After building a school for a Nicaraguan rural community, helping with an archeological dig and bringing dentists and nutritionists to see the community people, a group from Winthrop University went back to Nicaragua on May 11 to build on their previous projects.
A group of 10 people, led by professors Ginger Williams and Kim Porter, worked on the archeological dig, brought a doctor to see the rural people and gave hygiene and nutrition workshops to the community.
Together with Reto Juvenil Internacional and Nicaraguan Sustainable and Development Association (ANIDES) from Nicaragua, Winthrop groups have worked on the following projects since May 2007:
The two Winthrop professors have raised money to register the Rocha community as a cooperative.
A cooperative status will help the community people sell their agricultural products in the Nicaraguan market. In this way, the community will be self-sustainable.
Learning opportunity for students
This service-learning trip helps not only the community people but also Winthrop students who get involved with this program.
Students have the opportunity to learn about Nicaraguan history as they stay in an area that was constantly bombarded during the Nicaraguan civil war. The community people still carry psychological scars from the war.
Nutrition students also learn about the community people’ diet and have to come up with ways to improve it, taking into consideration the food available in that rural area.
Social-work and sociology professors are planning to send students to the rural area to work with the social aspects of the community people.
A group of 10 people, led by professors Ginger Williams and Kim Porter, worked on the archeological dig, brought a doctor to see the rural people and gave hygiene and nutrition workshops to the community.
Together with Reto Juvenil Internacional and Nicaraguan Sustainable and Development Association (ANIDES) from Nicaragua, Winthrop groups have worked on the following projects since May 2007:
- Raise funds to build a school for the Rocha Community. Two professors teach children from first to fifth grade. The community named the school “Winthrop School” in honor of the Winthrop groups;
- Gave a free dental clinic in which two dentists from the United States cleaned and extracted the teeth of rural people who have never seen a dentist before;
- Gave nutrition and hygiene workshops to the community people;
- Worked on an archeological dig full of pre-Colombian artifacts. If enough pieces are found, professors Williams and Porter promised to raise money to build a museum in the community. This would be the first rural museum in Nicaragua. If the museum is built, the Nicaraguan government will provide the community with running water, electricity and paved roads.
The two Winthrop professors have raised money to register the Rocha community as a cooperative.
A cooperative status will help the community people sell their agricultural products in the Nicaraguan market. In this way, the community will be self-sustainable.
Learning opportunity for students
This service-learning trip helps not only the community people but also Winthrop students who get involved with this program.
Students have the opportunity to learn about Nicaraguan history as they stay in an area that was constantly bombarded during the Nicaraguan civil war. The community people still carry psychological scars from the war.
Nutrition students also learn about the community people’ diet and have to come up with ways to improve it, taking into consideration the food available in that rural area.
Social-work and sociology professors are planning to send students to the rural area to work with the social aspects of the community people.
