It Takes a Village...

By Robert Terenzi, Jr.

As our Toyota 4-Runner climbed nervously over four-foot pot-holes on the dirt road out to the school, Susie began to explain the history of the El Chagüe project to me. It was hard to get a cohesive and complete picture though, because every few minutes we would stop and chat with the people who lived along the isolated road. It seemed as if everyone we talked to not only had something to say about the school, but was involved with its construction in someway or another. Since beginning my work at El Chagüe I have seen primary school students lugging buckets of water to workers and elderly men on their hands and knees helping finalize the flooring. On a typical sun-drenched day anywhere from ten to twenty community members show up to lend a helping hand, even putting in a full day’s work on Saturday.

In guiding the construction of a school in El Chagüe, PML has not only effectively established solidarity but has also proven that with sound grassroots organization, progress is not only possible, but probable. What makes the completion of the school so successful is that it is built on the participation of those whose lives will be most impacted by it; the citizens of El Chagüe. Whether I point to Mario, the coordinator of the directiva who lives less than a mile away from the site, or Reina Maria, a current student who spends her afternoons at the school doing everything from shovelling dirt to painting, this project would not have been realized without the talents, input, and direction that came from within the community itself.

Far too often the term “community development” means little more than derisory financial contributions, and yet PML has successfully completed an essential addition to the current educational system while strengthening their relationship with a dependable administrative core which can be tapped for future projects. This step in the right direction was made possible because of a well structured directiva used to initiate the project. The local directiva, a seven member communally elected group, is the foundation of this project. In fact, it was the strength and unity of this directiva that made El Chagüe such an enticing choice for the implementation of PML’s long-term integral development model. By moving beyond material donations, the construction of the school in El Chagüe has proven a resounding success in the area of building capacity within the community itself.

Since my arrival in Nicaragua, I have been working with the El Chagüe project intimately. I have seen the roof put on and the walls painted, and through it all the most memorable aspect of the project has been the energy, dedication, and passion that the townspeople have shown. The first day I showed up, I was amazed to see several women using shovels and wheelbarrows to distribute rocks around the foundation of the school. After lunch, a new batch of men and women came to give the weary morning workers a reprieve. By building a school, it is clear that the community of El Chagüe is aware of its ability to shape its own future. Considering the vigour that the town showed in building the school, we all have reason to be hopeful for what future projects can grow in and around the school. Whether it be family vegetable gardens, reforestation projects, or an extensive literacy campaign; at this point, the possibilities seem endless.