"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
- Mark Twain
Dear Friends and Family,
I have created this blog to keep you all up to date with my summer abroad in Nicaragua. I will do my best to keep it up updated with the best stream of consciousness content that I can offer! My hope is that this blog will serve as a journal for me to document my experience as well as keep you all informed on what I am up to in Masaya, Nicaragua.
My internship and all of my opportunities this summer have been made possible by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame. THANK YOU NOTRE DAME!
I am doing a "Youth and Education Internship" through the Foundation for Sustainable Development. FSD has placed me with an organization in Masaya named Asociación Masaya Sin Fronteras (MASINFA)
Full profile at the bottom of the post.
It appears at this point that I will be spending most, if not all, of my time at the school operated by MASINFA. I will begin my summer helping out in English classes, and as my Spanish improves and I become adjusted to my job, my responsibilities have the opportunity to grow to running an English conversation class, helping teach computers, and working on expanding extra-curricular activities offered by the school.
I leave in 2 days and am VERY excited!! I will miss all of you, so comment on this blog or send me messages to stay in touch! :)
Peace,
Chris
Mission:
Asociación Masaya Sin Fronteras (MASINFA) is a nonprofit organization promoting sustainable development through education, health care, sound agriculture and civic participation. Its goals are to provide technological and practical education and health assistance to low-income residents of Masaya, as well as to facilitate better practices in agriculture, housing and community involvement.
Programs and Activities:
MASINFA is composed of four main areas: a technical continuation school, a cancer prevention and health care center, a housing development arm that tracks house construction and infrastructure projects, and a community organizing program that seeks to involve and educate local residents in development projects (the fifth component, a compost center, has unfortunately shut down due to lack of funds).
Nambue – Centro de Educación y Formación Técnica: school for all ages
Centro de Investigación y Prevención Oncológica (CIPO): cancer research, health care and prevention with a focus on breast cancer and cervical cancer
Desarrollo Habitacional e Infrastructura Basica: housing development and basic infrastructure; constructs housing for low-income residents in and around Masaya
Participación Ciudadana: a civic participation program that facilitates workshops for community leaders and youth and promotes public awareness campaigns
Internship Opportunities:
Since MASINFA works along many fronts, interns may focus on one or two main areas in order to be most effective. As with all the host organizations, interns begin with a week-long observation and participation period of the different programs before coming up with a firm schedule. As MASINFA’s aims stress peer education and community organizing, this is an ideal internship for people interested in grassroots projects and direct contact with community members. The director is also open to creative initiatives. The most recent FSD intern worked with civic education classes to teach high school students about their rights and raise awareness in regards to the 2008 municipal elections.
Nambue School
The school is aligned along three main areas: English courses (for all ages), computer classes (for all ages), and a technical high school (for teenagers and young adults). Within the technical classes, the school offers programs on tourism, microfinance, and civil rights amongst others, to prepare the youth of the center for a diversity of professions.
The microfinance program was established by a former FSD intern and it consists of an intensive business training for the youth, along with development of their own micro-businesses. The youth that graduate from this program have the opportunity to obtain loans for their project through Alternativa, an affiliated microfinance organization which promotes community development.
The Nambue School also offers informal Spanish classes for foreigners learning Spanish. The computer lab has over 20 computers as well as an on-site internet connection. The school remains self-sustainable by charging fees for the English and computer classes, while also offering several half-scholarships to high school students who are trying to obtain their diploma but do not have the funds.
Nambue school is open at pretty much all hours: from 7:30am to 2:00pm and 3pm to 8pm, seven days a week. English classes for community members are usually offered during the afternoon and evening and on Sundays.
Teach English classes or assist the faculty member in teaching
Teach computer classes or assist the faculty member in teaching
Continue and improve extracurricular classes for the technical high school. Examples: microfinance and money management course (the last FSD intern wrote an instructor’s manual, and class materials such as PowerPoint slides and a syllabus), music, art, theater, dance, world history, etc.
Form a peer health education system within the school to learn and do outreach on health topics. Examples: teen pregnancy and safe sex, healthy relationships, family violence, nutrition, STDs, HIV/AIDS, drug and alcohol abuse, etc.
Meet with students individually to provide counseling in career and education plans
Housing Development and Basic Infrastructure
Eight staff members. According to the National Development Plan research conducted in September 2003, Nicaragua has a high deficit in both the quality and quantity of housing for more than half a million people. MASINFA prioritizes housing construction with a focus on community organizing and civic participation. Since 1991, they have built hundreds of houses in campaigns that involve a particular community, technical assistance from the future residents, partnerships with other NGOs and support from the national Housing Network and Masaya Housing Foundation. Interns can assist with both practical and administrative projects – from physical construction to community organizing, fundraising, mapping, surveying and follow-through.
Work alongside the housing team in Tisma (small rural community outside of Masaya) to organize campaigns and construct houses together with local residents
Map and survey various neighborhoods to discover communities’ needs, assets and resources for housing and infrastructure (latrines, waste management, water, electricity, public roads)
Communicate project details and obtain feedback from residents directly before, during and after construction projects
Write grants and assist with maintaining a fundraising system for regular and sustainable financial support
Community Organizing and Civic Participation
Varying number of staff members representing the administration and various programs. As befits sustainable development, MASINFA has been working since its inception on including community members in its projects and assessing local opinions, needs and resources. This could be a useful area of work for FSD interns who want to do sociological research and interact directly with local residents.
Write and disseminate resource manuals for health, housing, education and other needs together with MASINFA staff and affiliated NGOs
Help organize meetings with and for community leaders on topics relevant to Masaya
Research various neighborhoods’ needs and resources
Promote awareness of the recently-passed law promoting civic participation through outreach to schools, religious organizations, microfinance and other NGOs
Make a website for MASINFA and contribute to its internal organization and outreach
