Quetzaltrekkers Hike Volcanoes. Help Kids.

Annual Report for August 2015-July 2016

CONTENTS

4. Letter from the Directors

6. Mission

8. Achievements of the Year

12. Vision

14. Volunteers & Board Of Directors

16. Values

18. Projects

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LETTER FROM THE DIRECTORS

The past year at Quetzaltrekkers can be summed up with the famous quote: “Nothing in life worth doing comes easy.” We have had an incredible year at Quetzaltrekkers, achieving big legal and investment goals, increasing donations to the projects that we support and breaking records in our tourism operations. The volunteers, staff, Board of Directors and directors have left this organization helping more kids than ever and with investments to build a strong foundation to continue its success. It wasn´t easy. We cut a lot of vegetables, carried heavy backpacks, negotiated with lawyers and car dealers and helped a lot of terrified kids slide down Cerro Negro. But when we reflect on the results of the hard work and spend time with the kids that we support, we know that our hard work has been worth it, and we are proud of what we have accomplished and are excited about the future!

Mitchell LincolnDirector

Carina EcklAssistant Director

To Our Partners in the Collaborative Effort for Youth Betterment,

“Nothing in life worth doing comes easy.”

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MISSION

We are a non-profit organization offering tourist activities in the country of Nicaragua, specifically in the Occidental region, with the objective of raising funds to support community development projects working with at-risk youth and adolescents.

50%

10%

25%

15%

Capital Investments

2015-2016 EXPENDITURES

Administration

Local Projects

Tourism Cost

Quetzaltrekkers offers once in a lifetime trekking experiences near León.

The selfless collaboration of volunteers, directors, and the community.

Makes it all possible to raise funds to support locally-run youth programs.

Our Model

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ACHIEVEMENTSOF 2016

OPERATIONSNew internal financial processes to ensure compliance, accuracy, and transparency

LEGALQuetzaltrekkes became a legalized non-profit by the Nicaraguan Government

STAFFWe were able to hire new staff including a local guide and full-time accountant

Organizational SuccessesWe have long been an informal organization with a big heart and pure motivations. In the past year, the organization set out on the quest to formalize this mission into a more official endeavor in the eyes of our partners, the government and in our commitment to transparency.

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4.6 of 5-star rating on Facebook

5,536 CLIENTSHappy trekking tourists & volcano boarders

620 HIKES SOLDCompared to 2015’s quota we were able to sell 101 more hikes in 2016

$224,482 $4,467

Tourism Successes Finacial SuccessesLike-minded travelers are the key to our success. Connecting with these people to collaborate on tourism activities is the income-generating engine of who we are. This year we did better than ever.

Leaving Quetzaltrekkers in a strong financial standing was our mission to ensure the continued success of the organization for years to come. We set out to make strategic investment decisions to ensure the most efficient and purposeful use of our resources.

93$28,186

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2Record beat for most clients to go on one hike

One vehicle purchased

Highest monthly income acquired in February

House Improvements: Two new rooms and six new beds to make volunteers more comfortable

“Excellent“ visitor rating on TripAdvisor

Features on international television programs

Camping Equipment: Twenty Headlamps, Two tents, six sleeping bags, and one stove

Coleman and Cotopaxi collectively donated a total of nine tents and fifteen sleeping bags

Administration Technology:Two computers, and a new security system

Total income, a 17% growth from 2015 Total cash donations received

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VISION

Quetzaltrekkers León is a non-profit tour operator that aims to offer the best adventure hiking experiences around the city of León. Also, we aim to be leaders in maximizing our donations and prioritizing our local social projects to break the cycle of childhood poverty in Nicaragua.

HistoryStruggling after years of Dictatorship, Revolutions, Civil War and struggling economic policy, Nicaragua has set ambitious goals to address poverty and inadequate education. Due to both domestic and international factors, Nicaragua remains one of the poorest nations in the western hemisphere with stubborn rates of poverty, school completion, youth pregnancy, and child labor.

46%

10%

81% 49%

28%15%

Of children in Nicaragua are below the poverty line

Of children are living in extreme poverty

Of children complete the first (mandatory) six years of primary school

Of girls and 43% of boys attend secondary school

Of women give birth before the age of 18, the worst in Central America

Of children under the age of 14 are forced to work.

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Board of Directors:The Board of Directors is the legal governing body of Quetzaltrekkers. Recognized by the National Assembly of Nicaragua, the board is made up of Nicaraguans (and other special members) and advises on all major decisions for the organization.

In the past year, the Board of Directors has lead Quetzaltrekkers through the legalization process and ensured legal and financial compliance and transparency. Further, the board has guided the directors and volunteers on policy creation and has undertaken major financial investments to ensure future strength of Quetzaltrekkers.

Volunteers:As a volunteer-run organization, we cannot say thank you enough to the people who are (sometimes literally) carrying the work of this organization on their backs. Our volunteers spend a minimum of three months working with us, leading treks, working in the office and spending time with the kids. They give in a way that is 100% voluntary. Our volunteers receive zero compensation for their time here – they even pay rent! Without their selflessness the Quetzaltrekkers concept is impossible.

VOLUNTEERS & BOARD OF DIRECTORS

32 10Total volunteers that have selflessly donated three months or more of their time and energy

Different countries from where our volunteers have traveled from

President: Edual Salazar Vice President: Frank Fran ReyesSecretary: Imelda Meyrat

Accountant: Deyling LagunaSpokesperson: Jose Poveda Extraordinary Member: Petra de Bruin

Previous QT Directors: 1. Gerald (Nicaragua) 2. Erwin (Holanda) 3. Hanna (UK)- Jeff (USA) 4. Connor (Nueva Zelanda) - Megan (Canada) 5. Andrew (USA) - Rebeca (USA)

6. Sam (Suiza) - Virginia (USA) 7. Kay (Canada) - Kayla (Canada) 8. Henry (USA) - Olga (España) 9. Mitchell (USA) -Carina (Austria)

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VALUES

Quetzaltrekkers León is the only all non-profit, all volunteer-run trekking and outdoors association in Nicaragua. Founded originally in 1995 in Guatemala as a self-sustainable answer to address the situation of children in poverty, Quetzaltrekkers opened in León in 2004.

As of 2012 Quetzaltrekkers León sponsors on a continuing basis, five locally-run organizations, and makes one-time donations when worthy projects and funding conditions warrant.

“Asociación Quetzaltrekkers” is a legal Nicaraguan Non-Governmental Organization recognized and approved by the National Assembly of Nicaragua.

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PROJECTSBARILETESServing roughly 200 children between the ages of 6 and 18, Proyecto Barriletes creates a safe, constructive environment that gives kids an alternative from working on the streets or being enticed by the gangs prevalent in the southern barrios of León. Primarily a pre-school, the educators at Bariletes provide both classroom and one-on-one support in classroom and educational activities, as well as nutritious meals and other family support services.

Asociación Las Tías is a non-profit organization that provides a safe space and educational programming for at-risk youth. With a half-day school structure in Nicaragua, Las Tias serves as a place for youth to spend their free time in a structured and positive way. In addition to offering after-school homework help and psychological support for youth, the organization provides vocational training, nutritious lunches, and other activities such as sports, arts, and traditional dance to over 50 youth between ages 14-18.

$9,350 $7,575Total Annual Donation

Total Annual Donation

Quetzaltrekkers’ donation pays the salary of one educator and provides meals for roughly 200 students a day.

Quetzaltrekkers’ donation is used to pay the salaries of a full-time psychologist, and three part-time teachers (hairdressing, carpentry and dance). Additionally, Quetzaltrekkers pays a cook who prepares food for the children and supports 20 students directly with transportation and material costs to attend the program.

Additional support: This year Quetzaltrekkers supported Bariletes with extra capacity by funding a social worker to aid in student support and family outreach. Additionally, Quetzaltrekkers´ directors and board members held bi-weekly capacity-building meetings with the management of the project to troubleshoot and improve program offerings. Quetzaltrekkers provided additional funds to support extra activities including a Christmas dinner, food and prizes for an anniversary party, repairs for damaged bathroom fixtures, supplies for teachers and students and financial support for the school to participate in national holidays.

LAS TIAS

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MINIBIBLIOTECAThe Minibiblioteca Manuelita Sacasa was created as a project of Nicaragua Education Cultures and Arts Trust (NECAT), a British social organization dedicated to improving access to quality education among impoverished children living in León and its surrounding neighborhoods. The Minibiblioteca offers educational workshops and activities to local students, and provides a space and supportive environment in which children can receive homework help and pursue their academic interests.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMThe only program administered directly by Quetzaltrekkers, our scholarship fund supports 20 students on a monthly basis to aid in the financial needs of youth attending school. The program covers all ages of students, primary (five students), secondary (12 students) and University (three students).

The mission of Las Chavaladas is to help rehabilitate street children addicted to drugs and living in especially difficult circumstances. They work toward their reintegration into family and school through a comprehensive intervention program, which includes prevention and awareness of these issues. About 60 children from ages 6 to 18 are welcomed every day at the center where they find psychological and academic support, temporary housing, and love from professional social workers, psychologists, and volunteers. The organization also focuses on social reintegration and organizes events and daily activities for the children in order to try to get them to connect to a “normal” life.

$3,308

$7,583

$11,728Total Annual Donation

Total Annual Donation

Total Annual Donation

Quetzaltrekkers supports the “Bibliomoto”, one of the Minibiblioteca’s most successful initiatives. Using a portable library mounted on a motorcycle called the Bibliomoto, Minibiblioteca staff lead educational seminars in various public and private schools throughout León. Covering topics selected by the host schools, the seminars are designed both to raise students’ enthusiasm for learning as well as to provide local educators with new teaching strategies and ideas for their classes. Quetzaltrekkers supports this initiative by paying salaries for the staff, fuel and materials for the Bibliomoto.

Administered by a local volunteer, this program finds and selects children who lack basic financial resources to attend school. The scholarships are given to help families cover basic costs of attending school, such as books, uniforms, transportation, and other school supplies. In order to maintain these scholarships, the students must maintain high grades and their parents must demonstrate their support of their children’s studies.

As the only program directly organized by Quetzaltrekkers, our volunteers are very always excited to welcome our students into the Quetzaltrekkers house or to accompany them on excursions. The past year included arts activities in the house, participation in the International Day of Yoga, sports day at the beach, volcano boarding on Cerro Negro and many shared meals.

Quetzaltrekkers is involved with Las Chavaladas through the funding of the “escuela movil” (mobile school). Literally a school on wheels, the “escuela movil” contains educational materials, and can be used in the neighborhoods where many children live. By bringing the classroom to the streets, educators are able to teach important skills to children who may not attend school, while building relationships in the community to add to their preventative approach to children in extreme situations. In the past year the mobile school made 117 trips and reached 1,469 youth.

Impact:

Each year the Bibilimoto staff present nearly 25 opportunities for people to promote reading to nearly 500 recipients in the neighborhoods around León. Further, the staff make over 35 visits to different neighborhoods and partner organizations delivering education classes to over 1600 students and 40 educators.

Other One-Time Projects

$6,059Completion of construction on the school in Aguas Frias, Telica

$269Purchase baseball uniforms for Nagarote league champions

$1989Light Installation and purchase of prizes at La Casona football league

$3,538Donations to extra-curricular activities at Casa de Cultura

$313 Collaborative projects with the Peace Corps (English, Business & Education events)

$708School supplies and facilities improvements at escuela KM18 near Cerro Negro

Additional support:

Quetzaltrekkers volunteers are regular attendees to youth-focused activities. This extra support is crucial for the staff to have capacity to do their work with youth. We also took a group of 21 boys from the street to Cerro Negro as a recreational diversion from drug use and life on the street.

LAS CHAVALADAS

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THANK YOU

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