Day 16

25 minutes of reading pleasure for three disadvantaged children in Nicaragua

Never-ending stories with four-wheel drive Never-ending stories with four-wheel drive

25 minutes of reading pleasure for three disadvantaged children in Nicaragua
Day 16
Books for children in rural Nicaragua

The rustling sound of the pages turning, the fragrant ink on the paper, the hidden worlds behind countless letters - 8-year-old Juan loves it when the "Bibliobus" comes to his village. Otherwise, he and the other children in his village would hardly hold a book in their hands. The farming families here cannot afford such luxuries. Even at Juan's school, only his teacher has school books, from which he dictates the homework to the children. But for the past few months, a library has been coming to his village once a week: a brightly painted cart full of exciting books. Juan is one of the most enthusiastic visitors to the Bibliobus. He meets there with the other children to read, do crafts and do homework. He can borrow the books and continue reading at home. Every week he looks forward to discovering new stories. Not only do they inspire his imagination, they also hold unexpected opportunities for his future.

Books for children in rural Nicaragua
need
Access to books and additional educational opportunities for children in rural Nicaragua.
activity
The bookmobile and its staff provide access to books, teaching materials, workshops and courses for one day per week in a remote village.
Measurable performance
Number of reading hours in the bookmobile for Nicaraguan children.
Result
The children are skilled in reading and are improving their academic performance.
Systemically relevant impact
More children in rural areas complete school and have the opportunity for social and economic advancement.
background

Although 91.5 percent of all children in Nicaragua attend primary school, less than half of them complete school (World Bank, 2019). There is great inequality in education in Nicaragua (UNDP, 2019): Factors such as weak educational infrastructure, low levels of education and poverty in rural areas lead to a strong urban-rural divide. Children are particularly affected. The few schools in rural areas are poorly equipped and the children usually do not even have school books. With a daily income of less than one US dollar (GIZ, 2018), many parents cannot invest in their children's education. The average school time of a village child in Nicaragua is two years less than the already low national average of 6.8 years (Huelva et al., 2017; UNDP, 2019). By comparison, in Germany the expected period of education is over 14 years.

In Nicaragua's national learning tests, rural children perform significantly worse than urban children. They have particular gaps in reading, among other things (Huelva et al., 2017; Laguna et al., 2008). Families in rural Nicaragua live mainly from agriculture, and the adults themselves usually have a low level of education. For their children, this means that they will most likely only attend primary school and have no prospect of well-paid jobs or even university - a development that continues generation after generation. This is precisely why it is essential to raise awareness among rural families about regular reading habits.

Day 16 Day 16
The good deed

With your good deed, the book bus brings important reading material to rural areas of Nicaragua and offers children the opportunity to read regularly. Especially in places where there are no state education options, many children eagerly await the "Bibliobus". They practice their reading comprehension in a playful way, experience learning success and develop a reading routine. Qualified carers support the children and encourage their development through holistic, individually tailored educational offers. For the children, reading means discovering new things, thinking outside the box and being able to take advantage of educational opportunities. The effort pays off: the book bus contributes to an increase in school qualifications and thus gives the children prospects for a better future.

AboutNicaragua
Managua
Managua
Capital city
6,454,500
6,454,500
Population
$4,790
$4,790
Gross domestic product per capita per year
Rank 126 of 189
Rank 126 of 189
Human Development Index (Human Development Index)

Nicaragua is particularly proud of its poets: the national hero Ruben Darío is considered the “Prince of the Spanish language”.