After a nice breakfast of toast, jam, and watermelon the Glimpsers headed to preescholar Santo Domingo to begin Aid and Development Day. At the local preschool in Estelí, the students were able to answer discovery questions regarding their CAP (community action project). The two teachers were interviewed to help the students learn more about the needs of the preschool. The school only had two classrooms with 2 morning teachers and 2 afternoon teachers who are voluntary and teach without a fixed income. However; the teachers still stay to work because of the passion they feel towards the career as their calling in life. They expressed that the enthusiasm they see from the kids going into the first grade is extremely rewarding, making their job even more worth while.The majority of the students attending the school come from low income families who otherwise would stay at home under the watch of their siblings if it weren’t for the preschool.

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The school lacks basic supplies like paper and sufficient funding. Other organizations have tried to help out the preschool such as putting in swing sets or creating artwork out of glass bottles. Despite these attempts, some of these projects were not successful in the long term. The Glimpsers took this as an opportunity to truly look into a practical, sustainable, and needed project to better the school for both the students and teachers by educating themselves and getting to know all about Santo Domingo.

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The Glimpsers returned back to the hostel for lunch followed by an academic seminar on international aid. During the discussion, there was full participation by everyone in the group with numerous thoughtful comments. They were able to learn about the importance of planning and researching before providing aid to avoid negative unintentional effects to the community being helped. Gathered together in the common room, the Glimpsers watched the documentary Dreaming Nicaragua to gain insight into poverty in Nicaragua. Today was also their very first evening English Tutoring Lesson at a local school. Although adjustments on who was teaching what class were made, everyone was very flexible and cooperative throughout the process. The day ended with the daily nightly meeting to go over a day full of inspiration, learning, and reflection. “Peace out from Estelí 1A,later!”

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