Katie Messick in La Chureca

by Abhi Nangia and Anahi Santoyo

Nicaraguan Impact-Investment Fund: the capstone class is returning to Nicaragua

by Caitlin Ferguson, Andonis Marden and Ellie Deshaies

Black Friday…
Cyber Monday…
Give back on #GivingTuesday^TM!

We'd be honored if you join us in starting a new tradition of giving today, on November 27. www.mannaproject.org/holidayhope

Today the US Ambassador to Nicaragua, Phyllis Powers, visited La Chureca to see the clinic, Manna's Child Sponsorship program and the Jewelry Cooperative! It was an honor!

Thanks for coming! This is a draft version in great need of feedback, improvement, and fact-checking. All suggestions welcome. 

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“Social Entrepreneurship,” according to one definition, “strives to solve social problems at a systemic level using innovative, sustainable, scalable, inclusive and measurable approaches.”

Say what?

In the 1980s, Ashoka Foundation’s Bill Drayton started using the phrase social entrepreneur to describe the people he funded to fix the world’s problems. Thirty years later, we use the phrase (and its sister, impact... [more]

In May 2012, Northeastern University’s Social Enterprise Institute and the Barker Family Foundation began a partnership with Manna Project International (MPI) to kick-start a Women’s Empowerment Project (WEP) in Nicaragua. This support, coupled with a generous donation from the Shaugnessy  Family, has enabled MPI to increase the scale and scope of its livelihoods intervention for the benefit of young women living in La Chureca

The WEP supports the development of a women’s artisanal cooperative during year one... [more]

We are so excited to announce this new partnership with Walmart to help women and children living in La Chureca, the municipal dump in Nicaragua.  Read more >>

We had a contest at our Guatemala site to see who could stuff the most plastic bottles with inorganic trash to be used as building blocks for the local school - 650 total!  Now we are ready to start building the second floor.  Pics here and here.

We have 19 interns between our 3 sites for the first summer session.  We are so excited to help them get started, and already see the incredible additions they will be to our teams!  Check out our blogs for more updates on interns at each site. blogs >>

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Earn $5 bonus donation for your Manna when you join GoodDining during National Dine Out for Charity Month. Sign up now: http://www.goodsearch.com/gooddining.aspx?charityid=380045

Today is the next application date for Program Directors.  Be sure to get them in here!

We just finished our 2011 voluntary audit with an external accounting firm.  This provides an extra level of accountability and intergrity to ensure the potential of your donations are maximized.  If interested you can check out the document here.

A small group of around 30 Manna Vandy students had the incredible opportunity to meet with Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Grameen Bank Founder.  Professor Yunus took questions from the students ranging from ideas about social business, microloans, and how the Manna Spring Break trips could better work towards long-term sustainable development.

We are going to CGIU this weekend in DC.  Are you?  Come find our table!

http://www.cgiu.org/Default.asp

We have over 100 college students from 7 different universities coming to serve at our 3 sites this March.  The first ones are already hard at work this week.  Check out our blogs from each site that will be update daily while groups are here.

If you happen to be anywhere close to Antigua, Guatemala, come check out the MPI Guatemala team this weekend.  More details here.

MPI reps will be at the Georgetown Non-Profit Expo on Friday, February 17th, sharing info. on summer internships and 2012-3 Program Director positions.  Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center 10 a.m. -3 p.m.

Check out this video put together by Program Director Nicole Hamilton.

MPI will have representatives at the Non-Profit Career Fair at the UNiversity of Georgia on Wednesday February 8th.  The event is from 10-2 and located in the Tate student center on campus.  Come see us to discuss becoming a Program Director after graduating!

In the Nashville area?  Come check out this fantastic annual event put on by MPI's Vandy chapter.  Great food, music, silent auction - all for a great cause!  Details here. 

We are excited to co-host a recruitment event, 'Post-Grad Opportunities that Make a Difference', with Teach for America through our UGA campus chapter.  Event details:  1/26/12 @ 6:30.  More info - http://mannauga.org/index.html

We just received an anonymous check to help continue building the local school addition out of recycled plastic bottles in Guatemala.  The first floor structure is currently being reinforced with cement, rebar, and lateral beams in preparation for the second story addition which is where the bottles come in! This donation will go a long way towards buying all the necessary construction materials. The great thing about the donation is that we've been talking about... [more]

A huge congrats to Christin for winning this award to help fund her experience with Manna Project in Managua.  Check out the article here.

On Dec. 5 MPI Alumni will be representing Manna at the Harvard Summer Opportunities Fair.  If you are in the Boston area, come check it out.  More info here.

Check out our video and pictures from our Walmart voluteer day at La Chureca.  Huge thanks to Walmart Central America/Mexico for their partnership - http://mannaproject.org/press

We know this is a busy time of year - and many of you are still trying to get your applications for the Program Director position submitted.  So we have extended the 1st deadline, with the $150 off incentive, until December 1.  Hope that helps! 

The first application deadline is on November 15th with an added incentive of $150 off!  Fill out your application here.

We are very excited to have 100 local Walmart employees help out at La Chureca on November 16th.  They will be painting the entire clinic, plant a garden and some trees around the area, and providing food for all and a pinata for the kids!  We will post pictures and updates afterwards.

Yes, we are working on helping the local school in our community in Guatemala expand by using recycled bottles.  We finally have the architectural plans in hands and can't wait to keep you posted.

Today was graduation day for 210 of our English students.  So exciting to see their progress!

Are you in the DC or NYC area?  If so, come talk to us and learn more about becoming a Program Director at one of our sites:

New York City IVPA Global Volunteering Fair

When: Thursday, October 27th, 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Where: North Hall at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice (445 West 59^th Street)

Cost:  FREE!

More Information:  For a schedule of the day, including attending organizations, and to register, please visit www.nycglobalvolunteerfair.eventbrite.com. 

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DC  IVPA... [more]

Thank you for voting for us in the Chase contest.  We may not have won the money (we ended up 3rd in our category), but it was a great effort and extremely encouraging with many new great partnerships formed and over 10,000 votes!!

$1 Million for Manna needs your help.  Have you voted?  Have you helped spread the word.  We are getting closer but still need you!   http://on.fb.me/qHUbXe

We need your help!  We won $25 K from Chase in 2009.  We were asked to participate in another Chase competition but this time the grand prize is $1 Million!  Vote on Wednesday here.

Check out this new video put together by Cameron, one of our current Guatemala Program Directors. 

We are now accepting applications for Program Directors at all 3 international sites for January - August 2012.
Apply by September 30 for a $100 discount
Apply by  October 31 for a $50 discount
Current Program Directors receive $50 off for referring a friend.  More info here.

We are very grateful for the support of St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church in Purcellville, Virginia who recently donated $4,000 to the La Chureca clinic in Nicaragua and an additional $4,000 to help purchase a new vehicle in Nicaragua.  Big thanks to 2010-11 Program Director Carly Rees, who grew up in this church and helped make this happen!

We are so excited to welcome the 2011-12 teams of Program Directors to Nicaragua, Ecuador and Guatemala.  It is hard to say goodbye to the 2010-11 teams, but they have done an amazing job training their replacements to ensure continuiity with programs on the ground.  Best of luck to outgoing teams as they take their experiences with them to new endeavors around the world.  The communities you have impacted (including all... [more]

We have just released our annual report that provides a recap on all of our sites, programs, and finances.  Check it out here.

Community is at the heart of who we are and what we do, and staying connected is vital to building community.  To help us do this better, MPI has invested in Blackbaud’s Netcommunity.  This online community platform gives you the ability to stay connected with Manna by having access to update your contact information, view your giving history and receipts, and maintain your subscription preferences to Manna’s various newsletters.   
 
Also through Netcommunity, MPI’s... [more]

We are proud to introduce three new MPI staff members.  
 
Our new U.S. Director, Joel Griffith, brings a wealth of nonprofit leadership experience from his previous role as the Executive Director of Hands & Feet Project and as a Director for a youth outreach program in Nashville, as well as a Masters in Cross-Cultural Studies.  Katie Messick enters the Nicaragua Country Director role with a strong international development background with the Peace Corps,... [more]

Catchafire is a great organization that links non-profits with pro bono work from professionals in related for-profit positions.  Check out the blog and learn more about Catchafire as well.

Thank you for voting for us in the Chase contest.  We may not have won (we ended up 3rd in our category), but it was a great effort and extremely encouraging for Manna with many new great partnerships formed and over 10,000 votes!

Guatemala’s founding Program Directors have stayed busy this year, not only creating and running programs, but also seeking out funding to grow these programs.  Their time and effort has paid off, as MPI Guatemala has recently been awarded not just one, but two, grants!
 
The first grant of $2000 was generously given by the Dorotheau Haus Ross Foundation,
and will allow us to expand our summer camp program both in size... [more]

The Wills Company, a Nashville-based is giving away $5,000 and your vote could make sure that Manna Project International receives that money!

Just visit the Wills Company voting page and submit your vote for Manna Project International.  It's as easy as that!  

Every vote counts, so please help us jump at this amazing opportunity!

It's not too late to join our international team!  Manna Project International is currently accepting Program Director applications.  If you're interested in international development and want to gain the experience of a lifetime, apply now and spend thirteen months serving at one of our international sites, located in Managua, Nicaragua; Quito, Ecuador; and Chaquiyjá, Guatemala.

We are now accepting applications on a rolling admissions basis!

Apply now!

Applications for our 2011 Summer Volunteer program are now available! Spend four or eight weeks this summer living and working alongside our Program Directors at one of our three international sites.  Engage in meaningful development work while experiencing a new and exciting culture.  Our first application deadline is January 17, 2011 so get started on your application now!

For more information, check out our Summer Volunteer Handbook, or contact us at [more]

Looking for an opportunity to serve?  To experience a new and vibrant culture?  To gain meaningful leadership experience in a challenging but rewarding environment?

Apply now to be a 2011-2012 Program Director, and spend thirteen months living and running development initiatives at one of our sites in Nicaragua, Guatemala, or Ecuador.  We look forward to reviewing your application!

Check out our Spring Break Info Sheet for all the details on the MPI Spring Break experience, then submit your applications to springbreak@mannaproject.org.

It's not too late to be a Program Director this year. Now accepting applications for several positions in Nicaragua and Guatemala. Aug-Dec 2010, Jan-Aug 2011 or Aug10-Aug11. Please go to http://www.mannaproject.org/apply for more information.

The Manna Project International (MPI) Board of Directors is excited to officially announce the founding of MPI’s third international site, to be located in Chaquijyá, Guatemala. This expansion will begin this summer, in July of 2010, when Co-Site Directors Dana Zichlin and Kat Mueller, and an inaugural team of program directors, land in Guatemala to formally launch the site and begin programming.

The decision to approve the Guatemala site comes on the heels of an eight-week... [more]