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.