English Students Write About Their Experiences, Part I

Since the English classes were divided this September, the Enlace Project English School team has been working hard to meet students' needs, adjusting their lessons and activities to help the students advance and provide them with professional English skills.

More recently, the teachers asked students to write about their experience with Enlace Project in order to better understand how the English class helps them meet their own goals. Below, you will find some excerpts from the students:

"My experience here in Enlace Project has been very nice and I have learned a lot... I've learned to capture the sounds of the language [which] is the hardest thing for me. It has been interesting to me [to] interact with foreign people who come to help and... develop our language learning which is of great importance... [I want] To develop myself intellectually with better quality since it will help my career studying and socially in my relationship with teachers and classmates..."

-Keyslor José Calderón Conteno, Second Level

Students in the intermediate class, including Nelson Israel [front right]

"When I started to study English in Enlace [Project]... [it] was hard to understand... [Now] I understand better... the experience has been really good. Studying here helped me to get a job and now I'm working teaching English. I feel good about that and I hope to continue to study here because I like the methodology that they use."

-Nelson Israel, Second Level

"...Many doors have been opened for me since I started studying English, opportunities that were not only given to me for my profession, which is why I would like to thank my teachers and the Enlace Project team for giving me the opportunity to study English, share their experiences and teach us many important things about American culture"

-Henry Chévez Garcia, Third Level

Keyslor [front-left] and Geovanni [front-left].

"My goals in English are to be able to have a good job and to help my family... I would like to be able to become a teacher... [and] travel to another country. [English] is very important in my life, I think that learning English is something that will always be important, and I hope that at the end [of my studies] I will find a job where I can make some good money."

-Geovanni Quiroz, Second Level

There will be more stories posted in the future, keep looking for them!

Familiar Faces: Mauricio Martinez

For many people, Don Mauricio Martinez is the face of Ocotal. As the patriarch of the beautiful and ample mountain community, Mauricio cares for the land and often refers to the environment as if it were a lifelong friend of his. We sat down for an interview with Mauricio to find out more about his life and the community:

Sean: Thank you for speaking with me, Don Mauricio. Were you born in Ocotal?

Mauricio: No, I was born in El Jicote, a community about a kilometer from here. When I was growing up, no one lived in this area. I built a house here when I was around 30 years old. The guy who owned this land hired me to work in the community as a farmer, so I built a house here.

Mauricio during the construction of El Ranchón, the mountain's restaurant.
This land was donated courtesy of Mauricio.

S: What was your youth like? How would you describe Ocotal in those times?

M: My youth was healthy and normal; I never had problems or fights with anyone. I had two cousins who I lived with, and we spent time learning how to play the guitar, the mandolin. We would spend entire nights just playing music. I worked a lot, mostly as a farmer, harvesting sugar cane, corn, coffee, and beans. Ocotal, at that time, was suffering because many pine trees were affected by a disease. The trees were all dry, and many were falling. There was a lot of deforestation by lumber companies, both legally and illegally. That’s why we decided it was important to care for the forest. We've been protecting and caring for it for more than thirty years now.

S: What are the best qualities of Ocotal? What does Ocotal have that other areas in Nicaragua do not?

A beautiful view of part of Ocotal's pine forest.

M: The pine needle forests are truly amazing. We have amazing nature all around us, and they are important to take care of. The environment is what gives us life, water, and the air we breathe. We started to care for the land  with of the help of the Danish Development Project "Manuel Lopez" (which years later helped formed the Coffee Cooperative "Manuel Lopez"), who came an gave us tools. Now we are lucky enough to have the Los Altos de Ocotal cooperative, so that we can show others the beauty we have around us. The members of the cooperative are good people, and also care for the environment.

S: What are some difficulties that the community of Ocotal faces?

M: Some people still do not recognize the need for working with the environment instead of against it. Much of the mountainous area that is closer to the city is damaged. We also need to focus beyond plant life, to animals too. We have a lot of beautiful wildlife to be seen. There are many types of birds and animals in Ocotal.

Sean and Mauricio together in 2013.

S: What is your vision for the future of Ocotal? 

M: I hope that one day we can all be responsible for taking care of our community, that we can work together to live with the environment, because in the end it is what protects us. I also hope that the tourism cooperative will be able to show others the beauty of Ocotal and that they too can learn to value the natural environment. Too often, it is believed that we as humans should be separate from the wild when really we are just another part of it.

New English Schedule Encourages Progress and Participation

Students in Enlace Project's intermediate class, a full classroom!

Enlace Project's English School is working to meet the growing needs of a range of English students. As more students pass from the beginner's class, the advanced students have been divided into two groups. Formerly, students who passed their level one exam would move to the advanced class, which covered levels two through six, and was taught in English by a native speaker.

The new intermediate and advanced classes are both taught completely in English, but aim to focus more on the specific needs of students. The intermediate class covers levels two and three and focuses on conversation, pronunciation, and major grammar tenses; the advanced class focuses on more advanced and professional skills such as reading, writing, and syntax.

The goal of teaching English at Enlace Project is to help Sauceños develop a skill that they can use in job seeking as well as in their personal lives. When the program started five years ago, there was a huge desire in El Sauce for a convenient and affordable English class. The low price (an equivalent of $6/month) and class schedule (at night, so that those who work can study) allows for a variety of students to enter and participate in the class.

Luzvelia Sevilla, from the advanced class, teaching students from the
intermediate class.

The new class schedule hopes to appeal to all the students, allowing for a more specialized curriculum. Students study at their own pace through a series of books and arrive to the class for practice, review, and activities. Those who have just passed from first level to the intermediate class will find the activities more difficult, but easy to adjust to; the same applies for those who pass from the intermediate to the advanced class.

The most advanced members of the class are aiming high; all of the students in the new advanced class (and a few in the intermediate) have found jobs that require knowledge of the English language. The new classes give these students motivation to continue advancing and encouraging others to do the same.

Other events such as cultural celebrations, held twice a year to give the students a chance to use their English in the form of skits and songs, encourage students to have fun while learning. Students in the advanced class are also given the opportunity to prepare a lesson for the intermediate students, designing materials and activities to teach. By doing so, they are given the chance to develop professional skills that could serve them in their search for employment. As the advance class develops, students will also have the opportunity to develop additional skills, such as translation and interpretation.

--Written by Sean Conner, Enlace Project Intern

Students from Enlace Project English school perform a skit about Nicaraguan culture for
friends, families, and guests from SUNY Geneseo's Service Learning Program.

Ocotal Cabin Welcomes Guests, Growth For The Cooperative

The new cabin, to the side of El Ranchón.

In September 2014, hundreds of people from around the municipality of El Sauce–and some from even farther–gathered in El Ranchón, the "home base" for the Los Altos de Ocotal (LAOS), to celebrate the inauguration of a new cabin. With traditional food and coffee, speeches from local figures and members of the community, and traditional dance and music, the celebration was a bright sign of what the future holds for the cooperative. In addition to the mayor and other local officials, members of the local media, tourism promoters, and Canadian delegates were present.

Don Mauricio (right) is the patriarch of the Ocotal community.

The cabin's construction was funded by PIMCHAS, a Canadian project, and executed by El Sauce's municipal government in order to help the cooperative as they hope to reach new audiences and increase the flow of tourists to the destination. Likewise, LAOS has been working with UPOLI, ViaNica, and INTUR, the National Institute of Tourism, to develop a plan for the cooperative's development, including promoting Ocotal as a tourist destination. Marino Valdivia, leader of LAOS, commented, "Not only are we organized, but we are strong. We are being recognized all over the country."

Enlace Project began working with the mountain cooperative and their partners in the Manuel Lopez Coffee Cooperative and Fuente de Pino cooperative in 2006. The Entrepreneurial Development Program, which is now in charge of consulting and providing assistance to the cooperatives, is exited about the process the cooperatives have made. Since the inauguration, many local visitors have climbed the mountain to stay in the cabin; however, the cooperative hopes to attract international visitors as well.

Enrique, top right, of the Entrepreneurial Development Program, meets with
members of LAOS and INTUR.

In a meeting in mid-October, Enlace Project, UPOLI (Universidad Politécnica de Nicaragua), and LAOS met to discuss the future of the cooperative. Now, LAOS is working to develop the type of tourism that they want to see in their community; they are focusing on protecting the environment, something that is very important to them, ever since the cooperative was formed. They take pride in showing visitors the lifestyle in 'el campo' and showing them the natural beauty of the landscape–including one of the only pine forests in the department of León.

Plans for the future include converting an area of the community into a protected ecological zone. Look out for updates on the tourism cooperative's projects.

-Written by Sean Conner, Enlace Project Intern

Student Testimonial: Tamara Kurek

Tamara at a health post with the local doctor and nurse.

Tamara Kurek, a junior Biology at SUNY Geneseo, traveled to El Sauce in June of 2014 to participate in the school's Service Learning class, supported and run by Enlace Project. Here's what she had to say when reflecting on her experience:

I spent a month in El Sauce this past summer completing a Global Service Learning course through SUNY Geneseo. The bulk of my time was spent shadowing doctors and nurses at rural health posts, helping teach English classes at the Enlace Project English School, and traveling around different parts of Nicaragua. I learned about my future profession as a physician, a new culture, and about myself through the wonderful people I met.

Tamara (second on the left) watches the English students perform skits.

 At the health posts, I quickly became friends with the nurse and doctors who rotated through during the week. They were more than willing to teach me about their daily tasks and train me in a few of them so that I could help increase the number of patients they saw in a day. They were equally as open to just chat about their lives and what it was like to work in healthcare in Nicaragua. The tasks that I was assigned to were weighing patients, taking blood pressures, and writing out scripts for medications. These tasks, while simple, were endlessly exciting to me as a Biology major on the Pre-med track. Simply watching the doctors attend patients, too, was a great learning experience. 

Participating in the English classes was one of many activities that contributed to the overall experience of getting to know the people of El Sauce. During those afternoons, I was touched and endlessly impressed by the students’ persistence and positive attitudes in learning the English language. The young adults in Juan’s level one class advanced in skill each week I was there, and they took our criticisms gracefully when we worked with them on their pronunciation. On our weekend trips we got to see cities like León and Granada and learn about the country’s history. While we were in León we went to an art gallery that featured many Nicaraguan artists’ work, and that visit inspired me to choose Nicaraguan art in the 20th century as the focus for an art history paper that I am to write at Geneseo this semester.

Tamara (right) in Granada with the other Service Learning students.

I kept a journal all throughout the month I was in Nicaragua, and the last entry, written on the plane from Managua to Miami, was this:

“I’ll remember the people that I met on this trip forever, even once I forget the details of what I saw and did”. 

I know this is true, and I hope to keep in touch with the people I met there and with Enlace Project for years to come.

Benefit Dinners Help Enlace Project and its Partners to Support Rural Education

Enlace Project Geneseo students prepare by hanging a 'welcome' sign.

Enlace Project is extremely lucky to have partners in the U.S. that go above and beyond in their fundraising (and cooking) efforts. This September, both Avon for Nicaragua and Enlace Project Geneseo (EPG) worked to raise money for school constructions in the communities around El Sauce, Nicaragua. The school construction projects, part of Enlace Project's community development services, have occurred once per year in the past; however, with the expanded efforts of Enlace Project's partners, 2014 is the first year that two schools have been built.

Avon for Nicaragua displays information on the project.

Avon for Nicaragua's Spaghetti Dinner, held on September 26 at the local high school cafeteria, brought together members of the group and community to celebrate the value of education. Many volunteers had traveled to Nicaragua on a trip in February 2014 in order to see their funds in action; the group helped local construction workers and the Enlace Project team as they built the school up from the ground in Buena Vista. The group reflected fondly on the experience, gaining appreciation for education and Nicaraguan culture.

The group, with old and new members, plans to return in February 2015 for another construction, and possibly again for the second later that same year. In addition to the Spaghetti Dinner, Avon for Nicaragua hosted a raffle and has talked with the local rotary club about the school construction, all of which have proven effective for fundraising and increasing support of the construction project.

Enlace Project Geneseo has also grown in size and enthusiasm, as the club became officially recognized on the SUNY Geneseo campus this year. New members, many of whom participated in Enlace Project's study abroad trips during the summer of 2014, joined the club's founding members to host a traditional Nicaraguan dinner at the Interfaith Center on September 28with the help of Juan Mairena, Enlace Project's Academic and Volunteer Trip Coordinator. Geneseo Professor Glenn McClure was also essential in planning the menu for the evening.

EPG worked with other student organizations to make the dinner successful.

The Geneseo club decided to raise money for Enlace Project's school construction in San Cayetano, which is currently underway. EPG also sold baskets from Fuente de Pino, spreading the word about the women's cooperative and life in El Sauce. Last year, the club also helped to bring coffee from the Manuel López cooperative to campus, and are now looking to other projects for the upcoming year.

Between the two fundraisers, the groups raised over $1,500 towards the school constructions, which will help children in rural communities be able to attend schools without walking several miles to other communities' schools. The school construction program works with the El Sauce mayor's office and members of the communities to make the project as effective as possible.

Additionally, the schools are supplied with learning materials to motivate students. Click here to read the story of Las Minitas.

--Written by Sean Conner, Enlace Project Intern

Ella and Kirk Vanderbilt at the Avon for Nicaragua dinner.

Education for the Future: Rob Sanford's English Training

Rob with Enlace Project English School teachers: Luzvelia, Javier, & Juan.

During two weeks the month of August, Enlace Project friend Rob Sanford came to Nicaragua in order to train local English teachers. Working with El Sauce's Ministry of Education, Rob was able to provide assistance to public and private schools, including the Enlace Project English School staff. In addition to the three workshops that took place in the Enlace Project office, Rob made visits to some of the schools to watch the teachers in action and also taught Enlace Project’s advanced English class.

Rob had previously worked with Enlace Project on constructing a school in the community of Buena Vista. During the trip in February 2014, he had the opportunity to sit in on Enlace Project’s English classes and speak with the program directors to organize the workshop. Being an elementary and middle school teacher in the Honoeye Falls-Lima School District in upstate New York, Rob was able to share his knowledge of education and the English language, as well as his spirit and energy, with the teachers and students.

Rob explaining a concept to a local English teacher at the workshop.

Specifically, Rob’s workshop focused on classroom management, grammar instruction, and strategies for implementing reading and writing of English in the classroom. Bringing a variety of school materials, such as bilingual books, CDs, and more, he hoped to encourage students and teachers alike in their English studies. He notes in his blog that the school visits provided him with strategies that would help the teachers’ instruction and activities in class.

Rob, in turn, also learned a lot from visiting the classrooms. He comments, “Enlace [Project]’s program provides a unique opportunity for volunteers to connect with the people of Nicaragua in a way that both the volunteers and Nicaraguans can benefit from.”

He also had the chance to visit the school in the community of Buena Vista that he had worked on in February. There he introduced himself to the class, some of who were familiar faces from around the community, and talked to the teacher about how the new school was going. This opportunity helped Rob to see the true impact that fundraising and building schools can have for the children.

Rob with one of the classes in Buena Vista.

When reflecting on his experience after returning to the United States, Rob wrote to Enlace Project:

“This experience helped me to improve my own skills as a teacher, forced me to think about how I deliver my own instruction, provided me with a chance to improve my Spanish language skills, and allowed me to make connections with some amazing people!"

--Written by Sean Conner

For more information on our English program.

For more information on our school constructions.

Taking the Next Step toward Self-Sustainability in Ocotal

The women from Fuente de Pino with John and Beverly Serafini.

Two-thousand fourteen has been a big year for Ocotal, the mountain community outside of El Sauce’s center. In addition to joining theColonial and Volcanic tourism route, having a renovated road, and building cabins for guests to stay in, the cooperatives that are supporting development in the community have again exported their products to partners in the United States. With the help of Enlace Project’s Entrepreneurial Development Program (EDP), both Fuente de Pino and the Manuel Lopez Coffee Cooperative have brought additional income to their families, along with some new opportunities.

Construction on the road to Ocotal.

Fuente de Pino has been working to create a variety of hand-made products out of fallen pine needles that they find in their community. This year they have exported over 125 baskets to stores across upstate New York, and more to individual supporters, such as Rob Sanford and Colleen Dunham. The women that run the cooperative also made sales to students from the four summer study abroad trips and other volunteer trips. Currently, Enrique Corrales and Conrad Wright of EDP are working with the cooperative to establish a financial state, a savings account, and to pass through the legalization process.

The Manuel López Coffee Cooperative exported 9,000 pounds of coffee to the United States this year, despite a severe drought in the country. Java Joe, a well-known coffee roaster and distributer in Rochester, New York, is the main client. Additionally, the coffee is now sold on the campus of SUNY Geneseo (through Java Joe and Campus Auxiliary Services [CAS]), Union Place Coffee Roasters, and Utica Coffee Roasting Company. The cooperative is hoping that these and potentially other businesses will increase their purchase amount in the future.

Sacks of coffee ready to be exported to the US.

The Entrepreneurial Development Program has also come into contact with Serafyn Sachels, lead by John and Beverly Serafini, who hope to convert burlap coffee bags, used by the cooperatives to transport coffee, into fashionable bags to be sold in the United States. The couple visited El Sauce in July 2014 to meet the women of Fuente de Pino and show them how to make the bags. This could provide another source of income for the Ocotal community to continue its development in the coming year.

The Entrepreneurial Development Program (EDP) began in June 2014 in order to centralize the services that Enlace Project can provide to cooperatives and small businesses. Their hope is to ensure that the individuals that they work with can learn to be self-sustaining. Keep on the lookout for more updates!

--Written by Sean Conner, Enlace Project Intern

Familiar Faces: Juan Mairena (PLUS an announcement!!)

Juan Mairena, Enlace Project's Academic and Volunteer Travel Coordinator and English teacher, is heading to the United States on September 21^st to meet with many of our partners and friends. In preparation, he has decided to re-introduce himself and explain a little bit about what he does:

Juan with a group of students in Managua.

Hi mi name is Juan Mairena, and I am twenty seven years old. I am from Nicaragua and I was born in Managua, the capital of the country, but I have been living in El Sauce for about three and half years now. I work for Enlace Project, the vision of which is to inspire individual in the human development and the economic development in El Sauce.

Juan showing an oven to students from Geneseo's sustainability class

Currently my position is the Academic and Volunteer travel coordinator, so I am the guide in charge of setting up of the academic and volunteer trips that visit Nicaragua. The different trips that I work with are: Service Learning trips (during the summer and winter intersessions of SUNY Geneseo), Avon for Nicaragua (a group from Rochester, NY who work on school constructions), Humanities II (a SUNY Geneseo required course for all students), Comparative Sustainability (a new course in the Biology department of SUNY Geneseo), and a rural health program (students from Upstate Medical University).

I also teach English classes for Enlace Project. I love doing my job because I meet wonderful people, I learn more about my own culture and the different cultures that the students and volunteers have. In my free time I like to watch movies, to play soccer, to go out with my friends, to spend time in family, to play chess, and I am starting to work out.

Juan (far right) on his last trip to the USA.

During these three and half years working and living here in El Sauce, I could say that it has been one of the most wonderful experiences in my life because I have met such great people from different countries and I feel part of the Sauceño community. I have met amazing people from the States who, regardless of being students, professors and volunteers, are now friends and family and that is the best part of my job.

I am going to the United States to promote the different kinds of trips that we offer. I will be giving presentations about our trips and our organization at Geneseo from September 21^st till the 30^th and then I will be going to Syracuse to have some meetings at Upstate Medical University. In Geneseo, I will be around in different meetings and fairs, so if you know someone interested in coming to Nicaragua please let them know that they can meet me there during those days. I look forward to seeing many of you and spending some time in the U.S.A.!

For more information on Enlace Project's trips, click here.

For more information on Juan's trip to the United States, follow us on Facebook. Or contact us at info@enlaceproject.org.

Volunteer Testimonial: Joe Buschor

Joe "Pepe" Buschor has been traveling across South and Central America, visiting a plethora of countries to authentically experience life and culture in this part of the world. While traveling, he was recommended by a friend to visit El Sauce and get in contact with Enlace Project. During his stay in El Sauce, Joe volunteered and visited local communities. Here's what he had to say about his experience:

During my travels I always try to find the next unique experience, a hidden gem, the next untouched paradise. I was able to find that in the small mountain community of El Sauce. The location of El Sauce, being a couple hours out of Leon and on the way to the Honduras/Nicaraguan border, makes it an easy stopping point without losing momentum on your travels. The small town boasts its tranquil and safe reputation, as well as its pristine views and rustic feel.

Stopping in a town like El Sauce provides a much needed break from “tourism fatigue”. It became evident as soon as I stepped off the bus; I was not surrounded by ten people trying to sell me a tour, a taxis ride, or point me to their hostel. The only person that I was approached by was a local who offered me his assistance. The first stop in my small town adventure was the local English class hosted by Enlace Project. After studying Spanish for an extensive period of time through High school and college, it was interesting seeing someone else learning my language. Most of the students are eager to start up conversations to practice their English. I participated in some of the class activities and got to know them more when they came on the trips to translate.

The next day I joined medical students from Upstate Medical University, working with Enlace Project, and we went up to the isolated community of Ocotal. During my travels I have visited many isolated places off the regular tourist trail. Some of these places have provided me with some of my favorite memories and the best insight on their culture. None of these places have been more isolated, at least culturally and technically, as the community of Ocotal. This isolation provides a vivid look into the past as well as preserving their cultural traditions. Even the Coffee tour I went on seemed more authentic then previous ones I had experienced in Colombia. The efforts of Enlace are evident in these communities where they have little economic and educational opportunity. The people in the community are quick to mention how much Enlace Project has contributed in helping them achieve their economic goals.
 

For the time I was in El Sauce, I lived with a host family. This is my third host family experience. It has been a refreshing experience after 4 months of hostel dormitories. The family has cooked many traditional dishes that I’ve wanted to try. They have also provided the perfect place to talk about sensitive and interesting issues like politics, social problems and religion. Some of these topics are naturally hard to talk about with people you might meet on the street because they may be offended quickly. The host family also can give you the best recommendations of places to see while you are visiting their country. They can also help with giving advice on the safest way to travel and special festivals. After my trip to Ocotal I returned to the festival my host parents had told me about. The streets were full of people riding horses trying to show off their best. My host family said it is a tradition that happens every year in town, and they were happy that I was going to be there. Spending the night with a host family in Ocotal was a unique experience because it answered the question everyone was thinking; How do people live out here?.

I have enjoyed my time in El Sauce. I will continue to recommend it as a place to see as I finish the rest of my travels. I appreciate the help the people at Enlace have offered me in experiencing El Sauce. I also hope that they continue to do all the great things they are currently doing to better the community.

Student Testimonials: Colleen Gardner

Colleen Gardner is a Senior Pre-Med and Psycology student from the State University of New York at Geneseo. She spent two months in El Sauce over the summer of 2014 studying Humanities and Service Learning. Her travels taught her a lot, she writes:

Before I traveled to El Sauce, I had no idea what to expect. I’d never spent an extended amount of time abroad, and I’d always traveled with family. From the minute we got off the plane in Managua, I felt welcome and safe. Those feelings only grew as I got settled into life in El Sauce and began to form relationships with my host family, my fellow SUNY Geneseo students, and the people in El Sauce.

My first four weeks in Nicaragua consisted of taking Humanities II, and the last four weeks were devoted to service learning. Both experiences were incredible. During Humanities, I looked at topics such as colonialism and communism from a completely different perspective than I would have been able to do in the US. We also learned so much about Nicaraguan history and culture, through both our experiences and class time. During my service learning, I had the opportunity to shadow a nurse at a rural health post in Sabana Grande. While I speak very limited Spanish and she spoke no English, the nurse was incredibly welcoming to me (a common theme over my time in Nicaragua). I was able to observe both her and the doctor at the health post, and I learned so much about healthcare in a developing nation. The patients were very receptive to me, so I was able to sit in on a variety of appointments and exams. I also had the opportunity to help with the English classes taught by Enlace [Project], and I was consistently amazed at the students’ English skills.

During our last reflection during service learning, which occurred at a breathtaking lookout in Ocotal, we were asked a question. I don’t remember exactly what it was, but it was something that provoked me to reflect on my time in El Sauce, and try to articulate the ways it had impacted me. I couldn’t come up with any words…I just started tearing up. I didn't, and still don’t, have the ability to accurately articulate how much my time in Nicaragua meant to me, and how much I learned. 

The best part about my trip, hands down, was the people. Everywhere I went in Nicaragua I was treated with kindness and received generous hospitality. My host family was unbelievably patient with me when I attempted to speak Spanish, and those who spoke English were always willing to help translate. I took a leap of faith traveling to El Sauce for eight weeks, and it is a decision I would make again in a heartbeat. I never anticipated I would form such strong friendships, or that I would feel homesick for El Sauce after returning to the States. I sincerely hope I have the opportunity to work with Enlace again; it truly is an amazing organization doing amazing things.

Sharing Musical Unity: Development and History Through the Arts

The concert poster.

With a shift in leadership for SUNY Geneseo's Western Humanities class in Nicaragua, Professor Glenn McClure brought the idea of using the arts as a tool in development. Through much hard work and preparation, he was able to see the idea take form.

On June seventh, Carlos Mejía Godoy y Los de Palacagüina, arguably Nicaragua's largest singer-songwriter and his band, arrived to El Sauce to perform in the largest concert that the municipality has seen in years. Over one thousand people from all over Nicaragua gathered in the patio of El Sauce's mayor's office for the First Sauceño International Folklore Concert.

McClure used this event as a way to tie the university course to the community, and to Enlace Project. The Humanities study abroad experience focuses on reading some of the most influential texts that have shaped Western culture and discussing their influence on Nicaragua.

Carlos Mejía Godoy, Jon Canning, and Glenn McClure play together during the concert. Photo by Kris Dreessen, www.krisdreessen.com

The concert gave the students some background to the history and culture of Nicaragua-- Godoy is known for his revolutionary songs telling stories of what Nicaraguan life was like during the Sandinista movement. In more recent years, Godoy's biggest songs have focused on what it means to be Nicaraguan.

The stage set-up, including landmarks from El Sauce and Nicaraguan cultural icons.

Enlace Project also actively promoted and funded the event, hoping to share its mission and services with the attendees. Members of the Sauce Aventuras tourism cooperative sold food, while the women of Fuente de Pino sold baskets. The event was free, and encouraged many to inquire about the organization. In McClure's words:

"Enlace does the vital, quiet work of economic development... and education that continues to build new possibilities for the people of El Sauce and Ocotal. The Arts provide a public platform to celebrate this quiet, often invisible work at the level of energy and passion that is worthy of the people who do it."

The Sauceño dance group performs at the concert. 
Photo by Kris Dreessen, www.krisdreessen.com

Most important, however, is the sharing of culture and friendship through the exchange of music and the conversation surrounding the event. Local groups from Achuapa, Salales, and even a dance group from a local high school. As the night continued, Glenn McClure himself took the stage with the assistance of musicians from both the U.S. and Nicaragua. When Carlos Mejía Godoy took the stage, McClure joined him for the final few songs:

"At the end of the concert, after we had sung "Nicaragua, Nicaraguita" together, Carlos told the crowd that our concert proved that whether we come from Nicaragua, the US, Argentina, Bolivia, etc., we are all brothers and sisters of the Americas! This is not only an expression of what happened on stage that night. It also expresses the deep friendship and commitment between Nicaraguans and Americans as they work together through Enlace Project."

--Written by Sean Conner, Enlace Project Intern

The audience enjoying the show.  Photo by Kris Dreessen, www.krisdreessen.com

Familiar Faces: Alejandro "Alex" José Solano Vallejos

Alex and his daughter.

We've written about Alejandro "Alex" Solano Vellejos before. That's because Alex is the type of person who actively goes after what he wants. When we sat down with him, he told us that he experienced a change is his life seven years ago. "My life was a mess, so I decided to change my lifestyle," Alex told us in English, using the vocabulary that he learned between in the Sunday beginner's English class and the weekday advanced class.

Over the past few years, Alex has become a distinct face around Enlace Project. Back in 2012, he was the recipient of a microloan to help him buy supplies for his bicycle supplies and repair shop. Attending the financial training classes helped Alex to get his finances and credit under control.

Through this connection with Enlace Project, Alex became interested in the English language as well. He began assisting the Sunday English class because it was the only day he had enough free time between his three jobs. "I was working as a teacher on Saturday, a radio DJ on Sundays, and at my own business all week, but I believe English is important."

Additionally, Alex has one daughter and four nephews that he takes care of. His bicycle business is run out of his house so that he can remain close to his family. Alex attributes his drive to work and learn English to his family, and hopes one day to be able to teach his children English as well.

Alex helping out in the Sunday English class.

Alex displays the same selflessness in helping others around the community. "I like speaking English a lot, and helping those less fortunate has always been my dream," he explains It's beautiful to practice English with other people and help them learn." While Alex has now moved onto the advanced class, he still attends the Sunday classes to assist the other students.

Alex hopes to continue moving forward. He wants to learn new techniques to expand what his business can do to include motorcycles and more. Recently, he attended a Peace Corps small business training in Granada, which has given him motivation to improve his business practices. In the future, he hopes to work with Enlace Project's Entrepreneurial Development Program as well.

Nicaragua: Land of Lakes, Volcanoes, and Sustainability

Students gather around an energy-efficient oven in San Isidro that uses 92% less firewood for cooking.

The field of environmental sustainability has been growing in recent years, working its way into international development theory, newspaper editorials, and university studies, among many other fields of study. A new link between SUNY Geneseo and Enlace Project has embraced this important issue, providing students with a chance to analyze and compare sustainable environmental efforts in both the United States and Nicaragua.

Participating in a community reforestation effort in
Masaya National Park.

The professor, Dr. Kristina Hannam, designed the course to provide students with an opportunity to explore the concept of sustainability "where the environmental, geographic, economic and social/political factors at play are very different from the factors at home in New York."

For the pilot trip, four students and the professor were accompanied by Enlace Project's Volunteer and Academic Trip Coordinator, Juan Mairena. The group traveled around to various sites around the Pacific slope of Nicaragua, meeting with local people and programs that are impacted by and addressing sustainability problems in the country.

The very different climates of New York State and Nicaragua's western coast are important location-specific influences that students learned influence sustainability problems and solutions. Through the two-week hands-on learning experience, students not only learn the situation in Nicaragua, they see it. Dr. Hannam explains, "in New York, precipitation levels generally don't vary dramatically from month to month, but annual variation in temperature is significant (comparing January to July, for example), the opposite pattern (dramatic variation in rainfall, relatively little variation in temperature) is the case for the Pacific slope of Nicaragua. This difference was clearly illustrated by the delay in the rainy season [that] the group observed, and its impacts on agriculture and water issues."

Learning about coffee in Ocotal.

Doctor Hannam confirms that the trip was transformative for the students involved. One striking example was, "standing on top of the Masaya volcano and being able to see the dramatic impact it has had on the landscape of the region... and how the active geology could be a vital renewable energy source for the country..."

"A couple of days later [we visited] a community that lives downwind of that volcano and [learned] about the particular challenges it poses for agriculture, health, and water availability there."

The sustainability trip offers Enlace Project a unique perspective as well. Although EP does not work directly on sustainability efforts, it is impossible to ignore the environmental concept of development. In the month of May, the Enlace Project staff underwent a workshop on sustainable development, including environmental factors.

The Comparative Sustainability group.

Doctor Hannam is now working to revise and expand the course, in hopes to offer it again next summer, possibly with an online lecture component before the trip.

--Written by Sean Conner, Enlace Project Intern

WHY EDUCATION MATTERS: The Story of Las Minitas

The children above attend the Las Minitas elementary school, built by Enlace Project, the Lupisella family, and other supporters in 2012. Before the construction of the school, they had to travel more than a half an hour to the nearest school which was "dirty, unorganized, and didn't have many books."

The school in Las Minitas has encouraged students to attend classes-- currently 27 students are enrolled-- and has given them motivation to study. The teacher, Juan Riveras, says he has noticed that the students value the school because of the resources it provides them (i.e. maps, a variety of books, a whiteboard).

Freddy, father of Nelvin and his brothers who all go to the school, explains how the new school provides an encouraging environment for his children. "They have learned to read and write," he explains, "and they want to continue to study in high school, and even go to college!"

We're working to provide these opportunities to more children in the community of San Cayetano. You can read more here. If you would like to donate, you can click on the link below. All donations will go completely to school construction costs, and are tax-deductible.

GOAL: $4,000 Can you help us meet it?

Unable make an online donation? We also accept checks! Please send them to: Enlace Project, Inc. 138 Stafford Ave. Waterville, NY 13480 *Make sure to write "School" as the memo.