2017 RESULTS

● 265 community leaders were trained, equipped, and encouraged to lead 18 communities in life transformation.

● 265 community leaders were trained, equipped, and encouraged to lead 18 communities in life transformation.

● A new Modern Bathroom design was developed by our infrastructure team to make the construction process more efficient and the structure safer.

● 110,247,217 gallons of clean water 1200 families.

● 113 Modern Bathrooms were built with rural families.

● 2 water systems were completed in Las Torres and Matilde, serving 109 families.

● 2,645 urine and stool samples were collected to diagnose, treat, and further prevent kidney disease and parasites.

● 637 home visits were made to destroy disease-ridden latrines and promote bathroom cleanliness and personal hygiene.

● 28 Clean Air Kitchens were constructed with rural families

● A landmark agreement was forged with the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health. The partnership will test for and educate families on 3 easily preventable diseases: intestinal parasites, kidney disease, and respiratory disease due to smoke inhalation while cooking. The ultimate goal is disease eradication.

● Partnership with the Nicaraguan Ministry of Education strengthened, in which Amigos is now training 17 teachers and 2 principles in learning methodologies.

● 135 students received scholarships to attend high school and university and served their local communities by completing 8,420 service hours.

● 6 additional classrooms were built in El Chonco to accommodate the increased attendance.

● 11 scholarship students graduated from high school or university.

● Creation Club, an after school program, was launched to serve 500 children in reading comprehension.

● 135 students received scholarships to attend high school and university and served their local communities by completing 8,420 service hours.

● 216,000 healthy meals were served to more than 600 students in 4 primary schools.

● 140 families benefited from capital in the form of chickens and pigs.

● 50 families received micro loans to invest in their small businesses.

● The Organic Pitahaya (Dragon Fruit) project kicked off with 7,200 plants growing across 4 farms.

● 1,630 volunteers served alongside their Nicaraguan brothers and sisters.

● 245 evenings were spent in the peaceful rancho, reflecting on and worshipping a God who loves us more than we can imagine.

● Juntos, a mantra meaning “together,” united the greater Amigos Family consisting of 24,857 supporters, 8,634 community members, and 108 Amigos Team members.

● Approximately 16,300 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were consumed at local worksites.

● A collective 3,892,440 feet were climbed to the beautiful summit of Cerro Negro volcano.

● Countless friendships were made that endure thousands of miles and awkward language barriers.

● Charity Navigator awarded Amigos for Christ with 4 Stars, a Perfect 100 in Financial Health and Accountability and Transparency, and a spot in the Top 10 List of Highly Rated Charities Relying on Private Contributions.

● Our Georgia Office moved into a new home office.

● $3,186,198 were given by generous donors whose support allows Amigos to pursue growth and excellence as we carry out our mission.

Our goal is a perfect 10 in each Project Area.

LEADERSHIP
The Community Leads, Owns, and Operates Every Project

WATER & SANITATION
All Families have Modern Bathrooms

HEALTH
All Families Trained and Utilizing Clean Air Kitchens & All Families have Eliminated their Latrines

EDUCATION
All Children, ages 5-17, Attending School

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
100%> =$15/Day

Cristobal Lopez has been a leader in the small, remote community of La Coyotera for over 20 years where he shares a modest home, constructed of blocks and sticks, with his wife and four school-aged children. Cristobal has worked all his life as a small-scale farmer, a livelihood which can be very unstable in the harsh terrain of northern Nicaragua. In the past, he barely made ends meet due to the exorbitant interest rate he was paying on bank loans (up to 50%). For Cristobal’s family, their only access to water was a shallow, hand-dug well in their yard. His family suffered from chronic diarrhea, parasites, and severe dehydration. Life had one basic focus: survival.

Cristobal’s story took a dramatic turn in 2014 when his community forged a partnership with Amigos for Christ. This partnership, centered on Plan 7, Amigos’ community development model, is a seven year commitment during which Amigos for Christ will provide the materials and technical expertise to install much-needed infrastructure including a clean water system, Modern Bathrooms, and Clean Air Kitchens. The families of La Coyotera have agreed to provide the labor required to complete these projects, as well as a 10% financial buy-in. But, there is much more to this partnership than infrastructure improvements.

Over the course of nearly two decades, Amigos for Christ has learned that the key to overcoming poverty is empowerment. When people have a vision for what they can become, and someone cheering them on, there is no limit to what God will do. For Cristobal and the community of La Coyotera, Plan 7 provided a vision for what the community could become.

This vision is transforming Cristobal’s family. From their own hard work and sacrifice, clean water now flows to their home, and their Modern Bathroom protects them from disease. All of Cristobal’s children are healthy enough attend school - the younger ones at a primary school in La Coyotera, the older at a secondary school about 3 km away - and all aspire to attend university.

Cristobal’s son, Ernesto, installs water pipe.

Cristobal beams when he explains the most transforming aspect of the Amigos partnership: investment in his farming business. He is part of a cooperative with ten other farmers in his community, and they enjoy a 1.6% interest rate through the microloan program. The interest they pay goes into a savings account for each farmer that, after five years, will become theirs to use as capital. This microloan effectively breaks the cycle of dependence and poverty while allowing farmers, like Cristobal and the others in his cooperative, to experience dignity and independence while earning a living.

Cristobal’s story is one of thousands being infused with hope in the rural communities that Amigos serves in the Chinandega Department. We want every family to thrive, and - after his experience with Plan 7 - Cristobal has agreed to serve as an advocate for families who desperately need vision and empowerment.

When asked what he tells communities who are new to the Amigos Plan 7 model, Cristobal replies “I tell them to pray! Pray that you can take hold of this opportunity! Amigos works with you. They teach you to believe in yourself and in God’s providence. They have taught me so much. La Coyotera is proof that this works. It is not symbolic help, but real, personal help,” and, with an unmistakable confidence in himself and his future, Cristobal proclaims, “We have water, bathrooms, and soon my family will be financially independent!

Cristobal and Elba work on their farm side by side, dreaming about their future. “My daughter, Telma, will never have to beg. In two years, we will be financially independent,” Cristobal tells us, proud of what they are providing for their family.

This multi-year project, in partnership with the Nicaraguan Ministry of Education, is a long-term investment we’ve embarked upon to empower the next generation of Nicaraguans. Through creative spaces and new teaching methods, this school serves as a model for what education can be: inspiring and purposeful.

The need for clean water is great in this large community located in El Viejo, approximately 9 km from Chinandega. El Pedregal is home to 200 families living in 174 homes. Every family has their own shallow, hand-dug well, and most wells are in close proximity to latrines. This is a major health concern as the shallow surface water is easily contaminated by latrine run-off. Amigos has tested several wells in the community and has found that every well is contaminated with fecal material and E. coli.

Yes, you read that right. By the end of 2018, we plan for 200 more families to have access to a sanitary and dignified place to use the bathroom. This big, ambitious goal is made possible by our innovative infrastructure team. With their expertise and experience, they have developed a new process to make construction faster, more cost-effective, and safer for the earthquake-prone area.

This year, with a selection of secondary and university students, we’re piloting a new approach we call Young Leaders in Action to make our Scholarship Program even more impactful. In addition to a scholarship, we are setting students up to have a purposeful internship. Depending on their field of study, interns will serve at Amigos or another local business or organization. This job experience and the leadership training that will compliment it, will help these young adults find fulfilling jobs and encourage their professional development.