My Nonprofit Reviews
Don from WNY
Review for Project Chacocente Usa Inc, Lexington, MA, USA
Project Chacocente's mission is to move families from the city dump in Managua, Nicaragua to a rural site a few miles outside the city. Families built their own simple houses and each work a small plot of land. Children attend the on-site Chacocente Christian school. Parents must also work toward basic literacy, as well as working to support themselves & the community. I believe there were 10 families in the initial project, and with some changes along the way, I think 8 have successfully completed their 5-year agreement. Which means they now own their houses & land! Nicaragua is a rough place to live and try to support a family, and it hasn't been easy. Chaco still depends a lot on American support but our money has been well used: they have a good sized school with a paid Nicaraguan teaching staff (which some children from the surrounding area also attend), a library, a new large capacity kitchen building, and are completing a building for a high school. I've supported Chacocente for almost 10 years, and have visited them twice. A trip to see the many people who still live on the dump turned my stomach. I've had the good fortune to get to know the founder, Cheryl Avery, and Omar Hernandez. They are both down-to earth people who devote themselves to the project and people. They are now raising funds to buy another plot of farmland and move more families. This is a simple grass-roots organization which doesn't spend much at all for fund raising or administration. All the supporters pay their own way. The reason for not giving them 5 stars is I don't think they do the best job communicating and publicizing their work. I think they could raise more money and help more families if better information were widely available (my thoughts). People who get to know Chacocente often become enthusiastic supporters. You can visit their website at OutOfTheDump.org
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
A visit to Chacocente, especially after visiting the awful dump where the residents used to live, is a powerful experience. I've seen the bright smiling faces of children who have real chance at a better life.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
put out regular mailers or emails to supporters, giving news and stories to encourage further participation & support.
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
A lot
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
How did you learn about this organization?
The founder, Cheryl Avery, visited our church several years ago. We wrote her a check, and she remembered me. She asked me to help - one of the best ways to keep people engaged!
Review for Trees For Life, Wichita, KS, USA
I am part of a team from several churches which raised funds to help build a school in a small rural community, Kayaskita, in the mountains of north central Nicaragua. It is the first school for miles around, in an area with no roads, electricity, phones or any other modern conveniences (we arrived by dugout canoe!) Through Books for Life we were able to outfit the school with hundreds of new schoolbooks, written for Central American children. There were textbooks and storybooks, for students of all ages. They also sent large, colorful maps & posters for the walls. All the materials are of the best quality, and arrived in excellent condition. They turned a simple concrete building into a real school! Dedication day was pretty overwhelming for us and the townspeople. Over 100 children attend this school today, learning to read & write - a chance they might never have had.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
