Every year, Fabretto receives hundreds of volunteers from countries like the Unites States, Spain and England. As a Nicaraguan who lives in the capital city, witnessing Fabretto’s rural programs was especially meaningful for Patricia. She wants to share her story in order to raise awareness of these issues in her home country, and help create a better future for Nicaraguan children.

Patricia is the Social Media Director at Engine OgilvyOne, and has collaborated with Fabretto for more than a year. Here, she tells us a little bit about her first visit to the communities in which Fabretto works: “Although visiting the centers was originally for work, I knew it was going to become the experience of a lifetime.”

Patricia entered the communities knowing it would be a humbling experience, and planning to gain a better appreciation for her own living conditions. Something she did not expect to find was, “something I lost a few years ago: The motivation to keep studying.”

Learning first-hand of the hardships of rural life in Nicaragua caused Patricia to realize the impact education can have on the future of rural communities: “kids that walk up to three hours to get to school, couldn’t be more inspiring,” she tells us.

Patricia learned of so many extremely motivated children, such as David, who, from a remote school in Cusmapa is studying relentlessly in the hopes of some day becoming a language teacher. Or like that of César, a 13-year-old community leader who took the initiative to construct a house for his classmate who lives with his mom and 9 brothers. She smiles remembering Doña Chepita, proud mother of 15, who helped her oldest daughter build a chicken-coop as part of Fabretto’s SAT program.

”I finally understood how Fabretto motivates youth to put their education into action and to help others, thereby creating self-sustaining communities … I understood that success and happiness are built on effort and perseverance. Now I’m ready to follow their example, and take that first step towards a better Nicaragua,” Patricia says.

Follow Patricia’s example: Learn more about volunteering with Fabretto by clicking here.

To make a donation to support Fabretto’s education programs, click here.