“I want my son to grow up with potable water, electricity, and good roads to walk on. I want to help create a community where the kids of the future feel dignity and aren’t embarrassed about where they live.“

Marlon shares that his son was part of the reason he was motivated to join CEPAD’s Leadership Development Program, where he was voted by his community to be the Vice President of the Community Development Committee (CDC). In the program, Marlon received training on local development, organization and participation, community planning, project administration and evaluation, and writing formal solicitations.

Through this process, the CDC was able to advocate to their local government and other organizations to get electricity, road repairs, and potable water to their community. Now that the CDC have experience in executing these projects, they have big dreams for the future, including Marlon.

“I was able to go to primary and secondary school, but I still dream of going to college and getting a degree. I’m currently looking for ways to get scholarships to help finance my studies.”

Thanks to YOU, Marlon and the rest of the CDC see a bright future ahead of them. To help other rural villages in Nicaragua create their own bright future, partner with CEPAD here.