THE ROTARY CLUB OF ELLICOTTVILLE HELPS LOCAL RESIDENT RETURN TO NICARAGUA Rotary Club President Jim Gill with Aneen Barrera

Local Resident
Aneen Barrera Returns to
Nicaragua;
Dina’s Host’s Farewell
Cocktail Party
By Gerlind Dubey
(01/16/2009)

Friends Pat Perks and Teresa Wagner and Nita Widger and Dina DePasquale hosted a sendoff cocktail party at Dina’s Loft this past Tuesday for humanitarian Anneen Barrera.

Anneen is returning to Nicaragua on the second leg of a mission that started in 1997. It was then that when Aneen took a vacation to visit a friend and former Ellicottville resident, Pat Brania, in Nicaragua. Compelled by the poverty she witnessed Aneen vowed that, after her retirement from teaching in the Bradford School System, she would return to Nicaragua to aid in educating the poverty stricken youth.
In 2007, Anneen planned her initial trip. First on the agenda was enlisting the help of the Rotary Club of Ellicottville; after hearing her intentions the Club donated funds to aid Anneen’s mission. With friends and private donors adding to the fund, Aneen set off in November of 2007 for a six month, effective, stay; Barrera was able to establish an English program with a local teacher, start a young man, Antonio Vargas, on a road out of poverty by paying tuition for college, plus purchase books, papers pencils etc for schoolchildren.

On January 17 With donations from friends and The Rotary Club of Ellicottville, Anneen once again departs to Nicaragua; it’s time check up on the advancement of Vargas education and of the progression of The English program started last year. Friends wishing to donate to aid in Barrera’s mission should contact Rick (Enrique) Barrera 6750 Poverty Hill Rd. Ellicottville NY.14731.