THE BACKPACK PROJECT

2009-2010 3RD YEAR

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What is The Backpack Project? :

 

            The Backpack Project is a program that was designed to provide children in Nicaragua with school supplies to help aid in their education.

 

Several Groups in Wisconsin students have adopted class project in which they collect backpacks and supplies. This not only helps Nicaraguan students, but promotes cultural awareness at all age levels.

 

Facts:

 

Nicaragua and its people have faced more than their share of challenges in past decades. Now rated by the World Bank as the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, nearly 75% of the population in Nicaragua lives in poverty and 50% lives on less than a dollar per day.  The level of education is tied to the poverty, indicating the string correlation between economic well-being and access to education.

         3 out of 10 children do not have access to education, a number which nearly doubles in extremely poor rural areas.

 

         Children in Nicaragua cannot attend school unless they have a required uniform and shoes.

 

         Less than one-third of children aged 3-6 attend preschool

 

         The average number of school years completed is 2 in rural areas, and 4.9 for urban areas.

 

         Approximately one in four 7-12 yr.. old children doesn't’ attend school.

 

         36% of adolescents do not graduate from high school.

 

         School supplies are not provided. Many student stop attending school because they cannot afford a notebook or pen.

 

         Many Nicaraguan families are unable to afford the required school uniform, which excludes their children form school attendance.

 

How to help:

 

You can help improve the education of a student by simply filling a backpack with school supplies and bringing it to the W/NP office or warehouse. Personalized card can be inserted with your special gift. You can also just contact HCP and bring it to us by November 16th.

 

Suggested Supplies Included in Backpacks:

            Notebooks

            Pens

            Pencils

            Pencil Sharpeners

            Erasers

            Scissors

            Folders

            Filler Paper

            Binders

            Stickers

            Glue

            Glue Sticks

            Crayons

            Markers

            Highlighters

            Watercolors

            Rulers

            Compasses

            Protractors

            Paper Clips

            Rubber Bands

            Construction Paper

            Any other school Items

            A small toy

SUCCESS!!

This year's backpack drive was highly successful. We were able to fill more than 75 backpacks with school supplies with tons of supplies to spare. Students and advisors took all the supplies to Stevens Point, Wisconsin to pack them into large boxes to be sent by military to the schools in Nicaragua. While in Stevens Point, HCP members learned more about the project and how they could become more involved in the Wisconsin/Nicaragua Project. Thank you to everyone who contributed supplies for the project.

By the end of the lunch meeting, students and advisors were enthusiastic toward becoming a city sponsor. It is possible that Evansville will have a sister city in Nicaragua in the near future. If you would like to find out more information on this possibility or what you could do to help out, please contact HCP at hcp@evansville.k12.wi.us. 

 

 

*If you want more information of the Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners of Americas, Inc. contact them;

            1209 Fremont St.

            134 Nelson Hall-UWSP

            Stevens Point, WI 54481

Telephone: 715-346-4702

Fax: 715-346-4703

Email: wnp@uwsp.edu

Website: http://wnp.uwsp.edu