Demonstration Project Mini-Grants

The Polus Center encourages people with disabilities and the local, grassroots organizations representing them to formulate their own projects and ventures that are self-empowering and address disability issues. Through numerous planning processes that included broad participation from persons with disabilities and other important leaders from the community, the following key issues were identified as universal challenges for the disabled community:

• Transportation
• Employment
• Social Awareness
• Health Services
• Public Education

Through aid provided by funders such as the USAID Leahy War Victim's Fund, initiatives that focus on small business development, community education and center around self-empowerment have been undertaken by local organizations and individuals with disabilities. Within Nicaragua projects included small business development, technical training, scholarships, and provisional support for basic health services that address the key issues identified universal challenges for people with disablilities. In the past the demonstration projects have supported individuals to become a graphic designer and to learn silk-screen printing. Another innovative project included education training for taxi drivers and the introudction of a voucher system to insure that residents with mobility impairments would have transportation. Activities have also included integrating art classes to include children with disabilities, health care for families, and supporting a fishing cooperative to learn to build their own boats.

Current Demonstration Projects include:

Financial support for the introduction of a CAR WASH into the Leon community. The Polus Center will provide the facilities for operation and the car wash will be managed by Jairo Downs.

A SCHOLARSHIP to the University of Leon has been awarded to a young woman with disabilities to study a career that she believes will help her future.

A GIFT SHOP that supports the sale of wares made by Nicaraguan artists will be open to the public and will serve as a microbusiness that employees and supports people with disabilities.

Two or three disabled members of the Poneloya Fishing Cooperative will be trained in fishing BOAT FABRICATION.

SUPPORT SERVICES will be provided for Los PIPITOS, a project for the children of Leon who are poor and/or have disabilities.

Basic HEALTH SERVICES will be provided for O.R.D., an organization composed of victims of the army in the civil war.

CHILDREN'S PAINTING project introduces and instructs Leon school children in painting and Nicaraguan art.