Empowerment International (EI), a Colorado-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1998 by North American Kathy A., has been working in Nicaragua since 2004 to break the cycle of poverty through a community-based, holistic education program serving children and families in highly vulnerable communities on the outskirts of Granada, Nicaragua. Many families live on less than $2 a day, and limited access to education has limited awareness of its long-term value. 
 
 
Children generally come from poor families. They cannot attend school, even where public education is free, due to a lack of funds for uniforms and school supplies. They also lack emotional support from their families due to the lack of understanding of the importance of education and professional emotional services for many of the extreme situations that arise in vulnerable communities and families. Instead of being educated, they are sent out to work on the streets selling fruits, vegetables, or are required to stay home to help with younger children and chores so the parents can work. 

EI works every day to reverse this trend by partnering with children and their families to enable them to attend school and to accompany them on their educational journey with material support, supplementary education, emotional support, health support, and so much more. When these children receive an education, they can stay off the streets, find better jobs, and eventually break the cycle of poverty that has haunted their families for generations.
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By walking alongside both children and their families, EI creates lasting change, reflected in a school retention rate above 96% since 2009 and a steadily increasing number of students continuing from primary to secondary and tertiary education.