the group in Nicaragua

Nicaraguan Adventure

The Nicaragua March break trip with ME to WE was a very memorable experience for all eight participants, including Ms. Stephenson and Mr. Robinson, who gave up most of their March Break to accompany us. We helped build a schoolhouse in the community of Los Campos.
We helped a third-world community with a water problem and even played with the children on the last day of building. We heard an amazing story about how one women founded this school. Before this act, the children of the whole community had to walk two kilometers to another community to receive an education – something that we take for granted. We were visited by a women’s group who were the first women in the community to make a living for themselves and not only rely on the men, which was a inspiring story.

After our four days of building ended, we had four days to explore. We visited the beautiful colonial city of Granada, where we climbed a turret of the grand cathedral and were rewarded with a breathtaking view on top. We also met Antonio at Café de Las Sonrisas, where he explained to us some of his humanitarian projects. Most remarkable was how he employed the hard of hearing in his restaurant and supplemented their income through hammock making. We even learned some sign language. We shopped at the Masaya Market and went to the Masaya Volcano. It was extremely awe-inspiring, as the volcano is on a scale that one can’t imagine before seeing it. It made me feel insignificant and feel the power of nature. It is a live volcano and we saw lava at the bottom of the crater. The sight of the smoke coming up and the sound of the low rumbling of the volcano were really a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For the rest of the four days, we visited a coffee plantation, hiked at the cloud forest reserve of Montebello, swam in a crater lake and learned how traditional Nicaraguan pottery was made.

The trip was very educational and fun at the same time. We learned about a “WEvillage” model and the five pillars that allow the village to break out of the cycle of dependency. It was a very unique and precious experience and I am very happy I signed up for it. But the trip also made us realize that a lot of things we take for granted daily may be impossible luxuries for the people we have just left. Yes, the trip was very fun. Yes, we learned a lot, but the main thing I took with me from this trip is the realization that we are more privileged and fortunate than we think. 

By Bertrand Li, Grade 8
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