Volunteering with Viva Nicaragua in Granada
I came to Nicaragua at the end of an eight month career break, and motivated by giving something back to society in a country that has long fascinated me, I contacted Carrie to set up a placement in Granada. I was particularly interested in working with children, partly because (as a editor of adult books in the UK) this would be something well out of my realm of experience, but also because I looked forward to seeing this new country through their eyes. VIva Nicaragua! set me up with the Centro Desarollo Infantil Jesus de Praga, which is a charitably-funded infants' school and nutrition centre for children from 6 weeks to 6 years. The centre's dual purposes are to offer creche facilites and pre-school tuition to their circa 100 children, while also serving up one nutritous meal a day for 80 of them. The centre prioritises children from families with working mothers who would otherwise have to leave their infants at home alone, or take them with them to work, allowing them to support their family without compromising their children's welfare. The centre is run by the formidable Dona Judith, who with her assistant Adela run a staff of 12 other employees, one supervising the creche, two nursery staff, five maestras and four kitchen and cleaning staff. The centre is situated near the lake, at the end of Calle Arsenal on the edge of a squatters community which has recently benefited from a development project. Many of the children at the centre come from this area, but as Jesus de Praga is the only CDI in Granada, it accepts children from across the city.
The centre was founded in 1943 by four Granadian women who wanted to help poor women and their children. The centre has existed under several guises, including as a nationalised institution after the war, but when it was on the brink of collapse during a particularly bad economic crisis in 1994, it was adopted by the Las Damas Vicentinas (Bysentium Women's charitable group). The CDI as I knew it in its current location was inaugurated in 1997. The centre is now financed by a mixture of private donations, from both national and international businesses, and a small government contribution from the Ministry of Education's budget. Parents donate what little they can to their children's education, but even with charitable donations and government contributions, the centre functions on the bare minimum, and the staff receive the minimum wage.
I arrived at the centre at the end of October 2008 to spend a month helping out in any way I could. My arrival coincided with a particularly busy period for the centre as they were gearing up for the graduation of the third year students who will start primary (grade) school in January. The 'promocion' would take place in the school's grounds where a huge mural would be erected in front of which the 51 students would parade in mortar boards before receiving a diploma, all in front of their families. But first, all the preparation. The task fell to me to create 51 cardboard mortar boards replete with hand made pompoms which were cut, glued and stuck from scratch, and 51 diplomas tied with ribbon. Before I came to Nicaragua, I had no idea what my time here would involve, but I couldn't have imagined becoming a pompom-making expert! I also helped out the teachers with the huge mural featuring a Christmas Care Bears theme. Not being particularly arty, I was happy to serve as support staff, cutting, gluing and outlining as directed. This time was particularly interesting for me as I got to join all five maestras in a relaxed atmosphere where we chatted and compared our different lives as women in Nicaragua and Europe. It was eye-opening for both of us, but I think they had a harder time understanding how a 33-year-old had not yet settled down and had children and was perhaps going to wait even longer before doing so! As most women get married and begin families at around 20, I was considered an oddity. For my part, I told them that I thought their family support networks were something that were to be admired. Although us Europeans may not relish the idea of living three generations to a house, so many of us in England live far from our parents, which does impact on community structures and support. We did, however, agree, that human nature is pretty much the same all over the world, especially in regards to personal relationships!
My time at Jesus de Praga was not just a glue-soaked craft-fest. I was also let loose in the classroom, particularly working with the third years, teaching them basic English. Among other things I taught them 'Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes' (simplified to 'Heads, Arms, Legs and Toes'!!) and the colours of the rainbow, as well as helping out with simple written assignments. The children were frighteningly quick and wonderfully enthusiastic, and beared with my limited teaching techniques! I also helped out with the threeyear-olds, but more as an invisible teachers ' aide, keeping the children sitting down and concentrating, tying shoe laces, replacing belts that had mysteriously come loose of dresses, intervening when two children tried to draw on their neighbours' faces, and generally making faces to get them to concentrate.
The time that most affected me, however, was helping out in the nursery. This was probably the most challenging for me, not only having to grapple with cloth nappies and convince a baby to feed from a stranger, but more because the reality of these children's poverty was most apparent in this age group. Nearly every one of the babies were ill - mainly with respiratory infections, fevers and diarrhoea, all exacerbated by poor housing and sanitation, and the recent rainy season. The smiley, enthusiastic and energetic demeanour of the older children had made me forget their background and their need, but here I was confronted with it. Half the nursery's twenty children were away because of illness for most of the month I was there, but nearly all of those present were also unwell. It is a depressing fact that infant mortality is high in Nicaragua, and mostly as a result of curable diseases. The children were also small for their age. I was particularly shocked to see the baby I thought was six-months-old toddling about the place. He was in fact nearly 18 months, but so small he appeared younger. I often visited the nursery to check out which baby was in that day and to see if they had recovered, and also to keep up the contact. Just to see one of them bouncing in the baby swing grinning in pleasure would help alleviate the worry I felt for their futures. But it also made me appreciate just how important the centre was in giving these children a safe place and a nutritious meal, and also allowing their parents the freedom to work and support the family. As Dona Judith explained, "The children feel at home here. We offer them a somewhere where they can laugh, cry, run, shout, eat, sleep, learn and feel loved."
My time at Jesus de Praga culminated in the 3rd year's graduation parade. On a Friday morning, 51 five-year-olds dressed in white smocks and "English-crafted" cardboard mortar boards lined up with a family member to receive their diplomas. Family and friends donned their finery or borrowed smart clothes, and watched the children on their big day as each was called forward, stopping briefly for a photograph before mounting the stage and sitting down in front of the mural. I watched misty-eyed and incredibly proud of the kids who all looked so serious and nervous in the line up. And even more so as they sat on the stage, trying not to giggle or having sword fights with their diplomas. I had only been at the centre a month but I felt completely involved and so pleased with my contributions to the day. It was a great way to end.
My time at the CDI was a wonderful experience, varied, challenging and always interesting. But the best thing for me was the childrens' curiosity and excitement in face of this blond interloper. They were so open and welcoming, and really interested in me and where I came from, but also so accepting. They welcomed me into their classrooms, they ran up to give me hugs in the corridor, they showed off performing dance routines or cartwheels, they affectionately called 'Inka' (Gringa in their baby Spanish) to me as I passed and patiently put up with my struggles to understand them. It was such a privilege to work with the children and the staff. I will relish the experience for a long time. I am sure I benefited much more than the centre has from my help. But if just one of the children is inspired to learn English, or dreams of travelling and keeps up their education because of my visit, I will be a very happy 'Inka' indeed!
Natasha Martin 24 November 2008
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