  Donors and supporters will know exactly who they are helping and how.

Who/what will it benefit and how?
Linkad will benefit people with urgent and pressing needs, such as medical conditions.  Other needs that might arise (for example, fixing a machine for a blind person that does handicraft), will also be channeled to potential supporters through the network as well. 

How will it be implemented?
A small network of supporters and people in need have been formed through the process of putting together Casa Abierta.  We are documenting the cases we have given support and we will use that information as the initial input to put together a site.  A website will be created with the support from university students and professional web masters and designers.  The website will be both a “meeting point” for the network and a marketing tool to promote involvement by showing how easy it is to donate time or money to a specific cause. 

What is your role?
I am in charge of bringing together the people and resources needed to launch the network.
 
How it will be measured?
It will be measured by the number of members (supporters, donors and beneficiaries) and the number of cases attended.
 
Does it meet the criteria for projects laid out in the project descriptor?
Linkaid is based on the belief that there people in Nicaragua that are willing to help out others.  The network will have a positive impact not only on the people who will be benefited, but also in those that provide support as it will contribute to create a greater awareness of the pressing needs that surround us in country with some many economic and social challenges such as Nicaragua. 

Why is this project worthy of CALI?
Linkaid is a clear expression of CALI’s influence on my taking action to move from personal success to significance.

CALI has made me “uncomfortable” about not making enough of an effort to make a difference. My job in development with the United Nations gives the opportunity to get involved in projects that are aimed at reducing poverty in Latin America.  Linkadi will be my direct contribution to urgent needs of people with little opportunity to access the resources or people who can help them improve their lives.