Nicaragua OPTION FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE

Nicaragua, the geographically impressive "land of lakes and volcanoes", is also one of the poorest countries in Latin America. Here, about 50% of the population live in poverty and about 20% among them in extreme poverty. A contributing factor is that the economy of this Central American state is predominantly based on agriculture. Moreover, the country was set back considerably by long years of civil war in the 1970s and 80s. With the end of the war in 1990, new perspectives had to be created, especially for young people.

Despite a promising economic upswing at the beginning of the millennium, Nicaragua is currently experiencing a renewed economic recession as a result of the socio-political crisis which started in April 2018. Consequently, the humanitarian situation has also worsened, especially for young people.

OUR WORK IN NICARAGUA

The Samuel Foundation has been involved in immense social and economic tasks since 1989. Since 1993, the foundation has been training young men and women in four technical and commercial professions in the capital Managua with the help of a committed training and administration team. In this way, we have been opening the doors to a better future for economically disadvantaged young people. All our technical education programmes are accredited by the National Technological Training Institute (INATEC), the Nicaraguan institute for non-university technical education.

Car Mechanics

With the expansion of the vehicle fleets of many companies, the demand for skilled workers in the automotive and mechatronic sectors has risen steadily. The foundation has taken this development into account by offering the technical education programme Car Mechanics.

Programme content: Students are trained in all maintenance, diagnostic and repair work, as well as emission control and general overhauls of engines including the execution of basic electronic and mechatronic work. In addition, technical English, occupational safety, environmental protection, computer skills and soft skills, e.g., teamwork, are included in the curriculum.
Employment opportunities: Employment as a mechanic in automotive workshops in the public and private sector, in private diagnostic, repair and maintenance companies, in companies involved in the automobile and commercial vehicle trade and the distribution of motor vehicle parts, as well as self-employment in the automotive sector.
Duration of the programme: 19 months on a full-time basis incl. a three-month apprenticeship
Number of scholarship places to be awarded each year: 50
Certificate: Graduates receive from the foundation a diploma as "Técnico General en Mecánica Automotriz de Vehículo Liviano" (Car Mechanic). The technical education programme is recognised by the National Technological Training Institute INATEC.

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology

With the technical education programme Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology, the foundation has responded to the continuing high demand for skilled workers in the public and private sectors as well as in workshops specialised in this field.

Programme content: Students acquire all the necessary knowledge for analysing refrigeration and air conditioning circuits. They learn the correct handling of tools, equipment and measuring instruments and receive theoretical and practical knowledge for the installation, maintenance, diagnosis, and repair of household refrigeration appliances as well as refrigeration and air conditioning appliances/systems in the commercial sector. In the area of environmental protection, training on the use of climate-friendly refrigerants and its safe handling occupies a special place. In addition, technical English, occupational safety, computer skills and soft skills, e.g. teamwork, are included in the curriculum.
Employment opportunities: Employment as a technician in refrigeration and air conditioning workshops, in private installation and maintenance companies, in hotels and other companies in the private and public sector, as well as self-employment as a refrigeration and air conditioning technician.
Duration of the programme: 19 months on a full-time basis incl. a three-month company apprenticeship
Number of scholarship places to be awarded annually: 25
Certificate: Graduates receive a foundation diploma as "Técnico General en Refrigeración y Aire Acondicionado Comercial" (Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician). The technical education programme is recognised by the National Technological Training Institute (INATEC).

Accounting

By offering the technical education programme Accounting, the foundation has responded to the continuing high demand of public and private enterprises for young graduates with accounting and general administrative skills. In addition, the steadily growing number of small and micro-enterprises in Nicaragua generates an increasing demand for support in the field of accounting. Our offer is particularly geared towards the advancement of young women.

Programme content: Students are trained in the theory and practice of all activities pertaining to the accounting cycle as well as in all other tasks related to their field. This includes, among other topics, the principles of proper accounting, current tax regulations, accounts receivable/payable, inventory management as well as cash and account management. In addition, computer skills and their efficient use in accounting, technical English, and soft skills e.g., teamwork, are included in the curriculum.
Employment opportunities: Employment as an accounting assistant in companies from the trade, service, or industry sectors.
Duration of the programme: 19 months on a full-time basis incl. a three-month apprenticeship
Number of scholarship places to be awarded each year: 25

Graduation: Graduates receive a foundation diploma as "Técnico General en Contabilidad" (Accounting). The technical education programme is recognised by the National Technological Training Institute (INATEC).

Administration with emphasis on English

The foundation has responded to the continuing high demand of public and private companies for young graduates with administrative and English skills by offering the technical education programme Administration with a emphasis on English. This also caters to the demand from US companies which maintain branches in Nicaragua for appropriately trained personnel. This offer is particularly geared towards the advancement of young women.

Programme content: Students are trained in the theory and practice of administration, customer service, human resources, office management and basic accounting. Thanks to the English-language focus of the programme, they are prepared to take up bilingual jobs after graduation. In addition, computer skills and soft skills, e.g., teamwork, are part of the curriculum.
Employment opportunities: Employment as an administrative or management assistant in the areas of customer service, personnel, sales, public relations/marketing in companies from the public sector, as well as the trade, industry, and service sectors, such as tourism and call centres.
Duration of the programme: 19 months on a full-time basis incl. a three-month apprenticeship
Number of scholarship places to be awarded each year: 25

Certificate: Graduates receive a foundation diploma as "Técnico General en Administración con énfasis en Inglés" (Administratition with emphasis on English). The technical education programme is recognised by the National Technological Training Institute (INATEC).

EXCELLENT PLACEMENT SUCCESS

At our centre in Managua, we regularly succeed in leading around 90 per cent of the students that enrol every year to a professional qualification after their 19-month full-time technical education. Of these, we place an average of 90 per cent in permanent jobs. The success and good reputation of our training is reflected in the placement rates of the “Samuel graduates”, which even in economically difficult times stay high. Since the beginning of our activities in Nicaragua, a total of more than 3,500 young women and men have successfully completed their full-time technical education. Thanks to our holistic approach, our graduates leave the foundation with a high level of professional competence and increased self-confidence. They start their professional lives with great motivation.

Part-time courses – Design and Manufacturing of Clothing/Textiles

PART-TIME COURSES (CURRENTLY SUSPENDED)

Since 2019, the foundation has been offering part-time vocational training courses as an alternative for those who are affected by the precarious situation on the labour market or who do not meet the selection requirements for the regular technical education programmes in terms of school education or age. The eight to twelve-week free courses "Design and Manufacturing of Clothing/Textiles" and "Repair and Maintenance of Motorcycles" are usually co-financed by cooperating organisations. In these courses, participants are taught the basics of self-employment, which should contribute to improving the family income. The foundation's low threshold offers are regularly met with great interest.

Current Projects

Education Situation in Nicaragua

63% of the school-age population have completed primary education
23,4% have completed secondary education
14,9% have a professional degree (university and non-university)

(Source: UNESCO. The above-mentioned data dates from 2009. Unfortunately, more recent information is not available.)

MODERN COMPLEX FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION

The foundation's own Centre for Technical Education in Managua comprises seven classrooms, two computer training rooms, three training workshops, an administration building and a canteen. The team of trainers has access to a modern centre with equipment which is kept updated with the help of co-sponsors.

Cooperation for the environment

MARENA, the Nicaraguan Ministry of the Environment, is very active in the field of environmental protection and specifically the use of environmentally friendly refrigerants. Our centre in Managua has been cooperating with MARENA for several years in the field of refrigeration and air conditioning technology. Students and instructors from the foundation take part in workshops and seminars on the use of CFC-free refrigerants to protect the ozone layer. In addition, thanks to the acquired expertise, our centre has contributed to the preparation of a manual on the safe and climate-sensitive handling of refrigerants.