Destinations: Managua, Rama Kay Island, Corn Islands, Esteli, Miraflor
Initiatives: Drug Runners, Healthcare, Water, Student Entrepreneurship, Ecotourism
Destinations: Managua, Rama Kay Island, Corn Islands, Esteli, Miraflor
Initiatives: Drug Runners, Healthcare, Water, Student Entrepreneurship, Ecotourism
04/26: USA to Managua, Nicaragua
Met our translator, Marjorie
Visit local markets
Dinner meeting with Dr. Tabatha Parker, NDI
Gave Dr. Parker our donated medical supplies
04/27: Managua to Bluefields to Pearl Lagoon
Stayed at the Green Lodge, in Pearl Lagoon
Walked around neighboring villages
Attended a local church service
04/28: Pearl Lagoon
Panga ride to a remote, sustainable, agricultural school
Tour of the school grounds and crops
04/29: Rama Kay Island to Bluefields
Learned about the history of the native Rama people
Ate coconuts with families and children of the island
The leader, Missair, explained the major needs on the island: healthcare and education (especially English)
Back in Bluefields the students explored the markets and town, brainstorming ideas for the Esteli school innovation projects
Professors attended a United Nations Solar/Wind energy meeting with UN and local diplomats
04/30- 05/01: Bluefields to the Corn Islands
Flew to Big Corn Island
Traveled by boat to Little Corn Island
Hiked to our lodging destination: Ensuenos
Met the owners of Ensuenos – they taught us about the problems on the island: over-fishing, limited clean water, littering
05/02: Corn Islands to Bluefields to Managua to Esteli
05/03: Esteli
Met our host families
Explored the town
05/04: Miraflor
Bus ride to Miraflor Ecological Preserve
Hiked around the preserve
Learned about the growth, processing and importance of their coffee bean co-operative
Learned about the low profit for the farmers vs. mark-up cost of coffee beans here in the USA
05/05 – 05/08: Esteli
Attended Spanish class from 8am – noon each day
Worked with the students of Esteli Innovation (FAREM and UPONIC Universities)
The USA students helped each group with a business plan, marketing strategies, product aesthetics, project development, and cost
On the last day, each group gave a presentation of their product
Visited Father Fabretto – a school for K-5 children
Donated educational supplies to Marjorie’s (our translator) class of students
05/09 – 05/11: Esteli to Somoto
Explored the mountain village of Somoto
05/12: Somoto to Managua to USA