Arlen leads her household. She is the mother of two children, ages 2 and 7, and for eight years she has served as a brigadista, a community health volunteer, in a rural community near Waslala, in Nicaragua’s central mountain region.
A Decade of Service, Born from a Desire to Help
Long before she held a title, Arlen was already the first response when her neighbors needed care. Her work as a brigadista grew out of a simple, unwavering desire: to serve. Over time, that same desire took a new shape: the dream of becoming a nurse.
When an Exception Opened a Door
A few months ago, Arlen was awarded an AMOS Seeds of Hope educational scholarship. The application deadline arrived at one of the hardest moments of her year. Her son had just spent four days in the hospital, and she couldn’t get her paperwork in on time. AMOS made an exception so she could still apply, and Arlen was chosen.
Balancing Motherhood, Studies, and Service
She now relies on the scholarship to cover her studies, supplementing her income by selling catalog products on the side. Between motherhood, coursework, and clinical practicums, her schedule leaves little room to spare. And still, Arlen shows up every month for brigadista trainings, not only to learn, but to teach, sharing everything she knows with the same generosity that first brought her to this work.
Carrying the Message: Preventing Teen Pregnancy
She speaks plainly about what rural communities are up against. “We’re always talking about maternal deaths,” she says. It’s why she has become such a firm voice for preventing teen pregnancy, carrying that message, community by community, to other women who need to hear it.
Arlen is set on finishing her studies and becoming a nurse. In doing so, she isn’t just building a career. She’s widening the path for the women who will walk it after her.