News

board-You make the difference

New Beginnings

The school year in Nicaragua, unlike that in the United States, follows the calendar year.  When we visited students in December, they were completing the second semester of 2019.  As is our practice, we met with each class of students currently funded by Adelante Mujer.  What was significantly different during the December 2019 visit was the meeting with our students in their second year of medical school.  

The difference may be attributed to the fact that this second year class was the largest we have ever had.  Students interacted easily with each other and really taught us about the challenges they faced when they committed themselves to higher education and the medical curriculum.  The following gives you the opportunity to hear their challenges and the blessings they readily shared.

“We never went to school for a whole day before.  In primary and secondary school we attended only half a day.  To be in school all day was pretty hard at first.”

“I live far from here.  Our little community is on the river.  I had to take two small boats to get to a place where I could travel by land to come to URACCAN.  I miss my mom so much and she is so far away.”

“Last year 160 applied to get into medical school and of those accepted, the university would advance only 20 into the second year.  It was so, so difficult to learn so much.  But we did it!”

“Medical school is strict and we are here all the time.  We can’t be in good contact with our family and we miss all the celebrations.”

Challenges, students assured us, were balanced by blessings.

“It’s great to be part of a medical career!  Getting to see patients and have a relationship with them is special.”

“For me it was very emotional and exciting to qualify for second year studies.”

“We get to join the doctors by going house to house to test for malaria and to teach people about it.”

“I am happiest when I visit medical units and get to practice what I am learning.”

“It was scary to suture but the doctor told me I did a good job and the patient thanked me.”

In February this class became third year medical students.  Please keep them in your prayer.

Sister Diane, CSA  ~  April 2020

The “Advance Woman” Woman

The accomplishments and successes of most people are often unrecognized during their lifetime. However, on February 20, 2020 the contrary happened. Sister Ann McKean, CSA, the foundress of Adelante Mujer, was featured by the Illuminating Women Project at the beautiful Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Sister Ann with 29 other women received a glowing spotlight for the way they “shine light” on others. Beside the portrait of each, a short biography describes the creative, generous, and empowering service she gives to help other people. In the month-long exhibit that heralds them, the story of Sister Ann and the other women will inspire hundreds of visitors introduced to them at the Thelma Sadoff Center.

Sister Ann has accomplished many unbelievable feats. She earned a doctoral degree from the prestigious Vanderbilt University. Teaching at all levels from elementary school to university doctoral programs, she was professor for more than 25 years at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee. During her sixties, Sister Ann ventured into becoming a licensed pilot and was literally “the flying nun!”  

Despite her many achievements, Sister Ann considers the founding of Adelante Mujer to be the most significant work of her rather exciting life. It was for this initiative that she was featured as one of Fond du Lac’s inspiring women.  

We believe that each and every Adelante Mujer student and doctor in far-away Nicaragua considers Sister Ann with equal admiration and gratitude because each is or was a beneficiary of the organization that claimed Sister Ann’s devoted work and attention for the past ten years. To each of them and to all young women her message is Adelante Mujer which means “Advance Woman!” She did and they do!  

 

 

Grateful – part 1

We hear how thankful the students are, but you don’t have the same opportunity. You deserve to receive the gratitude since the support is coming directly from you, the donors. Below are some comments from the most recent applicants who have been accepted into the program. The thoughts are from the heart, the translation from Google.  Continue reading “Grateful – part 1” →