Cultural Center of Batahola Norte Newsletter Winter 2012

Elena Rivers Zeledón came to the Cultural Center of Batahola Norte (CCBN) to learn English, but it was the violence prevention workshops that changed her life forever. The workshops are offered to every woman who is enrolled in a class at the CCBN. In Elena’s sessions there were 64 women.

The workshops include discussions on self-esteem, leadership, and economic independence. Elena struggled with low self-esteem, so she found the discussions on valuing oneself, support networks, and strategies for addressing challenges particularly valuable. One of the challenges, domestic violence, hit close to home. Before the workshops, Elena considered the domestic violence she had grown up with to be a private experience that she could not discuss. “I came from a

violent household,” she said simply. But as her fellow participants shared personal stories of violence, her attitude began to change. She no longer viewed her experience of violence as something to hide but as a personal manifestation of a larger social problem that needed to be in the open and combated. The workshops gave Elena the tools to confront the violence in her life assertively. “We don’t have to live like dogs in the rain in this world. We can improve our conditions. We don’t have to resign ourselves to misery,” she said. Since attending the workshops, Elena has noticed changes in herself and in her family life. She said, “I love myself more, and I love other people more.” She has been able to transform her relationships with her mother and sisters, speaking with them more honestly than ever before. She observed, “For the first time, I am able to talk with my mom about certain things, and our relationship has changed for the better because of it.” According to Ivania Pineda, the violence prevention psychologist at the CCBN who helps facilitate the

workshops, “Once women learn to value themselves and their experiences, they are able to see themselves as leaders and protagonists of their lives—and they are able to make decisions to improve their lives that they were afraid to make before.” Summing up her experiences, Elena said, “…These workshops that the Center does are not

things you can find anywhere. The personal changes I experienced are the most beautiful thing, the best reward. The Center has helped me move forward with my life.” As Elena moves forward with her life, she hopes to continue improving her English and to complete her degree in business administration.

Ivania Pineda, CCBN violenceprevention psychologist

Elena’s Powerful Insight:“We don’t have to live like dogs

in the rain in this world.”

In this issue, for the first time, we are listing the names of our generous donors. Even in these difficult financial times, our loyal donors have continued to support the Cultural Center of Batahola Norte (CCBN) and its many efforts to empower the people of Batahola. Ninety-five percent of all donations go to support the miraculous work of the CCBN. While the CCBN works hard to attract additional funding and grants, if it were not for our amazing donors, there would be a serious short fall in the budget. Friends of Batahola are very grateful for your generosity and sustained support. Prayer support is also extremely important to the success of our mission, and we are ever mindful of your gift of prayers. To the many volunteers who offer hours of their time planning fundraising events, assisting with administrative tasks, and spreading the word about the CCBN’s mission, we are also eternally grateful to you for your tireless efforts. The solidarity you exhibit with your time, talent, and financial support demonstrates your compassionate caring for the staff, teachers, and students at the CCBN. It gives them the courage and energy they need to continually move forward. So, thank you for all your support. Please know that it is gratefully received.Peace,Pat Berning

President’s Column

Blessings in the New Year!

Two years ago, Maribel, a mother of four who earns a little money selling ice and food from her home, came to the Cultur-al Center of Batahola Norte (CCBN) looking for financial help and ended up with more than she expected. She received not only an elementary school scholarship for her oldest daughter, Tiffany, who is 10, but help that will benefit the whole family.

Maribel and Tiffany are participating in two programs offered at the CCBN: Parent-ing School and Recreational & Creative Spaces. Both pro-grams are offered to families with students receiving schol-arships and are designed to counter the widespread prob-lems of domestic violence, poverty, broken families, and alcoholism. Thirty parents participated in the Parenting Program in 2011, meeting monthly with Karen Muñoz, the Center’s psychologist. To-gether with their children, they also participated in the Recre-ational & Creative Spaces program. The children also received three hours of tutoring each week to insure their success as scholarship students and to help keep them in school.

The programs focus on effective communication, self-es-teem, forming values, and abuse prevention. Through interac-

tive games and creative activi-ties, parents learn how to show affection and support their chil-dren. The children learn how to express their feelings and recog-nize their creativity.

“Before coming to the Center, I didn’t know how to mother,” Maribel said. “I never used to hug my daughter, but now I’ve learned how to talk to her and know the importance of show-ing affection,” Tiffany said, “I liked making cards and the piñata with my mom. I can see that she is nicer now and more affectionate.”

Blanca, another parent in the program, said that during the Recreational & Creative Spaces gatherings, she and her eight-year-old son, Ellington “felt liberated!” Raised by an abu-sive grandmother, Blanca didn’t have a model of loving parent-ing. She said, “Before, I used to hit Ellington hard, but now I’ve learned better ways to discipline him that will help him grow and not hurt him.”

Your donations help make both programs possible. The pro-grams are essential components of the Center’s efforts to nur-ture healthy parent-child development and to prevent abuse.

Programs Promote Healthy Parent-Child Relationships

“Before coming to the Center, I didn’t know how to mother.”

We gratefully acknowledge our steadfast supporters. It is only with your ongoing financial support that the Cultural Center of Batahola Norte is able to fulfill its mission of education, cultural development, and personal transformation, following in the footsteps of our founders, Sr. Margie Navarro and Fr. Angel Torrellas. Your donations provide hope to hundreds of women, children, young adults, and men for a better, brighter tomorrow.

THANK YOUFriends of Batahola Donors

AlabamaJonathan Sanford

ArizonaSabino Vargas

CaliforniaRobert AntrobusDr. Thomas Barber & Clare KrebsbachJane & Phil BellomyDr. Patricia Mathes CaneMargie CarrollDorothy McCreaMercy High SchoolFran & Alfredo Mantica RoschPat Young

ColoradoColleen Ellmer

ConnecticutCarl BaileyWilliam GoldenDavid & Jean McQuillanAlex MureniaNickel Foundation

FloridaVincente Martinez

GeorgiaDouglas & Nichole MacMillanAnne Sayre

IllinoisSharon DoddJohn & Barbara LaughlinKelly Laughlin

David & Agnes MurdochJennifer MurtoffMary Kelly PatrickJoseph Twombly

IndianaJean Emily BenderJames & Mary Helen BellewAnita M. BrownAnn & Mike EnnisRob EnnisSibyl & Winston GerigSimon GingerichEllen & Nelson KraybillEvelyn KreiderAlton & Lois LongeneckerAnn & Keith MillerBecky & Ginny MillerMary MishlerFrances & Ronald RingenbergRoss RingenbergNorm & Katie RobertsMildred SchrockHarold & Mary WeaverDorothy & Stephen Weibe-JohnsonJudy Wenig-HorswellAnne Marie Yoder

IowaFrank & Patricia AliquoPaulette Fisher

KansasLaura Kraybill

LouisianaMaryann & Charlie AntrobusSr. Kathleen Babin, CSJHayden BlanchardMr. & Mrs. Don BroussardHoly Rosary ParishJan Lemoine

Jeanne & John McManusJames & Jean O’BeirneBrenda O’ConnellDelfie OliverJerry & Linda PorcheSt. Alphonsus School St. Jean Vianney Catholic ChurchSisters of St. Joseph of MedailleAnita Tircuit

MarylandMargaret Kleinhenz

MassachusettsCrystal Spring CenterLillie AlbertMary Anne AntonellisNicolas BaldassariMary Ellen BarnesDana & Sophia BartholomewAndrew & Deanne BiscoeIrwin BlumerKathleen & Michael BowlerMary A. & Prudy DameMalachy & Jean DuffyRichard & Donna ErdmanJohn & Audrey FriedmanMary GiffordMarvin GlaserKent & Lisa GriggsGregory HanrahanPaul & Liane HartnettLisa HastingsVirginia HennesseyDavid HustedGerald & Carol HustedRichard & Evelyn JacksonMargaret R. JacobsKathy KeefeDavid & Hillary KohlerMichael & Maureen KurganskyStacie A. LallyMarie LennonRobert & Pricilla Lyons

Michael & Myrna MalecBruce & Mary Masi-PhelpsDavid & Donna MatteodoCarolyn McDadeJean McDonaldChristine McQuillanPat & Jody McQuillanRichard McQuillanLouise G. MullaleyJane & Tom OllerheadJoseph & Ellen PetrieJoseph & Susan PetrieJoel & Margaret PriestleyJohn & Moira RafteryRobert & LuAnne RichMarguerite RizzoJacqueline & Peter SegalElizabeth Sparks FamilyNicole & Joseph Schotland StataGale & Phillip Stone Rita TurnerElizabeth TwomeyAndrew & Lisa WalkerJane & John WalshWaters Corporation MatchingProgramJames & Mary Glavin WeissPatricia Weitzel-O’NeillPaul WelchMelinda & James Whalen

MichiganBrian Fisher

MinnesotaJanice AndersonJoel Bergeland Amber CameronCasa GuadalupanaDorothy L. deLambertRandeep & Angela DhamiHerb & Terri HolmanKandace OlsenEthel Merrily Reinharz Trust John & Pat Ryan

MississippiMary Ciccolo

MissouriBenedictine Monastery, General CounselRachael English

New HampshireSr. Eileen Brady

New JerseyChris & Pat Cafaro

North CarolinaG. A. & Pam McQuillanMaggie Zschiedrich

North DakotaNativity SchoolDr. Manuel & Sandra Cagide OteroJanice Stoa

OhioCarl and Mary Ann AckermannBridget AnthonyJoe & Cathie ArnoldPat & Jim BerningMargaret BetscherKen BordwellAlan & Christie BrownHelen & Bernard BurdickPaul & Kay CallahanMary & Donald CreelmanJeffrey & Valeri DicosolaMichael & Leah DonohueAl & Maureen DufourJoan FlemingPaul GroneckMaggie & Rob GrottonWilliam & Judith HainesMark HeekinDouglas & Lisa HenkesMark & Rainie HoltelImmaculate Heart of Mary Parish* Patrick & Susan KeefeJames & Carol KellyRachael KemperNancy & Mark KleespiesEvelyn & Bob KnabbJayne LeeJudy LococcoKristina MarcelliLauren & Angela MeismanJames MillerThomas & Sue MillerSherron L. NavaroGene & Judy O’BrienJacqueline & Paul OheMr. & Mrs. James OttenJane PhelanVi & Jim PowersSt. Ursula Academy Student ClubSt. Xavier High SchoolJim & Gail SandmanAudrey V. SchakatMark & Susan ScheidlerFr. Pat Sheridan

Richard TobinBetty ValleRoberta & Richard Veleta

OregonLinda & Lou DeSitter

PennsylvaniaLaura HoppsJefferson Baptist ChurchDan & Eileen KeefeJohn KellyConway & Barb ShieldsSociety of Farm Women

Rhode IslandAlan & Nancy Poon

TennesseeJane Antrobus

TexasBetty Campbell, RSMCharles McAuleyLavette & Anthony Ulichnie

VermontFrances & Bob Nye

VirginiaCindy JongMr. & Mrs. Rod McGarry

WashingtonJames & Barbara Becker

Washington, D. C.Lorrie BradleyMichael & Kirsten KeefeKevin & Maureen Speers

WisconsinTim MuthSharon Woods

GermanyMatthias Voelzke

* Project Education for Batahola student sponsors, Batahola Dance, Garage Sale for Batahola, and Shoes for Success

With arms full of the artwork that they created, 16 painting students from the Cultural Center of Batahola Norte (CCBN) traveled by bus to León in November to meet a group of art students from a center there called Taller Xuchialt. The two groups met for a joint outdoor exhibition and technique exchange. Art students from the CCBN taught students in the León neighborhood of Sutiava how to paint with pastels, while the León students taught our students how to make sawdust carpets, called alfombras. These carpets are typically created for saints’ day festivals, especially in the León region. Artists mix dye and water with wood chips to craft colorful designs in the streets. Afterwards, everyone playfully destroys the carpets by jumping on them. “Making the alfombras was

new for me,” said Yolanda, a CCBN art student. “The whole event was an exchange

of creative ideas, artistic and professional development, and a great chance to display our art.” Aura Maria, another CCBN student, was glowing and said, “I found this exchange very productive, because both are offering the best of their cultural centers. It’s been a wonderful experience—one that should be repeated.” For many of the 16

students, the opportunity to travel and participate in this kind of educational exchange is rare. The CCBN made the event possible by providing transportation and the funds for lunch. The CCBN’s art teachers hope to collaborate with Taller Xuchialt students

again and to connect with other art students in Nicaragua.

Field Trip Awakening for Art Students

Gerardo Hernández Áreas, CCBN art instructor, teaches how to draw with pastels.

With hands trembling slightly but a voice projecting confidence, 51-year-old José del Carmen Morales Carrasco demonstrated his newly acquired literacy skills while delivering the commencement address at the November basic adult education graduation ceremony. José del Carmen had every reason to feel proud, and a bit nervous, because he was celebrating a great accomplishment…his first graduation ever. Nearly half of the adults in Nicaragua never attended school as children or dropped out before completing primary school. Not being able to read or write or

Twenty-Eight Adults Experience the Thrill of...

Graduation

Students learn to make sawdust carpets called alfombras.

(Continued on last page)

Friends of BataholaFor donations to the work of the Center:

Friends of BataholaP.O. Box 54821

Cincinnati, OH 45254

To contact us: president@friendsofbatahola.org secretary@friendsofbatahola.org treasurer@friendsofbatahola.org info@friendsofbatahola.org

For information in Nicaragua:Jennifer Marshall

General Coordinatorjennifer@centrobatahola.org

011-505-266-7737

Friends of Batahola NewsletterProduction VolunteersEditor: Mary Pommertmwpommert@aol.comLayout: Judy Aufdemkampe

We’re on the Web...friendsofbatahola.org

bataholavolunteers.blogspot.comFacebook, CCBN Cause

PREPAID STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDCINCINNATI OH

PERMIT NO 1294

From:2364 Heather Hill Blvd., N.Cincinnati, OH 45244

Graduation (Continued)

understand basic math severely limits their work opportunities and the ability to survive in a culture that requires literacy. To meet the great need for adult education, the CCBN designed three levels of basic education courses. Students who complete all three levels receive a primary school diploma from the Ministry of Education, making them eligible to attend a secondary school or enroll in technical classes. In November 2011, 28 adult students experienced the thrill of receiving a diploma: eight from Level I, six from Level II, and 14 from Level III. While most Level I and II graduates plan to move on to the next level of study, seven Level III graduates plan to continue their education at a secondary level, while nine have expressed interest in

enrolling in a technical course at the CCBN. Graduates were awarded diplomas and public recognition for their achievements. The graduates, family members, and friends also enjoyed several cultural performances, including two songs performed by the CCBN’s youth flute choir and two folkloric dance pieces presented by one of the Center’s youth dance troupes. But the highlight of the evening was the commencement address given by José del Carmen, which he both wrote and read. It was a moment of great personal achievement, representing hours of perseverance and dedication. His words voiced the sentiments of every graduate in attendance. José del Carmen said he hopes to celebrate more graduations in the years to come!