Nicaragua

Keli has collectively spent over three years in the Atlantic Coast region of Nicaragua.  Living among the Creole and Garifuna ethnic communities, Keli has been involved with many local development projects.  Some of her activities are summarized below: 

Acción Medica Nicaragua, Laguna de Perlas, Nicaragua, April-July 2002

Assisted with organization of regional conference on Indigenous Rights.  Participated in workshops and discussions with local Indigenous communities. Traveled to surrounding villages and helped with organizing workshops on STD's and womens' rights.

Fundación para la Autonomía y Desarrollo de la Costa Atlántica de Nicaragua (FADCANIC), Orinoco, Nicaragua, May 2002

Helped facilitate week-long workshop with three local indigenous Garifuna communities.  Participants designed a project for the sustainable preservation of the surrounding wetlands.  The project involved agro-forestry techniques as well as education about wetland resources.

Pearl of the Caribbean Community Radio, Pearl Lagoon, Nicaragua, April-July 2002

Assisted the radio director with program design and media techniques. Broadcaster for commercials and community announcements.

Youth Facilitator, Center for Human Rights and Autonomy (CEDEHCA), Bluefields, Nicaragua, 2000-2002

Created and implemented activities and organizations for youth in the areas of educational, social, and political development.  Presented regional training workshops throughout the Atlantic Coast region. 

English Instructor, Horatio Hodgson Bilingual Secondary School, Bluefields, Nicaragua, August-December 2000

Developed bilingual curriculum and learning methods for over 150 seventh and eighth grade students.

Instructor/Teacher Trainer, Baha'i Children's Classes for Spiritual Development, Atlantic Coast, Nicaragua, 1997-2002

Guided the development of regional classes and teacher training.  Translated teacher training materials into Creole dialect.

Coordinated and chaperoned group of atlantic coast children to attend a National Junior Youth Conference in Managua, the nation's capital.

Organizer/Trainer, Auxiliary Board for the Baha'i's of Nicaragua, 2001

Presented Moral Leadership Workshops to elected government community leaders at the Bluefields Indian and Caribbean University, the Center for Human Rights and Autonomy; and the villages of Pearl Lagoon, Orinoco and Tasbapauni. 

Trainer/Facilitator, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i's of Nicaragua, 1997-2002

Civil society capacity building; Overseeing local community elections; Facilitating academic study groups.