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About Nicaragua:
The largest nation in Central America, the Republic of Nicaragua is
a country of remarkable diversity, with massive volcanoes beside
huge, clear lakes. Small, quiet villages surrounded by pastureland
stand in contrast to the pristine white and black sand beaches along
the Pacific and
Caribbean
coasts. The people of Nicaragua, descended from Spaniards, Africans,
and Central American indigenous peoples, are friendly and eager to
show travelers the hidden wonders of their country. Unlike its
southern neighbor Costa Rica, Nicaragua’s stunning landscape and
passionate people remain virtually undiscovered by tourists. A
stable, democratic government has relegated to a troubling memory
the hardships of the Sandinista Revolution and Contra war of the
1980s. Still, the challenges Nicas face are enormous. Economic
development has been slow, and the natural disaster of Hurricane
Mitch in 1998 was a major setback. Today, Nicaragua is one of the
poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Despite these
challenges, Nicaraguans are committed to educational, environmental,
and political progress.
The Project:
From the capital city of Managua the group travels south to Granada,
situated on the shores of Lake Nicaragua, where students spend two
days getting acquainted with Nicaraguan culture, geography, and
history. They then board a ferry bound for a small village on
Ometepe island in Lake Nicaragua which is their home for the month.
Students work with local people on several projects that the
community identifies as most useful. In past summers, our group’s
main projects have involved building a community center and a
classroom at a local school, teaching English to local children and
adults, and rebuilding local roads. Each day students work in crews
to complete each project. Conditions in Nicaragua are extremely
simple and living accommodations are basic. Our group lives together
in a small house near the center of town. The workday is full,
starting early, including a mid-day break to beat the heat. There is
time in the late afternoon to relax at the lake, take a short hike
or swim, or join in a game of Nicaragua’s favorite sport, baseball.
Students have the opportunity to help a local cook prepare
traditional Nicaraguan meals of rice, beans, chicken, plantains,
papayas, mangoes, and other delicious fruits and vegetables.
Weekends:
The group spends weekends exploring the many natural and cultural
wonders of Nicaragua. They can swim in the crystal waters of Lake
Nicaragua, explore the volcanic shoreline of Ometepe, visit the
historic colonial city of Granada and the tomb of poet Rubén Darío
in the vibrant university city of León, hike along rainforest
trails to find howler monkeys, sloths, and morpho butterflies, and
try out a surfboard on the deserted Pacific beaches surrounding the
quiet fishing town of San Juan del Sur.
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