About Us
Ayuda Real
We are a non-profit organization which focuses on preparing the young people of Nicaragua for sustainable work and life beyond school. Our team is a group of individuals who have been inspired to make a real difference. We are recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 organization and all donors can deduct contributions made to us.
Our Mission
To provide an opportunity for the young people of Nicaragua to become proficient in English, computer skills, academics, and job skills, allowing them to become self-sufficient.
How We Do it
With the generous donations we receive, we achieve our mission through a combination of English academies, working with local partners, and employer connections. Our focus is mainly on high school and college students - enabling the next generation of Nicaragua's workforce to be productive in the country's economy, and to ultimately become self-sufficient.
How We're Different
Boots on the Ground
Ayuda Real isn't a pass-through organization. We work directly in country as a registered entity.
Student Accountability
Students are supported, mentored, and held accountable. Good attendance, respect, and hard work are expectations.
Providing Oppurtunity
We maintain a work ethic of providing opportunities, not handouts. This is a priority for meeting Ayuda Real's mission.
Our Team
Chris Taylor
Executive Director
Sofia Taylor
Board Member
Ari Maguire
Creative Director
Board Member
Angel Castillo
In-Country
Program Manager
Dave Fiore
Fundraising
Advisory Board Member
Our Backstory
Like many Nicaraguans, Sofia's parents were displaced during the war and ultimately came to the United States to provide a better future for their children. Although Sofia and her brothers lived in the Bay Area for most of their childhood, their parents made sure certain aspects of their Nicaraguan culture remained strong in the household. Still, without having the opportunity to visit Nicaragua, much of Sofia's Nicaraguan background was not fully discovered.
In 2013, Chris and Sofia traveled to Nicaragua with their two daughters. This would be Sofia's first time returning to Nicaragua as an adult, and first time meeting much of her family. After their second trip to Nicaragua in 2014, Chris and Sofia felt called to lift up the young people struggling to make a life after school. They formed Ayuda Real based on having a deep passion for making real changes in the lives of the Nicaraguan people.