In general, all non-profits share certain day-to-day struggles: maintaining funding from year-to-year, stretching dollars to cover project costs, trying to keep operating costs down while still running an efficient organization, etc. But perhaps one of the most insidious and toxic problems is mission creep. Mission creep is when an organization gradually moves away from its… Read More →

This year, we welcomed Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV), Kate Crowley, to our Board of Directors. As an organization founded by RPCVs and led by yours truly, another RPCV, Kate is like a duck in water at SCSRN. We invited her to write about why she decided to get involved with our work. As a… Read More →

As anyone who works in the non-profit sector can tell you, projects rarely go exactly as you plan them. None of us like to brag about our failures, but let’s face it: no matter how lofty your goals are or how meticulously you have planned your project, making a real, sustainable change involves a lot… Read More →

In our journey to realize our vision of a world where communities create and value cross-cultural partnerships, we sometimes cross paths with groups and organizations that transform our steps into leaps. One such group is the South Granville Rotary Club. This March, we completed our third project together, installing electrical systems in three rural schools…. Read More →

It’s been a tough year for Nicaragua. Political turmoil has affected every aspect of life, and that includes our work. We continue to maintain our policy of remaining apolitical, but there’s no denying the impact that this conflict has had and will continue to have on the poorest communities of Nicaragua, including the rural communities… Read More →

We apologize for the radio silence over the past five months. It has been a particularly difficult time for Nicaragua. Since April of this year, Nicaragua has been embroiled in the worst civil unrest it has seen in the past 30 years. The last thing we want is for our silence to be interpreted as… Read More →

2018 marks SCSRN’s 25th year of working alongside the people of San Ramón, Nicaragua. It is a time of reflection, celebration, and gratitude. Below is a video of our celebration in San Ramón this year. If you’ve been a part of this journey with us, or would like to know how you can become part… Read More →

As we close out our third quarter of the fiscal year, we’re feeling very proud of all that we’ve accomplished so far! Here are just a few highlights of some of the local initiatives we have funded this year: School constructions in El Horno, Sabana Grande, El Jicaro 1, and El Flores: This year we… Read More →

In January of this year, SCSRN hosted nursing and opthamology students from Durham Tech Community College for the first time. It was a wonderful experience for both them and us! Professor Stephanie Dawson, MSN, agreed to share her impressions of the trip with us. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to chronicle my week… Read More →

Here are a few images of the work we’ve been doing this year in San Ramón. Thank you to all of you who helped make dreams come true for the people of this wonderful corner of Nicaragua – either through donations, going on an ecotour, or purchasing crafts or coffee. A very happy holiday season… Read More →