Escuelita de Bluefields Project

This project began in December 1994 when James Shepard-Kegl, NSLP, and Gene Mirus, Anthropology student at the University of Texas identified a substantial number of homesigners in Bluefields, Nicaragua who lived in sufficient proximity to allow them to be brought together into a small school. The project began with an intensive language and cultural immersion in January 1995. After that session Los Pipitos (a parents advocacy group), ANSNIC (The Nicaraguan National Association of the Deaf), and Nicaraguan Sign Language Projects, Inc. joined forces to establish the school. The school, which averages 30 students from Bluefields, Corn Island and Puerto Cabezas, has only Deaf faculty. It is funded via donations to NSLP, Inc.

Tuition for students at Escuelita de Bluefields is, and will continue to be, completely free, as is room and board for residential students. Escuelita de Bluefields is funded entirely through donations. The projected budget for 1999 is approximately $60,000, covering daily lunches for students and teachers, room and board for the residential students and Deaf teachers, teacher salaries; salaries for teacher trainees from Managua and Condega, airfare between Managua and Bluefields, equipment, and supplies.

Researchers seeking access to students at Escuelita de Bluefields must coordinate with NSLP, Inc. and the Bluefields Chapter of Los Pipitos. Individuals interested in performing volunteer services at the Escuelita should contact NSLP, Inc. Use of foreign sign languages at the Escuelita is not permitted. Researchers are expected to submit a screening application, and if accepted to provide one session of volunteer services to the school before returning to Bluefields to conduct their own research.

Tax-deductible donations for Escuelita de Bluefields can be made payable to NSLP, Inc. and sent to 52 Whitney Farms Road, North Yarmouth, ME 04097.

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