As a 26-year-old Mateo started his own non-profit to English and computer literacy school

 

AMIGOS: How did your involvement in AMIGOS impact your life?

Mateo: The six summers I spent volunteering with AMIGOS opened my eyes to the life circumstances and issues communities in countries other than the United States had to face. This gave me a better understanding of my own privilege and life circumstances. I was forced to look critically at how I was living my life and to how I could serve the needs of those around me. AMIGOS also gave me the tools necessary to put my own vision into action and start my own non-profit. AMIGOS not only taught me the skills I needed to start my own non-profit, but more importantly, it’s facilitated the creation of life-long friends and family.  To this day I remain in contact with my host family from 2000, and I am proud to say that they have asked me to be their son’s godfather.  It was a great honor for me to be included into their family. Because of the bond I made with them, they chose to support me with invaluable inspiration and love, helping me to make my dream of creating a non-profit in Nicaragua a reality.  Without a doubt, had I not met them through my participation in AMIGOS, I would not have continued to return to Nicaragua and create the non-profit English and computer literacy school I have just opened there in Leon. I attribute my success to AMIGOS and the relationships it helped me create.

 

AMIGOS: What was your AMIGOS experience like, and what did you learn from your participation?  

Mateo: My AMIGOS experience was overwhelmingly positive. There were certainly hard times as well, but when I think back on my experiences it’s the good times I remember the most. The difficult times helped me to learn how to deal with difficult situations, how to more effectively work with people from all walks of life, and how to support those simply by looking for the next step in their own development. On a daily basis, whether working in the United States or in Nicaragua, I realize one of the greatest things I learned through AMIGOS is how to step back, take a breath, look around and see the larger picture. The larger picture often shows me that I need to take my time, get to know someone better, relax and not rush through life. It’s those moments that have stuck with me the longest.

 

AMIGOS: What is your family like? 

Mateo: My mom and dad are both small business owners, and I can easily say that they have been the most motivating force in my life.  Whether I was doing the right thing or the wrong thing they were always there to support me and help me learn. They have supported me in ways that only parents could and I am forever grateful for that.  Without all of the encouragement and support I would not be where I am today.  My 18-year-old sister, Roseanna, who is very near and dear to my heart, is a two-time AMIGOS veteran, so it is with her that I am able to share my experiences with and feel understood.  She is an enthusiastic vibrant young lady who also lives to serve.  She is always looking at how she can selflessly help those around her and will soon be heading off to college where she plans to pursue a career in social work.  I am very proud of the things that she has chosen to do in her life and am excited to see how her AMIGOS experiences continue to influence her life. My two older brothers are two of the most eclectically talented people I know.  If there is something I don’t know how to do I turn to them. They have both lived very diverse and different lives from me, which makes them irreplaceable in my life. They help me round out and smooth the edges of everything I do. My whole family has been incredibly supportive of all that I have chosen to do in my life and much of what I do is because of their support. It is also worth mentioning that both my father and my brother are on the board of directors for my non-profit.

 

AMIGOS: What project are you currently working on?  

Mateo: Currently I am living and working in León, Nicaragua running a non-profit English and computer literacy school.  I worked in the United States on and off for about 10 months before I was able to make the move to Nicaragua. We are several weeks into English classes and are awaiting the construction of classrooms before we start teaching computer literacy. The ultimate goal of this school and the non-profit is to provide Nicaraguans with skills that will aid them in acquiring better employment. So far there has been overwhelming interest in the English classes that I am giving, so much so that I will soon be looking for volunteers to come in and teach.  After receiving my ESL/EFL teaching certificate from Seattle University I also designed a curriculum focusing on conversational work language. There are many language schools in Nicaragua, but few that offer a conversational course that links people to employment opportunities at such a low price. ADELANTE is dedicated to providing at all times at least half of the students with partial or full scholarships. My aim is to make education as accessible as possible to anyone who wants it.

 

AMIGOS: What other ways do you live out your passion for the Spanish language and Latin American culture?  

Mateo: I am very passionate about the Spanish Language.  In the United States I worked and volunteered with the American Red Cross International Services department as a translator and an interpreter.  I also worked with a local non-profit as a family advocate where much of my work was dedicated to serving Latino’s and others to better access social services.  In my present work with ADELANTE, I plan to attract volunteer teachers by trading Spanish lessons and Nicaraguan home stays for English lessons. I hope to provide others with the opportunities that I have been privy to because of my language skills, and thus wish to share Spanish with anyone willing to listen.