SPROUT Nicaragua was started in 2007 by Lauren Scharf and Pat Gibson.  After living in a small, very poor community for a while, we recognized the need for getting more kids to school.  But without uniforms, they wouldn't go.  About the same time, we began helping several older teens with their college tuition.  At $10-$50 a month, it was something we could do....but we quickly realized we wanted to do more and made the decision to form a foundation, inviting others to help us raise the funds to meet our goals.

Now, after five years in Nicaragua, it's time for a change. As explained on the "home" page, bricks and morter (and soon, perhaps straw bales and stucco) will replace skirts and notebooks as we attempt to bring our neighbors clean water, sanitation, and at least for one family a year, a house.