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School for the Blind: Santa Lucia

The first live in school for blind children in Nicaragua was established here at Betania. These blind children were rescued from horrible conditions and now are taught living skills that can lead them to self-sufficiency. The students are taught in a school with the sighted children.

One young lady learned braille and other skills well enough that she graduated #1 in her class with the sighted children. She then went to university on a scholarship. She was awarded a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship to attend St. Thomas University in Houston, Texas for one year. While in Houston, she ran and completed a half marathon run with all the sighted entrants. She returned to Nicaragua to complete her degree and is now a teacher.

There are presently four other blind students attending university on scholarships provided by Rotarians through Hope & Relief International Foundation.