Today the education team traveled to Ciudad Dario to train 40 participants working with younger children in their rural communities. The drive was long and a bit scary as we travel over a rough roads however, rest assured we had an excellent driver, Marcos! Today was especially memorable as I watched my follow team members teach. We began preparing for this trip nearly six months ago! I saw such a passion and joy for teaching that reminded me why teachers chose the profession. We love all children, we want the best for all children and we will travel far to share our passion for learning with others! It is what makes a teacher a teacher.
I was further humbled as I looked around the community building in which we were teaching. This rural community preschool teacher had painstakingly created numerous examples of reading and math posters to help her children learn important learning concepts. This excellent teacher was a past scholarship student before attending university to become a teacher. This young woman of 22 is working so hard to educate the children of her home community. Listening to her share her love of the children, her community and observing the care she takes to prepare her teaching materials reminded me that the passion for teaching is universal. I belong to a special group of professionals that have a deep desire to share meaningful knowledge with others. I was reminded today how blessed I am to learn from this Nicaraguan educator!
This is my third trip to Nicaragua as a member of the education team. I fully believe that while I travel here to serve others, it it I who learns the most. What a gift Gundersen Global Partners have been to me. I am blessed.
Lynda Fernholz, PhD
Associate Professor
School of Education
Viterbo University
Top row: Andrea Haines and Kate Willasden teaching language games and teacher created materials by our Nicaraguan colleagues
Bottom row: Scholarship students leaving with their Gundersen Global Partners backpack and teaching materials, Kate Willasden teaching a math with interpreter Marcos
Central America 