Education
Prior to the Sandinista Revolution of 1979, the majority of Nicaraguans living in the rural areas of the country were considered illiterate. It is estimated that 53% of the total population was illiterate. As a result, the 1980 Nicaraguan Literacy Campaign (also known as the National Literacy Crusade) was launched. This campaign was one of the key large-scale programs that the Sandinista government implemented throughout the entire country, in which large numbers of youth and adults participated. The government mobilized and trained over 100,000 people to take part in this five month long project. As a result of its tremendous work and success in reducing illiteracy to 13%, Nicaragua was awarded the prestigious United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Literacy Award.