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Honoring the Spirit of a Quiet Person with a Persistent Vision
Carolyn Nadine Parker
1959 – 2012
We have lost a friend, teacher and mentor in the Alianza de Solentiname. The Alianza is the small NGO co-founded by Carolyn Parker in 2008 in the Solentiname Archipelago of Lake Nicaragua. Carolyn’s constant efforts to improve the futures of her adopted community through compassionate education of each child will be missed but not forgotten.
We will continue Carolyn’s legacy of progressive values and grassroots activism in Solentiname by educating and empowering youth to change their society. is a proactive, holistic, inclusive approach that recognizes that education equips youth to break the cycle of economic and social poverty in their community. With your generosity honoring Carolyn’s initiative, we can make the Alianza a lasting organization to enable the community to educate its children and forge its future.
 The Alianza de Solentiname (Solentiname Solidarity Alliance) is a 501-(c)3 nonprofit reorgnized in the United States and Nicaragua… 100% of all money or services received go directly to our programs. Administrative overhead costs are covered by BattenKill Canoe, an adventure tour operator in Vermont, and will not come out of your contribution.
We hope to create an endowment in Carolyn’s name for the continued sustainable operation of the Alianza’s educational programs.
Carolyn provided the vision for Sobresalientes (motivated student) a multi-faceted competency-driven, participatory, student centered educational program for students from Solentiname. The objective is to expand the educational opportunities for gifted and motivated (sobresalientes) students in Solentiname; to enable them to reach their true potential. It is an innovative “school in a school” complementing the rudimentary government primary and secondary school system. Our approach includes a focus on developing critical thinking and creative learning. The goal is to use these new tools to get the students thinking for themselves, and developing a lifelong love of learning. Our program is entirely voluntary, open to all students from Solentiname, with a special concentration for female students.
It is a progressive, comprehensive program that starts with reading in preschool, culminating with scholarships for University.
- Leer (read) Solentiname is a reading program hat concenrates on promoting and sharing the joys of reading for pre-school and primary students.The Vision is to develop a thirst for knowledge and curiosity and sharpen their critical thinking and analytical skills. The Mission is that if we can get them reading at a young age, they will be better students, more successful in University, and finally more productive and proactive leaders in their communities. Leer is an after school program, and BiblioBote is our mobile lending library by boat that regularily visits the 9 sector primary schools to loan books. BiblioBote is one of our most important initiatives, especially in a place where many have few books, and no culture of literacy.Being able to read and write are not skills we learn on our own -- literacy is a gift one generation passes along to the next.
- Sabatinos focuses on older primary school students to supplement their regular schooling. Our english and computer learning program is the foundation of sabatinos, along with various electives that complement exisiting primary education to feed curious minds.
- Capacitación Para Universidad (CPU)Historicially the transition to daily University has been impossible for even the best students from Solentiname, and the objetive is to offer Advanced Placed courses for students who are intereted in attending daily University so that they are better prepared to compete with students from daily colegios.
- The mission of the Solentiname Beca Fund is to encourage and assist students from Solentiname by providing them with the financial support to pursue a University education. Students need to know that Uniersity is an option, that this goal is within their reach, and that there are people who want to help them achieve their goals os sculpting their own visions of success nd accomplishment.
Unfortunately, the Alianza is in a financial crisis at this moment. Our principle partner for Scholarships and CPU has refused to honor our agreement and is not reimbursing us for their share of expenses in December, January, February and March. In our last meeting, amidst their unreasonable demands to justify not continuing, Carolyn asked them to respect the Alianza, the students and the community and ‘honor your agreement for the sake of the students and the community’ by contributing your promised share of scholarships and University Prep. Although it appears that this partner will not uphold our contract, we the Alianza remain committed to the vision and operation of our programs.
Now, without her valiant presence and determined efforts, we who remain must continue in Carolyn’s dedicated spirit. We hope for your support in Carolyn’s memory. Please be as generous as possible.
The Alianza is being built by the rebirth of death. The first gifts came from the compassion of Austin’s family with the loss of the talented and singular Elena Bright Shapiro. Now, with your generosity, we build support for our programs through Carolyn’s Memorial Fund.
How to Donate: You may make your donation on-line at www.solentiname.org; our certificates are reliable and it is a safe site. You may also send your check or credit card number to our office in Vermont at: Solentiname Solidarity Alliance, 6328 Historic Route 7a, Arlington VT 05250.
Thank you for your support in the spirit and vision of Carolyn.
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