La Chureca is the name of the neighborhood that is inside one of the largest waste facilities in Central America. Families are drawn to live here because of extreme poverty and lack of employment in Nicaragua. During the day adults and children dig through the trash looking for things to salvage, eat or recycle. The families earn a mere $3 on a typical workday. It is a very difficult way of life. The children are the ones who suffer the most, being forced to work for or alongside their parents. Along with the filth of La Chureca there is a strong presence of drugs, glue sniffing, alcohol abuse and prostitution.

Empowerment Through Education

In an effort to help empower children out of poverty & exploitation, Rise Up is one of the supporters of “Colegio La Esperanza,” a school located in the community that provides all of the kids in La Chureca the opportunity to receive a free education, lunch, a safe environment, tutoring, and a chance for extra curricular activities. There are currently 348 students attending preschool-6th grade.

In 2008 Rise Up began sponsoring the “Scholarship Program” which allows the kids from La Chureca to continue into their secondary education once they complete the sixth grade at “Colegio La Esperanza.” Typically when the kids graduate from the 6th grade they are forced to work to help provide for their family. Many of the children are desperate to break the cycle of poverty that is keeping them in the dump and this program gives them that chance.

In addition to education, the high school students receive mentoring, go on fun group outings, and participate in volunteer projects.

Check out the trailer for a documentary that Rise Up has been working on.

View a video that shows what life looks like inside La Chureca.