IN NICARAGUA

Nicaragua has one of the weakest economies in the Western Hemisphere. Massive unemployment and decades of disruption from civil war and environmental disasters have left the people of Nicaragua without the money it takes to improve the prospects for a better life for the children of the country.

But when Peace Corps volunteer and current ABREN board president Kristina Underdal initiated the idea of a children’s library in Pueblo Nuevo in 2000, the community stepped forward enthusiastically with volunteer labor to build the original "Amigos" children’s library. Since the library opened, the people of Pueblo Nuevo have sustained it in many ways. A partial list includes:

• Keeping up buildings and grounds, including community clean-up days and yearly repainting of play structure
• Maintaining and repairing electrical infrastructure
• Paying for utilities at the center
• Keeping book collection in good condition by adding protective covers and making repairs as needed
• Preparing nutritional snacks for preschool program
• Volunteering to teach arts and music and help with youth activities
• Designed and built Centro Amigos and Casa Margarita libraries and community center.