‘Bullying Is A Problem that Needs to Stop in Every Part of the World’

Bullying Is A Problem that Needs

to Stop in Every Part of the World

Ana is native to Esteli , Nicaragua. She was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate and was an Operation Smile Nicaragua patient. Her journal from a little girl begins on January of 1994. Her mom, 16 years old at the time and without knowing where to go exactly, travelled to the capital of Nicaragua, Managua. She heard on the radio about Operation Smile and said, “the only thing I care was my little baby, I just had money for my bus transportation.” Ana and her Mom continue the trip once per year to the capital.

“They thought she was a monster or something else than a human being”

As hard as it has been, Ana has grown to move past of  why people made fun of her. Times were not easy. “They thought she was a monster or something else than a human being.” She understands she is who she is, and with the support of her Dad and Mom she stays strong.

What she has been through has made her stronger to face life and brought her closer to her Mom and Dad.

Going to elementary school was a huge dream because she wanted to be a normal child. She had many challenges through trying to learn at school while being bullied. The bullying never stopped her, and even now if it does happen she does not let it stop her. Sadly it continues at times, even though she is older.

One marked  phase on her life was when her little Sister was born. When her Sister was one and started talking, the most difficult thing for her was,  “How I will teach words to her if even I cannot say some words right? ”

When Ana’s sister asked “How to say ‘blank’?” it was the most painful words in the world. So Ana has developed a strategy, she goes to her Mom and asks her to tell the right way to say the word and then tell her little Sister. She has her Sister repeat it many times to be clear on the words.

Company Gave Her a Chance

When Ana ended  high school she started working for a cigar company, DREW State. This company gave her a chance and she learned how to roll a cigar. After working there for some time,  Pedro Gomez told about an scholarship. She applied and got the scholarship, ‘The Scholarship for Education and Economic Development, (“SEED”) to study in the United States. She went from  2013-2015.

In 2015, she promoted a project on the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU),  designed to develop and provide recycling containers to reduce waste and mosquito breeding. This was  for improving public heath in their community of Esteli. The project was selected by former President Bill Clinton and other panelists. Amongst 1000 different thematic projects, she managed to get second place. Ana came back from the United States with a open mind, a will to get a job and develop the project, as well as give back to the organizations which have helped her.

These things have come true when she made the Plastic Bins Esteli Wins, which is ongoing, and helping Operation Smile. Ana also  went to the conference (LEA Latinoamerica En Accion 2016- Peru) and (ISLC International Student Leadership Conference 2016 USA-San Diego C.A ) to share  her story.  She encourages people to get involved  and see a life change. As an Operation Smile volunteer, she is currently part of a program of scholarship alumni who are responsible for providing jobs to low-income people.

Ana has been looking for a job where she can help others since that is my passion. She also likes travelling to learn new things and about new places in life. Ana is very friendly and has much enthusiasm and happiness.

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