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Over the years I was an engineer in the state of transition juggling my passion with my 'work'. Now I have left the tech world behind and on a shoestring live my life's work. as full time plus, Executive Director and founder (actually it found me!) of an organization in Nicaragua. It started as a small personal project to help a few kids go to school and has organically grown to a full blown project with about 300 kids in two countries , 2 Nicaraguan staff members, and over 30 volunteers (part-time). Very recently I decided it's time to let go of the material world and dive completely into one of the only things that drives my very being and trust the universe will support me in this act.

While being a very driven individual, nothing has taken hold of me in my entire 40 years like the plight of the children in the 'rest of the world' who struggle to survive in a world not always very kind. They are our future...and it is with them I think we can change the world to be a better place for all...one child at a time.

Many have said, "Kathy , you can't change the world " . Well perhaps not but it seems possible through education and empowering people, particularly our children who are our future, the world *can* change,'poco a poco'. It is now my belief that we need to empower not just the children but the entire family who need to learn the importance of education to encourage them to attend school instead of work . So in reality we are currently working with entire family units not just these adorable children I have posted.

our website is Empowerment International

My personal blog is Transitions

Photography: It has always been a hobby of mine. While nature used to be my strongest interest and forte, I have found a love in photographing children and also interesting places and people. The truth is if I feel a connection with something or someone then sometimes magic seems occurs with camera in hand and a clear mind and open heart.

At the age of 10 my parents gave me a 126 camera and my great grandfather (the photographer of the family) was in awe at the 'eye' I had. Quite honestly, I have never taken the time to learn a lot about photography, just enough to get by (so don't ask me too many technical questions! ). While nature and children are my forte, I still struggle with the creativity seen in some of the photos here on flickr yet every day is a wonderful learning experience from all you flickrites.

It amazes me the talent that exists in this world and that technology and flickr have allowed so many of us to access it daily. Talk about making the world smaller! It is humbling and fulfilling to view a lot of your amazing photos! Sometimes I feel shy about posting since I think the talent and knowledge here is so great and I still feel like a beginner in many ways. And the truth is I have not used an SLR until 3 months ago in many years since I found the ease of Digital cameras my film/slide photography got put away thus much of my interest in photography went to the side as well.

My physical location recently transitioned to spending 75% of my time in Nicaragua and 25% in Colorado and random USA. Most of my photos will be from these areas unless I am lucky to have the ability to travel to other locations. One of my photographic goals is to convey the beauty and richness in the lives of the people who by today's standards are impoverished. Another goal is to draw in folks more fortunate, to realize that they *can* make a difference in lives around the world and that perhaps these lives can also make a difference in *their own*. It truly is a 'fair trade'. Only by giving can we fully receive.

Recently we have incorporated a photography into our program focusing on our most at risk youth which are typically teens from ages 12 and up and most often girls.

So far the results are astounding. We have found some really talented youth and are excited to see how far they can take their skills. The EI Junior Photographer Collection

About other hobbies and interests. When time and location permit my other passions include hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing, anything in nature, especially if my dogs can accompany me. Spirituality is very important to me and over the years I have pulled in quite a bit of pieces from all over and have formulated a rather eclectic belief system. Another thing I absolutely love is dancing...especially salsa and merengue. For some time now I have to consider myself 'bi-cultural' and am loving dancing between the two worlds of USA and Latin America. It is easy to feel very much at home in these very different worlds yet it is a difficult place to be sometimes as well because not everyone around me 'gets' both worlds.

I love to embrace depth yet simplicity in people and in life.

The truth is, it is my belief that there is much more depth in simplicity than first meets the eye.

While fairly fluent in Spanish, perfecting this second language is now a new challenge for me as is oddly enough, retaining my English!, and thus thus enjoy studying and practicing whenever possible.

Also! besides adoring children, animals are high on my list and they seem to know that so often the seem to reciprocate in amazing ways. My two dogs have traveled more than some people and hiked more mountains and types of terrain than many people I know. Both are immigrants from Costa Rica. :-). Overall, I must admit they are very lucky but it is I who is even luckier to have these endearing souls with me daily.

For any Nicaraguan NGO or people interested in helping in Nicaragua please check out a little forum of Nicaraguan NGO's I put together. NGO's of Nicaragua

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