My Work Begins in León

I have spent the past three months rediscovering traffic that doesn’t stop for pedestrians or stop signs, the presence of at least four rocking chairs in every home and "Nica-time" (meaning most meetings start about one hour later than scheduled)! In Nicaragua, the letter “S” will not be heard in spoken Spanish and people point with their lips instead of a finger. I wake up at 5:30 am to the sun shining on my face, lizards running across the walls, and cockroaches staring at me in the shower. I am treated to a kiss and a handshake with every greeting.

These things are familiar because I was here two years ago as a student. Now that I am back on a longer, more settled basis, consistently experiencing day to day life in Nicaragua, I am discovering the deeper complexities that are hard to see at first glance.

Two years ago I thought, “the more I learn in Nicaragua, the more I realize how much I don’t know.” But this second time back, I am becoming more aware each day just how especially complex is the current economic situation, and just how much I do not understand about it. The World Bank, CAFTA, the International Monetary Fund, the Nicaraguan government and politicians, Structural Adjustments, privatization of basic services, the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, Plan Pueblo Panama, Free Trade, Fair Trade ... all these concepts, policies and institutions... . I have been trying to juggle them in my mind these past few months.

Of course, poverty is connected to it all. Poverty is easy to observe in Nicaragua. While some children attend school, others governmental organizations from all over the world are visible in countless projects they fund throughout the municipality of León. Each day at the PML office we receive letters or people stop by to personally ask donations and support.

I find it a struggle to be considered a walking dollar bill. The other day I stopped to ask a man for directions in front of his small, cinderblock house. “You’re from the States? There is so much money in the States! And just look at my house. Why don’t you send some money down to fix it?” I don’t agree with the idea of simply giving things to needy people; that is not my role. PML strives to minimize paternalism. It is destructive to keep Nicas in a position of dependency on the North. Soon they will be convinced they have nothing to offer.

One thing helping me through this struggle is that our work focuses on sharing and exchange. The volunteers’ activities and the individuals who came in the delegation groups this summer reflected that policy. PML’s priority is to work with communities by listening to their problems and supporting them in their solutions. Because Nicaraguans often encounter charity organizations who simply offer handouts, PML’s partnership stance is not yet fully understood here.

The community leaders in El Chague, a new rural community beginning to work with us, do understand our mission. This group of leaders inspires me. Not only do they discuss their community’s struggles, they actively search for solutions. For example, Wilfredo, a community leader who used to cut firewood for a living, adding to the deforestation of El Chague, is now promoting horticulture as an alternative to cutting trees. El Chague’s youth leaders are also addressing agricultural issues and at a recent day camp, they presented information about how CAFTA could affect crop production in their community.

When the Minneapolis delegation from University Baptist Church visited El Chague, the directiva organized a full day of touring forested areas and discussing deforestation issues. They visited Wilfredo’s horticulture garden and the preschool. The youth group presented a socio-drama and even got the Minnesotans involved in team-building games with El Chague residents.

In a recent discussion with the community leaders, they spoke of the importance of these exchanges. Mario Ballardes, community coordinator, said, “It is important that visitors come from North America and learn about El Chague’s problems and solutions. Also these visitors have increased the energy and motivation among our community’s youth.”

Throughout July and August I watched as the PML summer volunteers and delegates left Nicaragua inspired to continue the dialogue about Nicaragua in Minnesota. I am beginning to realize how important it is that we express to the El Chague residents and all the other groups we work with here, how they too motivate us. I am excited to hear from all the returned Minnesotans about how they are staying engaged in Nica issues in the north I want to share that news with the Leon communities, as well. I hope the Minnesotans who were here this summer inspire their friends and families to make a trip to Leon, and I hope they continue to advocate for Nicaragua in their daily lives.

I am enriched by all of the amazing people I have met here in Leon, both Nicaraguans and North Americans. I feel acclimated to most of the customs here, though I have not yet started pointing with my lips! I will continue to be confused by the complexities of the economic situation but with a continued exchange between Minnesotans and Nicaraguans, I expect we will continue to spread awareness and take action together for Nicaragua.