Nourish International in Solidaridad

The University of New Mexico branch of Nourish International is down here for a month doing construction work in various communities in and around Granada. They have started in Solidaridad, a former squatters community, replacing roofs on seventeen houses. While Solidaridad was recently the location of a housing project, there were a number of families who were not able to receive houses because they could not afford the materials (which all families had to supply in order to be included in the project). 

p.s. We love working with groups to coordinate social justice projects in and around Granada. Contact us if you're interested!

A shiny new roof.

Many of the family are using what used to make up their roof to expand or reinforce the walls of their home.

Mobile Library

Our Mobile Library project is off to a great start. New intern Haverty is visiting five communities every week, bringing a selection of books to read with the kids each day. So far the response has been great and it's been amazing to see how the kids respond so quickly to all the stories. We never thought Nicaraguan children could be so quiet! Here are some photos from the communities of Solidaridad and the Sabaneta.

Community Group Bonding

We like to have our community groups give themselves a name so they feel a stronger sense of solidarity. Alina worked with the group in Villa Esperanza to create a banner to commemorate what they had learned and everyone who had participated. Adults, kids and dogs all participated. We can't wait for this summer's interns to continue working with them!

Intern Spotlight: Alina

Intern Alina helped us start a series of projects in Villa Esperanza, one of our focus communities this year. Her adolescent group touched on issues of health, violence, and drugs but they also took time to have fun and let loose. Here, the group gets together for a soccer game.

Featured Project Site: The National Zoo

A row of bird houses

Program Coordinator Carrie getting to know the zoo's green monkey.

We recently visited the National Zoo, which is small by US standards, but has a good variety of local and exotic animals. Some of the animals, such as several of the large cats, were rescued from home breeding operations. As you can see some from of some of the photos above, you can get much closer to the animals than you may be used to. We had to dodge some kisses from an anteater whose nose could reach pretty far outside its cage!

We hope to place an intern with the zoo sometime in the future. Contact us if you're interested!

Public Health Internships

Interns assist with health education, taking patient data, and HIV testing at a reproductive health fair in a rural community.

Public Health and pre-Med majors have the opportunity to work in health clinics alongside doctors, nurses, health professionals and other health educators. They learn not only about the healthcare system and primary health problems but also work directly with patients both in the clinic and in the communities.

Nuestros Suenos Sewing Coop

In August of 2010, with the support of our intern Aga, eight women, most single mothers, joined together to learn how to sew and create their own micro-business. In an old community center without electricity, using five manual powered machines, the women have quickly learned a new skill. They are currently making different styles of handbags, to sell on the national and tourist market. Their determination, creativity, and skills are keeping them going and contributing to their success.

Sewing Cooperative

We are now supporting a new micro-business in Granada: Corte y Confecciones Nuestros Suenos. This sewing cooperative, provides new economic opportunities for eight women from the community Valle de Granada in Granada, Nicaragua. Women are learning the basics in order to make clothing for their families, neighbors, and the local market. We are also marketing handicrafts for tourists and bed and bath products for local hotels.

Just a Trim

Viva Nicaragua! volunteer Micayla Clough teaches a group of women from the community Valle de Granada to cut hair as part of a project to increase economic opportunities. We will continue the training and provide the women with basic accounting and small business management workshops to help them learn to run their own home businesses.

Comparative Program

Chelcy and Molly, two pre-med students who just finished the Nicaragua portion of the Comparative Healthcare Program, ended their work at a rural health clinic by having a two day women's health brigade. After spending a month working in the clinic and talking with women about women's health issues including cervical cancer, they held a two day women's health fair. During the event, they gave over 30 pap smear exams to women from rural areas with limited access to health services. For women who rarely are able to see a doctor, making the exams available was such an important service.

In addition, the interns helped build a house, organized a pregancy club, and attended to patients daily both in the clinic and out and the field. Thanks Molly and Chelcy for all of your hard work!

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The Pantanal is a squatter's community where over 2,000 Nicaraguan families live. Residents live in extreme poverty without potable water, electricity, sewage systems, or access to health care services. Later this year, 160 families in the Pantanal will begin constructing their homes as part of a social housing project. Viva Nicaragua! would like to work with this community and their efforts to develop. We are recruiting health, gender studies, social work, development, education and other majors to begin a series of community development workshops to work alongside residents to build a healthy and strong community.


Student group visits Pantanal to learn about the community's history and future projects.

COMPARATIVE HEALTH CARE COURSE - COSTA RICA AND NICARAGUA

This nine week program allows you to observe first hand how structural inequalities influence health and access to health care services. Spend one month interning in a health care facility in Costa Rica and one month in Nicaragua. Learn about both countries, their differet histories, and their cultures while gaining hands on experience.

Criminology internships

Criminology student prepares to observe an autopsy at the National Forensic Lab

YOUTH GROUP IN SOLIDARIDAD

Volunteer Kary Brennan got together a group of children from the former squatters community la Solidaridad. Her purpose was to combine her two passions: art and the environment in order to teach kids to protect their local environment. At the end of her time here, she took a group for a short boat tour of the isletas to show them the diversity of flora and fauna that exists in Lake Colcibolca (literally right in their backyard!) For many of these children this was their first time visiting the isletas. A good time was had by all!


And the youth project has been so successful that community leaders have decided to keep it going. They meet with the kids 3 mornings per week. Viva Nicaragua! volunteers have helped with Taekwando, dance, theater, and art projects!