About Us

Deanna Ford

Founder

Deanna graduated in 2003 from Princeton University with a degree in Economics and Latin American Studies. Afterwards, she went to Washington, DC to work as a research assistant at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). During the summer of 2006, Deanna worked in underdeveloped communities in Nicaragua with Manna Project International on projects in education, health, and microfinance. Deanna completed her Master of Public Policy at Georgetown University in May 2007, where she focused on issues in international development and education. During school, she has also worked as a consultant for Agora Partnerships, an organization fostering business development in Nicaragua, and as a research fellow for the Center for Research on Children in the U.S. Deanna worked full-time in Nicaragua, directing and developing project operations of Nica HOPE for the first two years of the project's operation.  She is now working at the Center for International Development at Harvard University, but remains very involved in Nica HOPE's work.

Maryeling Murillo

Project Director

Maryeling graduated in 2003 from the University UNAN in Managua, with her degree in Computer Education. In 2005 , she began her graduate studies in Administration in Youth and Adult Education of Latin America. All of her professional experience has been in developing projects involving education in Information Technology and Communications (ITC). She has worked as a teacher and coordinator in Preschool Education, Primary, Secondary, University and Special Education, developing projects with educational approach and sustainability strategies for ITC projects. She also has experience as a tutor and coordinator of virtual computer courses. Maryeling has worked at Nica HOPE since April 2008, coordinating all programs of Nica HOPE. She also handles the administrative and Human Resources aspects of the program. Working at Nica HOPE has been the best job Maryeling has had in her life. Working and interacting with the community has been so fulfulling for Maryeling. She is continually learning a lot from the community of Chureca, especially of how to be more aware and sensitive to the problems of others.

Maria Teresa Méndez

Coordinator of Computer Education

In May 2008 MarisTeresa graduated from the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (Managua UNAN) with a Bachelor of Science in Education with a concentration in Computer Education. Maria Teresa worked as a student instructor in the computer education labs of the University.  She also interned at the College of Special Education Melania Morales in 2005, working with children work in 4th and 5th grade to strengthen basic education through using the computer as a tool of learning support,.  She also worked in 2007 at the premises of the University UNAN Managua to train teachers in the faculty of education and languages in the use of the Educational Platform Moodle. In February 2008 Maria began working at Nica HOPE organizing computer programs, curricula, and the initial enrollment of students. Since then she has been working as the teacher coordinator of Nica HOPE's computer center.  María Teresa has been interested in learning from other people who work at the center, thereby supporting different forms of the programs that are held in the Institute. She likes to study a lot to gain new knowledge and transmit these skills to others.  She also likes to listen to music, surf the Web, and go to the movies with her friends.  But most of all, she likes trips to the countryside and enjoying  nature.

Lisseth Mairena

Professor of Computer Education

A classmate of Maria Teresa's, Lisseth also graduated from the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (Managua UNAN) in 2008 with a degree in Education with a concentration in Computer Education. She has taught classes of Logo Microworld to children in fourth grade in in at internship at the Divine Shepherd School.Lisseth also conducted training sessions for teachers on the faculty of Education and Languages of the UNAN Managua, on the new Office 2007 and the platform Moodle Educational II during hierprofessional practice. Lisseth has taken courses in Graphic Design and Operator of PC. In February 2008 Lisseth began working for the Fabretto Children's Foundation as Computer Education Institute in San Francisco. In addition to teaching computer she also supports other activities of the Center, including macramé classes and running the cyber cafe. She likes to shop and surf the Internet, and her goals are to continue studying and able to do a Masters in the field of Information Technology.

Alexander Soto

Professor of Computer Education

Santos García Villanueva

Education Coordinator

Santos graduated with a teaching degree from the school Normal Regional Gregorio Aguilar Barea of Juigalpa Chontales City in 2000 and is currently completing his last semester at UNAN-Managua with a degree in education and an emphasis in school administration.  He has worked as a teacher in primary and secondary education and was the director of the Acahualinca public elementary school in 2008.  He began working for Nica HOPE in January 2009 as the school tutoring coordinator.  He very much enjoys his work at Nica HOPE because of the ability to work in a direct and genuine way with children from vulnerable communities and because of the vast professional and social experience. 

Fabiola Svetlanya González

School Tutoring Teacher

Fabiola graduated with a teaching degree in primary education from the school Maria Mazarello in 1998.  She has taught at several schools including the Devanad School, Pablo Antonio Cuadra, and the Acahualinca School.  She has participated in several conferences, seminars, and workshops with different NGOs and the Ministry of Education.  She specializes in children’s rights and violence prevention and eradication and has worked as a school tutoring and adult education instructor.  Among her plans for the future are to continue studying and to always work with children since they are the future of her country.  For this reason, her job at Nica HOPE is very rewarding, professionally and socially.

Carolina de los Ángeles Romero Martínez

School Tutoring Teacher

Besides working for Nica HOPE, Carolina also works as a primary school teacher.  She graduated from the school Normal Central de Managua in 2004.  She also studies French translation and interpretation at UNAN-Managua and is currently completing her thesis.  She has worked as a preschool and elementary school teacher, tutor, and adult education instructor; in addition, she has worked for the foundation “The Green Smile”.  She began working for Fabretto/Nica HOPE in January 2009 and says that what she likes most about her job is being able to see the fruits of her work reflected in the children’s progress.  Carolina enjoys organizing crafts and artistic events with children. 

Katie Fallon

Project Development Coordinator

Katie graduated from Princeton University in 2009, where she studied public and international policy. Katie comes to Nica HOPE as a Princeton in Latin America fellow. She will be spending her year at Nica HOPE working on the child sponsorship program, the jewelry program, fundraising, and english classes. Her interest in Nica HOPE was spurred by a research trip in 2008 which brought her to trash communities in 5 different countries, which culminated in her thesis on Brazilian favelas. In her free time Katie enjoys trying to surf, yoga, and hiking.

Jason Jones

Lunch Program Coordinator

After spending 11 years as a Firefighter/Paramedic in Colorado, Jason found his way to Nicaragua in early 2008.  The initial plan………spend ONE year acting as a volunteer in “whatever capacity would be most useful”.   And although the initial year has long since come and gone, Jason is still seen regularly around the project.  As he likes to say, he is simply “HERE”, currently responsible for managing the two feeding programs that provide lunch for 1300 children per day.  Side note……Although we haven’t seen Jason this week, he was last spotted wearing a purple apron, standing behind an enormous pile of plastic dishes. 

Marys Iveth Fletes Pérez

Accounting Assistant

Marys studies accounting in Nica HOPE. She got her degree from high school in 2007. She would like to study forensics or automechanics. In her free time, she likes to read, analyze, and interpret things in order to enrich herself. She also likes music. At Nica HOPE, she is learning to make jewelry and learning that we can achieve anything if we believe in it.

Carla Mayorga

Wisconsin Lunch Program Team Lead

Carla is a member of the Los Martinez community, and her daughter Mariela actively participates in the program.  Carla is very active and helpful person.  She is 32 years old and has served her community as a promoter of health and wellness.  In addition, her house has been a home base for community attention.  She has been the coordinator of the lunch program at Wisconsin since February 2009.  What she likes most about working for Nica HOPE is the ability to share with the children and serve them. 

Haydee Ramírez

Acahualinca Lunch Program Team Lead

Haydee is 50 years old with 6 children. She is a very hard working and helpful person.  She began at Nica HOPE in February 2009 as the coordinator of the lunch program at the Acahualinca School.  She enjoys her position because it contributes to the children’s nutrition, and she realizes that for many of them the meal provided represents the only formal meal they receive in the day.  Haydee puts a great deal of effort into her job so that the food can be nutritious, on time, and to the liking of the children.  She is very humane.  She participates actively in growth groups in the church that she attends and always has a positive attitude.

Enrico Alberto Berrios Areas

Artisan Program Team Lead

Enrico is a product design student at Polytechnic University of Nicaragua (UPOLI) and an alpaca jewelry and artisan teacher.  Enrico worked as a volunteer with the Association “Los Quinchos” for 6 months in 2005 and participated in the documentary entitled “Tomorrow is No Excuse”.  He has also worked with various Nicaraguan and foreign artists and craftsmen; his work is recognized and appreciated.  He has moved into other artistic expressions, such as acting, radio, painting, drawing, and others.  His plan is to ultimately return to his product design career which has been suspended on previous occasions due to external factors, including the care of his daughter (his principle source of inspiration).  Enrico began working with Nica HOPE in March 2009.  What he likes most about his work at Nica HOPE is being able to transmit and share his knowledge with the children.

Sophia Salgado

Jewelry Student Teacher

Sophia is from the community of La Chureca.  After showing herself to be a star jewelry student in 2008, she was offered a position as Jewelry Student Teacher  to help share  her new skills with others from the community.  Sophia is currently working toward her last year of secondary school, and also takes classes in Graphic Design at Nica HOPE's Computer Training Center.

Mery María Moncada

Community Promoter / Cleaning staff

Mery is part of the community promotion team, noted for her participation as the leader of the athelstics, she is always happy and has a great ense of humor, she likes to eat and ahre her food and her happiness, she is a great help in the community promotion, she is very enthusiastic when she participates in events, fairs, sports teams, cultural events, and in addition, her and her sister Sofia are the firstgraduated students from high school that live in La Chureca, for them we feel very happy and proud. 

Manuel Antonio Leiva Loredo

Psychosocial Attention and Community Promotion Coordinator

Manuel has studied social law in the Polytechnic University of Nicaragua (UPOLI) and has participated in various training in topics such as leadership, violence prevention, sexuality, risk behaviors, and others.  Over the last 5 years, through receiving multiple workshops, training sessions, and certificates, he has focused his attention on the study of addiction counseling.  In this field in particular, he has worked as a director and counselor at the Center for Aid and Rehabilitation of Addicts.  He has worked in private clinics and has conducted volunteer work in institutions to prevent risk behaviors in adolescents.  Currently, he is studying clinical psychology in the University of Managua UNIVAL.  He is very interested in human psychology and psychotherapy.  Manuel has worked with Nica HOPE in the area of community promotion and psychosocial attention since January 2009.  His responsibilities include conducting community visits, coordinating the promotion program, providing educational talks to the children and families, and running an art and sports program.  The purpose of these tasks is to provide individual, group, and family attention.  He says, “Nica HOPE gives me the opportunity to utilize my professional and humane qualities.  This combination is very beneficial in my journey of personal self.  However, I do not come here to teach, but better, to share life experiences that motivate the discovery of profound knowledge of the potential self that each one has within.” 

Alejandra Mayorga

Community Promotor

Justina Chávez

Community Promoter

Justina worked as a preschool teacher for four years in the school Juan Pablo II.  She founded an agency with other community members in 2003 called “The Smile of the Children” that serves children from the Los Martinez community and other adjoining neighborhoods.  In the year 2006, she was qualified by the Ministry of the Family as a family counselor.  That same year she participated in multiple workshops with the agency Faith and Happiness in order to become a student counselor (a role that she currently fulfills in her community).  Justina also acted as a substitute teacher and adult teacher in 2005 and is currently completing her teaching degree in early childhood education at UNAN-Managua.  Her house functions as a tutoring center and community library for 172 children in the neighborhood; in addition, she oversees 7 outreach bases in her community.  She is a member of the Nica HOPE “promoter team” in the Los Martinez community and a tutoring teacher.  She has been with Nica HOPE since February 2009.  What she likes most about working at Nica HOPE is working with children and the community and offering her knowledge to support them.

Tranquilino Vásquez Sandoval

Security Guard

Tranquilino originally from the municipality of Macualizo, department of Nueva Segovia, a farmer by profession. He is currently residing in the City of Managua where he has been working for Fabretto Children's Foundation as a security guard at the Institute of San Francisco for 4 years. Besides ensuring the security of the institution also supports other activities of the center. In his time off, Tranquilino visits his family in Macuelizo.

Scott Overdyke

Financial Officer

Jordan Hooper

Co-founder, State-side support

Jordan graduated as an English major in 2005 from the Sally McDonnell-Barksdale Honors College at the University of Mississippi. His intentions to volunteer abroad were sidetracked as Hurricane Katrina devastated his hometown of New Orleans a few months later, but in early 2006 Jordan joined the Manna Project International team in Managua where he worked in English instruction, after-school athletics, and microfinance. After completing nearly a year with MPI, Jordan returned to Managua in early 2007 to establish relationships with partner organizations during Nica HOPE's developmental stages. Currently, Jordan is a full-time graduate student in the Stone Center for Latin American Studies at Tulane University and works as a trader for Zephyr Green Coffee, a specialty importer headquartered in New Orleans.

Ben Bodell

Co-founder, State-side support