Neighbors To Nicaragua
About Neighbors To Nicaragua
Neighbors To Nicaragua centers its work on the everyday things that help a community hold together, daily meals, school support, medical and housing aid, and youth programming. In Nueva Esperanza and parts of Southern Granada, that looks like Centro de Oportunidad, the Comedor Sandeep Panwalker, and vocational training that give children, teens, and families something practical to build on. If you care about support that is close to the ground and built through long relationships, this is that kind of work.
What sets Neighbors To Nicaragua apart is how rooted it is in Nueva Esperanza. Rather than offering one-off help, it keeps showing up through a school, a dining room, youth gatherings, vocational training, and student sponsorship. That steady personal attention is the point.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Centro de Oportunidad literacy and remediation
Provides classes in literacy and remediation.
Comedor Sandeep Panwalker
Provides daily nutritious meals for children and community members in the barrio.
Medical and housing aid
Provides aid for the chronically ill and supports housing construction and improvement for the most vulnerable members of the community.
Youth development
Offers a safe environment with Saturday personal skills classes, art, and community sports programs.
Saturday Morning Youth Gatherings
Weekly youth gatherings led by Gian Carlos Maltez Cano that include introspective exercises, goal-setting, and peer communication.
Matt Haley Vocacional Center
Provides vocational training, including salon skills and barbering classes.
English program
Offers English classes for students.
Lending library and Library Day
Provides a lending library and weekly library day activities with reading and comprehension support.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
Neighbors to Nicaragua takes a grassroots approach to provide education, nutrition, medical and housing aid, youth development, and infrastructure support to communities in Nueva Esperanza and parts of Southern Granada.
Who they serve
Children, students, teens, and families in Nueva Esperanza and surrounding areas of Southern Granada, especially those needing meals, education support, youth guidance, medical help, or housing assistance.
Their impact
- Comedor Sandeep Panwalker serves about 115 to 140 children and community members each day.
- The 2025 annual appeal totaled $41,689.71, a 30.76% increase.
- Maddie Kuennen raised $4,205 for the Garcia family home construction.
- The organization reported support for 95 to 126 students across recent school-year updates.
How your donation helps
- Daily meals and food support
- Literacy and remediation classes
- Medical help for chronically ill neighbors
- Housing construction and home improvements
- Youth counseling and personal development classes
- Vocational training in salon skills and barbering
- Emergency aid for food, housing, medicine, and transportation
- Student sponsorships that provide tutoring, encouragement, stability, and daily meals
Our story
Chuck Selvaggio’s work started with a visit to Granada, Nicaragua in April 2011, when he met homeless youths and made a quiet promise to do what he could. Neighbors to Nicaragua was founded in 2012 to turn that promise into education, nutrition, medical and housing support, and youth development for Nueva Esperanza.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
“Because we can.”
“Poverty doesn’t define a person.”
“the power of consistency and faith in its power to transform.”
“Our motto says it all – Because we can.”
Events
Saturday Morning Youth Gatherings
weeklyWeekly youth sessions led by Gian Carlos Maltez Cano, with introspective exercises, goal-setting, and peer communication.
Christmas Party
annualAn annual celebration that brings together teachers, artists, cooks, parents, students, and volunteers for food, singing, games, and piñatas.
Mothers’ and Children’s Day celebration
annualA joint celebration that includes crafts, piñatas, cultural dances, races, and a meal for the community.
Library Day
weeklyA weekly reading day with classroom time, library time, read-alouds, comprehension activities, and related exercises.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Neighbors To Nicaragua has shared.
Current needs
- Support for the mid-year food appeal, matched up to $25,000.
- Funding for Earth Awareness Day workshops in Managua, listed at $380.
- Student sponsors at $70 per month.
Volunteer opportunities
- Host a party with a purpose at your home.
- Run a Facebook fundraiser for a birthday.
- Ask for donations instead of gifts for an anniversary or birthday celebration.
- Host an event at a church or social club.
- Help organize a fundraiser for the organization.
Recognition & press
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How does student sponsorship work?
A sponsor gives $70 a month, or $840 a year, to help support a student with tutoring, encouragement, stability, daily meals, and quality education.
What does Centro de Oportunidad provide?
It offers literacy and remediation classes.
What happens in the youth development program?
It gives young people a safe place for Saturday personal skills classes, art, and community sports programs.
How often are meals served?
The dining room serves nutritious meals every day, with about 115 to 140 children or community members eating there daily.
Similar nonprofits
Other international development nonprofits in DE.