Cultural Center of Batahola Norte Mission Statement
Our mission is to live a humane and just lifestyle with a preference for the poor, according to the Gospel. Through an appreciation of our culture and a holistic educational experience we will be enabled to appreciate the gift of human rights, self-esteem, and equality. We believe in the empowerment of people and in the value of sharing who we are and what we have in order to transform society into the Kingdom of God.
Background
More than half of the population of Nicaragua is concentrated in urban centers, including the capital. In neighborhoods like Batahola Norte, the primary occupations are: homemakers, domestic workers, drivers, police officers, carpenters, plumbers, factory workers. The median salary is US $87 per month. The basic cost of living is US$175 per month. Unemployment rate is 66% of the women and 55% of working-age people. Unemployment forces heads of families to do whatever they can to survive. An example of this is the hundreds of children, youth and adults who spend their days selling all kinds of products at the stop lights. Some of these informal workers are unemployed professionals. Batahola has approximately 10,000 families. The median age is 14 years of age.
History
In 1983, Sr. Margarita Navarro and Fr. Angel Torrellas, OP, opened the doors of the Center with the dream of empowering women, educating children and adults in a safe and faith-filled environment. They began by visiting more than 800 homes, learning the peoples’ needs and dreams, recognizing who they were and what they had. Their primary objective was to accompany the people of the neighborhood in their search for new forms of a simple life with dignity and friendship without fears. Originally, the Center was a one-room prefab structure where Sr. Margie taught a literacy class with three students. This class has continued uninterrupted since then. Fr. Angel formed the neighborhood children into a little choir, and a woman volunteered her services to begin a sewing class.
With the help of the Batahola community and donations from the United States and Spain, Sr. Margie and Fr. Angel built the neighborhood’s primary school and the Cultural Center which now comprises six classrooms used for 15 courses in different schedules, a kitchen for courses related to food preparation, a two-story library, administrative offices, a small cafeteria and a semi-enclosed auditorium that serves both as a chapel for Sunday masses and as a performance space for music rehearsals, cultural activities and folkloric dance classes. Sadly, Sr. Margie and Fr. Angel died in 2001 and 2002, respectively, but their dreams for Batahola live on in the staff, teachers, and friends.
Today
With an annual enrollment of over 800 students, the Center is a busy place. At present there are 20 teachers and 12 staff members who inspire and nurture the students in their care. Most of the Center’s teachers have some level of postsecondary education and are former students of the Center. They offer a curriculum endorsed by national government institutions.
The Center is managed by a General Coordinator, Jennifer Marshall, together with an Administrative Team: Ileana Zúniga (Administration and Finance Manager), Sonia Olivares (Teaching Area Manager), and Josefa Rodríguez (Administration and Finance Assistant). The Center receives no financial assistance from the Nicaraguan government. The Center maintains complete respect for all faiths and offers classes, services, and employment regardless of creed.
“God’s call is to walk humbly with Him and to do justice… (This) has been the basis for my work and worship.
To me, this means both service to the poor and challenging the structures that perpetuate poverty…”
-- Jennifer Marshall, Center Coordinator”
