The Maui News

Nonprofit Somos Ohana Nicaragua will hold a benefit at The Flatbread Company in Paia on Tuesday to raise funds for their latest project that includes renovating a primary school in rural northwestern Nicaragua and supplying the school with a working latrine.

The local nonprofit builds schools and brings health services and scholarships to northwestern Nicaragua. Their next focus is on a badly deteriorated elementary school that was built decades ago by international donors, but has had no funding for maintenance.

The pizza night fundraiser includes a silent auction from 5 to 9 p.m. and a portion of the money from every flatbread purchased via dine-in or take-out will be donated by The Flatbread Co. to Somos Ohana Nicaragua.

Somos Ohana Nicaragua has worked alongside their Nicaraguan partners to build two secondary schools and two pre-schools, to renovate elementary schools and to complete two water systems.

The group has provided over 150 bicycles for teens that previously walked 1 to 2 hours to their high school.

They assist with partial scholarships for seven university students who are majoring in health and education fields, and they provide a travel fund for cancer patients to urban treatment centers.

Volunteers are always welcome. Spanish language ability, while desirable, is not necessary.

For more information about Somos Ohana Nicaragua, www.somosohananicaragua.org or call 808-572-9898. The nonprofit can be found on Facebook at Somosohana Nicaragua.