GIP Event: Outreach360 and Its Education Work
By Julieta G. '21
On Oct. 13, Coco Barret and Alma Fletes of Outreach360 joined the Global Initiatives Program (GIP) for a conversation about the ripple effect of community partnerships. Global Scholars Maggie G. ‘21 and Madeleine K. ‘21 moderated a discussion with the two leaders. Coco serves as the Virtual Impact Program Director and Country Director of the Nicaragua Outreach360 program. Alma is the site director in Jinotega, Nicaragua and self-proclaimed “first student of Outreach360.”
Outreach360 was originally incorporated in 1995 as Orphanage Outreach, focused on providing aid to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. As this effort progressed, the coordinators soon realized that they were providing short-term remedial efforts rather than sustainable assistance to the community. They discovered that a better way to improve the conditions of the communities they were serving was to approach service through a 360-degree lens, hence the organization’s new name. By investing in the education of young people, volunteers could help to create change that would last significantly longer.
During the talk, Alma and Coco shared the hardships that Outreach360 has experienced in the last two years. In April of 2018, social protests broke out throughout Nicaragua; consequently, the nation lost millions of dollars, thousands of jobs, and hundreds of public buildings. These protests caused national turmoil and polarization but also prevented international volunteers from traveling to Nicaragua to teach. Outreach360 had to get creative and began inviting older students to teach younger students.
Just when things were starting to get into a rhythm, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in March of 2020. Once again, Outreach360 had to face a monumental challenges and rethink how they delivered instructional material to students. Their solution came in the form of virtual lessons. By partnering Nicaraguan students with international volunteers and connecting them virtually, Outreach360 was able to continue operations smoothly and even expand the program to serve more students.
Global Scholar Juliette H. ‘21 shared how impressed she was by Outreach360’s perseverance. “It was truly amazing and inspiring hearing how no matter what hit Outreach360, they were able to persevere and make it work. Not only did they push through during difficult times, but they went above and beyond with their efforts.”
During the presentation, Coco mentioned the strong relationship between Outreach360 and the Poly community which began when Mr. Caragher traveled to Nicaragua in 2013. Since then, Poly has sent students to volunteer with Outreach360 in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and, most recently, virtually through Zoom. In the spring of 2018, I was fortunate enough to be one of these participants in Jinotega. You can read more here.
Global Scholar Ryan L. ‘21 shared his two main takeaways from this event: “My first takeaway from tonight’s GIP event was that Outreach360 is a resilient, positive-thinking organization that sets an example for how we all should think under times of crises. My second takeaway from the event was that education is one of the most powerful tools that we all hold and can contribute back to our own and other, even global, communities.”
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On Oct. 13, Coco Barret and Alma Fletes of Outreach360 joined the Global Initiatives Program (GIP) for a conversation about the ripple effect of community partnerships. Global Scholars Maggie G. ‘21 and Madeleine K. ‘21 moderated a discussion with the two leaders. Coco serves as the Virtual Impact Program Director and Country Director of the Nicaragua Outreach360 program. Alma is the site director in Jinotega, Nicaragua and self-proclaimed “first student of Outreach360.”
Outreach360 was originally incorporated in 1995 as Orphanage Outreach, focused on providing aid to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. As this effort progressed, the coordinators soon realized that they were providing short-term remedial efforts rather than sustainable assistance to the community. They discovered that a better way to improve the conditions of the communities they were serving was to approach service through a 360-degree lens, hence the organization’s new name. By investing in the education of young people, volunteers could help to create change that would last significantly longer.
During the talk, Alma and Coco shared the hardships that Outreach360 has experienced in the last two years. In April of 2018, social protests broke out throughout Nicaragua; consequently, the nation lost millions of dollars, thousands of jobs, and hundreds of public buildings. These protests caused national turmoil and polarization but also prevented international volunteers from traveling to Nicaragua to teach. Outreach360 had to get creative and began inviting older students to teach younger students.
Just when things were starting to get into a rhythm, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in March of 2020. Once again, Outreach360 had to face a monumental challenges and rethink how they delivered instructional material to students. Their solution came in the form of virtual lessons. By partnering Nicaraguan students with international volunteers and connecting them virtually, Outreach360 was able to continue operations smoothly and even expand the program to serve more students.
Global Scholar Juliette H. ‘21 shared how impressed she was by Outreach360’s perseverance. “It was truly amazing and inspiring hearing how no matter what hit Outreach360, they were able to persevere and make it work. Not only did they push through during difficult times, but they went above and beyond with their efforts.”
During the presentation, Coco mentioned the strong relationship between Outreach360 and the Poly community which began when Mr. Caragher traveled to Nicaragua in 2013. Since then, Poly has sent students to volunteer with Outreach360 in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and, most recently, virtually through Zoom. In the spring of 2018, I was fortunate enough to be one of these participants in Jinotega. You can read more here.
Global Scholar Ryan L. ‘21 shared his two main takeaways from this event: “My first takeaway from tonight’s GIP event was that Outreach360 is a resilient, positive-thinking organization that sets an example for how we all should think under times of crises. My second takeaway from the event was that education is one of the most powerful tools that we all hold and can contribute back to our own and other, even global, communities.”
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