What has happened to 2 million children without education?

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Part One: Beauty

visitors in 2016 with a 10% increase each year.

Nicaragua’s vast potential comes from a past as varied and dramatic as its landscape.

A country boasting with beauty has seen an increase in tourism every year.

And for good reason.

Nicaragua hosts some of the best surfing destinations in the world.

“Surfing Nicaragua is the stuff of legend. The waves are big, the beaches are wide, the beers are cool and the barneys are basically nowhere to be seen.” - Greg Benchwick

Out of a total of 88 constellations found in the night sky

86 of them can be seen clearly in Nicaragua.

Baseball is played by almost every culture in Nicaragua.

It is a favorite pastime of many citizens, and their professional baseball league thrives. MLB Stars from Nicaragua:

Poetry is one of the most beloved and practiced arts in the country.

And no matter the destination or spectacle in this country, nothing can compare to the kindness of the people.

Part Two: I can't afford the books

A long history of political turmoil, violence, and natural disasters have slowed development. A country of 6.1 million people is the second poorest in the Americas after Haiti.

76% of the population lives on less than $2.00 a day.

Half of the population lives in poverty.

And at the core lies the problem of children and education.

school aged children live in Nicaragua.

The country has the largest youth population in Latin America. In the small villages and schools, gang violence, drop-out rates, and drugs are rising.

children aged 3 to 17 are not in the education system at all.

75% of children never complete elementary school.

25%

There are a number of reasons why children aren't going to school.

``School is boring so I choose not to got.``

``My family can't afford the books.``

``I have to work and can't attend school.``

Sadly one of the primary reasons is drug abuse.

Part Three: Drugs

Nicaragua lies directly on the route of Colombian cocaine, making its way to North America and Europe. The country suffers from a weak law enforcement and political infrastructure, which could help fight the problems of drug trafficking, substance abuse, and addiction.

Youth in particular suffer.

Half of the drug users are found in the country's high schools and universities.

When drugs can't be acquired, other substances are used. Thirteen year old Mario Ramirez explains to us why he sniffs glue.

One foundation that works on behalf of drug addicts estimates that there are 300,000 drug users in this country of less than 6,000,000 people.

This is a 300% increase in the last five years.

With help, these children can find a safe place to call home, and a safe place to learn and grow.

How can you help?

There are a number of amazing organizations and individuals on the ground making an impact that need support.

For this story, Hero Inc. has partnered with Liquid Impact.

The organization focuses on making an impact through the construction of schools, wells, and teaching kids how to surf.

Here are three ways you can make a difference now.

2,000,000 children are in need of education and safety. There is a lot you can do to help build a better future for Nicaraguan children.

Help spread awareness. The more people we can share the story with, the bigger the impact we'll make!

Send money directly to the relief efforts. Even a small contribution can make a huge impact.

Donate

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About WeHero Stories

Thank you for reading. The WeHero story series was created to raise awareness around significant problems that are happening in our world and generate support. These stories are crafted over the course of many weeks, talking with locals, interviewing individuals and organizations on the ground making an impact, and doing our homework. The output is something that we hope will open eyes and hearts and ties in with our mission of empowering the world to change the world.

Any amount of support can make a huge impact. That is why every supporter receives a thank you card, the product they purchased, and photos of the result. We also call every single supporter that gives us their phone number to say, “thank you, you’re awesome!”

We’re always working on a new story. Want WeHero to cover a serious problem? We would love to hear from you. Please reach out to us on our contact page.

Thank you,

The WeHero Team