So when Angie Milton, a Forum One Project Officer, decided to take a six-month sabbatical to volunteer in Nicaragua, we realized that it was time for us to eat our own dog food. Angie is already blogging regularly about her work for the San Juan del Sur Sister City Project in Nicaragua. We're always haranguing our client organizations to set up blogs to collect "field notes.". MORE

So I went to Nicaragua and spent a summer working on some farms, this was in 1982, Nicaragua was in the midst of a revolution in which they were giving land to the poor, and helping poor people organize co-operatives as a way of building a community framework for development and for sustainability. Instead, I stayed for eleven years and lived in Nicaragua through the Contra War and worked with farmers and with co-ops during that time. MORE

The creators of Global Girlfriend's merchandise come from all over the world: Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Nicaragua, South Africa, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. According to a recent article in Muncie, Indiana's Star Press , "the National Retail Federation expects the average consumer to spend $791.10 this holiday season, up from $738.11 last year." If you're going to spend that kind of cash, why not give a gift that gives back? MORE

Salud del Sol's mission is to, "provide communities in Nicaragua with the opportunity to improve their own healthcare systems while supporting sustainable development that creates jobs for members of these communities." Wellesley College student, Catlin Powers , is the co-founder of One Earth Designs. The organization helps Himalayan communities, "achieve their unique visions of sustainable living through science/engineering education and infrastructure development." MORE

The American Nicaraguan Foundation is a nonprofit that provides basic needs and tools for people to help stop poverty in Nicaragua. Each January Nonprofit Tech 2.0 selects 31 new “ Favorite Nonprofits ” to be featured in the Nonprofit Tech 2.0 banner. Nonprofits in previous years were chosen primarily because they excelled at social media. This year, however, the selection process was a bit more personal. MORE

Or check out the photos from Kathy Adams who runs Empowerment International and has been sharing photos from Nicaragua and Costa Rica that show the impact of her organization's work Photo by Santino Livoti One face to a problem moves us, millions overwhelm us. Successful fund raisers for social causes have known that for a long time. MORE

They are already active in Africa and Latin America, in countries like Uganda, Rwanda, Liberia, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua. The rise of for-profit social enterprises has been quite exciting. Although I'm firmly on the nonprofit side with Benetech (because we focus on big issues where the market is failing), it's definitely easier to get funded sustainably if you have an exciting and invest-able business plan. Evan Haigler is a social entrepreneur I've known for years. MORE

This weekend, I made my first educational microloan, to Claudia Belén García Royz of Nicaragua, who is studying to be an industrial engineer. As someone with three kids in college, I'm used to the idea of educational loans. My kids are borrowing money; I'm borrowing money. It's the American way of higher education! Outside the U.S., educational loans are not so common. And, education is the way out of poverty. MORE

At 4:30, Steve starts a “pointing game” in which he asks you to point to the tallest building you can see, then the Statue of Liberty, then Nicaragua. After the Nicaragua question, Steve says, “Most of you are pretty good at geography.” He could easily make fun of the (likely many) people who can’t identify the direction of Nicaragua. I’ve long admired Improv Everywhere , the NYC-based participatory public art group. MORE

Witness for Peace has a blog for their team in Mexico and for their team in Nicaragua to report back on their work there. Last March I was on a blogging panel for an event put on by the Alliance of Technology and Women. To prepare for the panel, I wrote up 10 Ways Nonprofit Can Use Blogs. MORE

When my wife explained to Nelly that the pigs were going to live in Nicaragua, she chirped back, “Mami, can we go and visit them there?&# Ah, a happy ending. * * * By Steve Bridger filed under accountability , engagement , giving , storytelling christian aid , ethical gifts , nicaragua , present aid , storytelling You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 MORE

Now, a co-ed can go online and donate to a poor entrepreneur in Nicaragua with the click of a mouse.The Internet has spiked awareness of Students Flock to Microfinance to Learn Real World Skills - NAM: "PALO ALTO, Calif. Idealistic students who wanted to give back to their community used to volunteer with food drives, homeless shelters or community centers. Charity was once very localized. MORE