Our Story
Who We Support
Pulseras
School Sales
Photo/Video
Student Trips
How it Began
The Pulsera Project began in 2009 when 13 friends were searching for adventure during winter break. We had been to Costa Rica in previous years (Costa Rica is just south of Nicaragua), but we suspected that Nicaragua, the second poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, could be a window to another world, one of profound natural beauty, famously friendly people, and deep economic poverty. Everybody in our crew wanted to surf, hike, and explore the country, but we also wanted to help in any way we could, and experience the rich human culture normally hidden from tourists.
Our Nicaraguan adventure soon became more than we had ever imagined when we discovered a shelter for former street-kids on a farm in the foothills of Managua. We visited the farm many times and we were always welcomed like we were long-lost friends. When the time came to return to the states, the youths gave us pulseras as going-away presents, and this is what inspired the founding of the Pulsera Project.
When our group returned home, we brought with us lots of pulseras and the inspiring story of the shelter youths and their art. It wasn't long before students began selling pulseras in their schools and began writing their own chapter in what continues to be an amazing adventure.
The Pulsera Project has grown and changed a lot over the past three years. Today the project is a registered US non-profit organization that supports many shelter youths, but we also work with a fair trade artisans’ cooperative of shelter “graduates” that we started in 2010. This co-op provides jobs and a sense of community to former shelter youths who live in a country with few employment opportunities. We also work with many families who continue the indigenous art of pulsera making that was passed on to them by previous generations.
Since the sale of the first pulsera in 2009, the Pulsera Project and countless student volunteers have raised more than $300,000 for employment, empowerment, and education of many Nicaraguan and US youths. What began in 2009 as a gift of a few pulseras from young shelter youths to our group, has grown into a rich exchange among many generous people. The Pulsera Project has truly been adventure in coloring the world !!
Taken on the first day we met the children of Los Quinchos. Chris plays with Fernando, Giovanni, Darieli, and a little kitty.
