This Lent we are asking Amos Trust supporters to Give It Up for Nicaragua. We want you to give up something small that you regularly spend money on, and to give the money you would have spent to the teachers at The Avocado Tree School as a well-deserved bonus.
The dedicated staff at the school work long hours for minimum wage. The school is funded entirely by charitable donations, and receives no government funding. In the past when money has been unable to get through during times of political upheaval and natural disaster, the teachers have forgone their pay to ensure that Avocado Tree has kept running. In some cases teachers did not get paid properly for a year putting a real strain on them and their families.
The Avocado Tree School was set up by Amos Trust's partners, CEPAD in the town of La Concepcion, just outside Managua. 86% of the adult population of the town are unemployed and until Avocado Tree was opened, only half the children in the town were able to go to school.
We want the teachers of Avocado Tree School to know that their dedication is appreciated, so why not challenge yourself, your small group, even your whole church to Give it up for Nicaragua!
Getting involved couldn't be simpler
- Decide what you are going to give up - Your daily Caramel Macchiato perhaps? Or that weekly copy of Hello magazine maybe? Just something small that you buy regularly.
- Throughout Lent set aside the money you would have spent on that item.
- At the end of the 40 days, send the money to us, and we will make sure it goes in the teachers' wages as a bonus at the end of the school year.
You can give your money via a one-off donation online here. Make sure you choose ‘Lent 2011 appeal – Nicaragua’ on the drop-down menu.
Or you can send cheque a payable to Amos Trust. We can claim the gift aid on your donations, so please download and print off a support form to send with your cheque, so we can claim gift aid from your efforts. Our address is Amos Trust, 83 London Wall, London EC2M 5ND.
Every penny will make a difference to the dedicated staff of a school which is a real symbol of hope for the whole community:
“My father is unemployed. My mother has had to go to Spain to work as a domestic help to send us money so that we could afford to eat. The only hope I have for my country’s future is in our education.”
Betty, year 9 student, Avocado Tree School
