My summer in Nicaragua and many conversations with other volunteers, and people with experience in international work has really rocked my perspective on foreigners working in developing countries. A do good spirit doesn't always produce results after implementation, or the giving of materials. In reality naivete and an altruistic spirit can at times harm a country and the people someone is trying to help. Gift giving that isn't sustainable can raise expectations or be culturally insensitive. Volunteer groups that don't try to integrate into the culture can be degrading to the local communities. FSD is relentless in emphasizing the empowerment of Nicaraguans to achieve development. Gift giving is strictly limited to items that will be used by many Nicaraguans for many years. While there is undoubtedly a need for money to put fish in the pond, I think foreign aid both governmental and non-profit should do be done with extreme care to involve every possible in country/community human and physical resource.
I have learned a lot in my time at MASINFA, and living in Nicaragua, but lessons I have learned from my FSD experience will certainly stick with me as well. The organization requires every intern to develop a detailed work plan in Spanish and English to be reviewed by FSD employees, and employees of the internship site, before the intern receives a $200 minifund to use for development projects to improve the work of their local organization. For students who have ideas that exceed $200 they are able to apply for more money by submitting a comprehensive grant application to San Francisco. The work plan requires students to create firm goals with objectives and activities that give the intern a clear path to accomplishing the goals. This process not only increases the intern's productivity and capacity to help the organization, but helps keep interns motivated and passionate in the pursuit of sustainable ideas. It is easy to get overwhelmed and lose direction working in development, defining goals and how to accomplish them early on is an invaluable step to achieving success. While it is always important to retain some flexibility, creating a work plan has helped me maximize my impact during my short 10 week volunteer experience. It is a concept I will certainly apply to other aspects of my life, and future volunteer and development endeavors.
My work plan:
I plan to complete four projects during my time in Nicaragua that will improve MASINFA in the short term, as well as continue to be in effect long after my departure. Firstly, I seek to create supplemental curriculum for the English classes that will generate more interest in learning the language, as well as provide the teachers opportunities to integrate material outside of the textbook. I envision the curriculum to include a cd for each teacher with corresponding activities based on the lyrics of each song, a set of articles on entertainment topics like sports and music, short readings on important Nicaraguan history or historical world events, and articles on socially conscious material like environmentalism, youth empowerment, economic development, and heroes of community service from around the world. Developing the curriculum will take substantial time outside of class, both at my home in Masaya and at MASINFA. I will use the internet and my collection of magazines that I brought to Nicaragua to compile all of my material for the curriculum. This project is the central focus of my work outside of direct help during my time in the classroom. As I am collecting information I will keep my professors up to date on my activity, so I am constantly receiving their input on the material. Each article I find will include a series of questions, some vocabulary to pull from the article, and explanations of any idioms or unusual expressions. My available resources are the ability to consult my English professors, internet access at home and at MASINFA, printer and copier at MASINFA. I will need to purchase photocopies as well as various school supplies such as binders with dividers, as well as blank cds for 6 different English professors and one additional copy for MASINFA to have for a reference. Purchasing music will not be an issue because I have music on my computer that can be used.
My second project is to improve the MASINFA website with my ability to translate content into professional English, as well as assist Freddy, a MASINFA employee in making suggestions for changes that should be made to formatting and content. MASINFA contracts a foreigner for the website hosting and major changes to the template or content of the website. This man has the capacity to include a link to display the website in English as well as make changes that Freddy and I develop. One of my ideas at this early stage is making the website more personal by allowing users to get to know students through profiles of current students and success stories of former students. This project will not likely consume much of my time, because it will largely be focused on me translating website content and MASINFA materials.
My third project is to create an anti-litter campaign at MASINFA. Trash cans are unlabeled and rarely used at MASINFA. MASINFA reinforces the habit of students throwing trash on the ground or stuffing it in the desks in the classrooms by not raising awareness about the problem and simply having a janitor clean it all up. I have discussed the idea with the janitor and she is very supportive, and will likely play a role in reminding the students. Currently there is one large trash bin in an inconvenient location, and 4 small (unlabeled) buckets dispersed around the property. My first task will be to try and find environmentally conscious students to help me in carrying out the project. If I can assemble a small group, they will be a great start in helping to persuade other students and carrying out the tasks of painting the trash cans. Having a group of students will also make the activity enjoyable and more creative. I plan to have 3 large trash cans painted (put in the 3 areas with the most traffic, including the cafeteria area) and 11 small bins (for each classroom).
15 de julioMy formation of a group of environmental students will be created by going around after classes and asking students who is interested. Once a group is assembled we will purchase the needed supplies and begin our work. The project will start with painting three large trash cans. After painting one large trash can successfully the same group of students can replicate their job on a new trash can, but do it in the following week with the help of other students and in the middle of the parking/hang out area so that we catalyze student interest in the activity. After finishing the 3 large cans we can complete the smaller buckets and bins to be placed around the MASINFA campus. I will hold a competition between the morning students to encourage students to think of phrases or sentences to put on the trash cans as words of encouragement/reminders to use the trash cans. This part of the project will help transfer ownership of the project from me to the students by letting them express why trash cans are important and at the same time generating interest in the campaign. The students will have the opportunity to win a soccerball, baseball or vollyeball, or Spanish to English dictionaries. In order to advertise the competition, and spread word of the campaign I will request permission from all the teachers at MASINFA to present to their classes for 5-10 minutes. The presentation will include information about the competition and the new trash cans at MASINFA, as well as explain the importance of abstaining from littering. The presentation will focus on cleaning up MASINFA, but also changing habits outside the classroom. Litter is a large problem in Nicaragua, and likely a significant impediment to tourism. "Respecting the environment is important no matter how many people are littering and no matter where you are, one person makes a difference." Through the competition, presentations, painting the cans, and a lot of conversations outside of class I will have recruited a team of students and faculty to enforce the usage of the trash cans after I leave to ensure the project is sustainable.
The fourth project is to start a DVD collection in the library at MASINFA. Many students ask me what they can do to practice. A method I love to use, and many people who have learned a second language have said the same thing, is watching movies in another language. Based on me asking around at least 50 percent of the students at MASINFA either have a TV and DVD player or a computer in their homes. Whether they have cable or not the students with televisions have access to movies in Spanish with subtitles. While this is good practice for the students, I believe that DVDs are much better because the ability to pause is essential to learning from a movie. Many times I have tried hard to stay focused on Spanish subtitles in a movie but been unsuccessful on live TV. There isn’t always enough time to listen, read, and process. With the ability to press pause students can take time to listen to pronunciation and discern the words in English. Also, DVDs provide the capacity for students to challenge themselves, especially the more advanced students, to watch without subtitles, or to watch movies in English with English subtitles. I have transitioned to watching movies in Spanish with Spanish subtitles and writing down words I don’t know and looking them up in a translation dictionary while I watch. It has worked very well for me, and I want to make it possible for my students at MASINFA. The library currently has a full time employee, Mon-Sat, and a system for renting out books. There are already empty shelves in the library so space is not an issue. DVDs need to be purchased or donated, and a list of rules for students who rent DVDs needs to be put on file in the library. I plan to make DVD rentals available to afternoon and weekend technical classes, but am still considering along with teachers and administration about permitting the younger students in the morning to rent. I plan to start the DVD library while I am here by using my FSD minifund to purchase 30 DVDs (1 dollar each and I can test each one at the stand to be sure it has language/subtitle options). However, when I return to the United States I will do a DVD collection drive in my neighborhood and community in South Carolina, as well as do a collection at Notre Dame. My friends from Nicaragua that attend Notre Dame can bring back the DVDs on fall or Christmas break. So if you are reading this start thinking about the DVDs collecting dust in the cabinet next to your TV. If you are interested in sending DVDs for this project, send me an email at crhodenbaugh@gmail.com. You can send them to my home address, and they will be in the library at MASINFA, in Masaya, Nicaragua by Christmas Break. I promise you that students will make the most of this opportunity, and that a small sacrifice on your part can go a long way for the students here. Any DVD in English works, it does not need subtitles in Spanish. Every DVD comes with at least subtitles in English (so everything but foreign films). I will classify the DVDs for the library into DVDs with and without Spanish subtitles.
An example of a work plan chart, one is made for each element of the project
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