ICS Nicaragua

Esta semana nuestra organización contraparte ASOMUPRO nos entregó 190 árboles frutales, los cuales tenemos que distribuir en la comunidad de Darayli. Para esto decidimos realizar una competencia de patios con el fin de concientizar a las personas y que le tomen cariño a sus árboles. 

Para iniciar visitamos todas las casas de Darayli, haciéndoles la invitación a participar y dándoles a conocer cuáles serían los parámetros de la competencia. Para la segunda visita hicimos posters para explicar mejor los parámetros a las concursantes.

The UK and Nicaraguan Progressio ICS volunteers of El Bramadero have now come to the end of doing construction. This consisted of building seventeen eco-stoves and three eco-stoves for beneficiaries in Darayli, one of El Bramadero’s neighbouring villages. 

To give you some insight into the work and experiences of the volunteers, I asked them how this part of the programme has worked for them so far, delving into the construction practices, likes and dislikes, skills learnt, challenges encountered, and any stand-out moments and beyond.

Our first week back in Parcila was particularly busy, and combined with four UK volunteers being taken ill, week seven has definitely been quite eventful.

En esta semana dimos por concluidas las eco-estufas, las cuales terminamos el día miércoles a las 3pm. Todos estuvimos alegres porque dimos por concluida nuestra labor de constructores de eco-estufas con tiempo y fue un muy buen trabajo de parte de todos.

Hemos investigado qué piensan los voluntarios Nicas sobre la terminación de la construcción de las eco-estufas y del impacto del trabajo en su comunidad.

“I need the toilet”, the top excuse used to get out of a lesson, the way to escape a first date gone wrong, the sanctuary where a newspaper can be read in peace. In the UK, going to the loo can be something of a respite. For 2.4 billion people worldwide, however, a trip to the lavatory can be life-threatening. Shared latrines and contaminated water systems can lead to unsafe drinking water, food contamination, parasitic infection… the state of a toilet can have a devastating effect on communities in developing countries.

Nicaragua has a rich literary tradition, and the quality and influence of its poetic output has earned itself the nickname ‘Land of the Poets’. The country has been host to many important literary figures, including Rubén Dario, regarded as Nicaragua’s most famous poet. Many literary works have intersected with Nicaragua’s turbulent political history, meaning many of the poetry has been inspired by Nicaragua’s political history and poets have gone on to participate in its political and social life as revolutionaries and politicians.

Empezamos las construcciones. Con mucho ánimo y energía nos dirigimos a las casas de las beneficiarias, las que nos esperaban muy entusiasmadas porque les construiríamos su eco-horno, y tanto entusiasmo se debe a que ellas saben que lo que están recibiendo es un beneficio muy grande que les ayudara en su economía ya que todas las beneficiarias a las que les construimos se dedican a hacer pan para vender.

As we approach the mid-way point in our journey in Parcila and Nicaragua, it’s pretty clear time has flown far too quickly. When I first arrived in Parcila, the shock of where I was going to live for three months, the repetitive meals and the weather made me think that life would probably slow down to the point where each day would feel like an eon. However, this view could not have been further from the truth.

As the rainy, wintery season comes to an end, the Parcilan community (and us eager Brits) await the arrival of a dry and hot summer, which is set to last a mere six months.

For the past six months, Nicaragua has gone through the rainy (monsoon) season, however the amount that has fallen is not anywhere near what communities such as La Grecia and Parcila were hoping for. 

A country that often suffer from floods, now for Nicaragua droughts are the main issue. 

En esta semana, tras terminar nuestros deberes “normales”, cómo son las encuestas que nos hacían falta, la reparación de nuestro parque y una reunión de grupo, decidimos que cada uno de los chicos nicas se llevara a un británico a nuestras casas. Esto fue sugerido porque queríamos mejorar la comunicación entre todos y para que nos conociéramos o conocieran nuestra familia. ¡Aquí les presentamos cómo les fue a cada uno!