Washburn University delegation

by Nikki Noe, student

Arriving in Managua I was instantly overwhelmed by the heat, as if air was sucked from my lungs. I never experienced such heat in my life. Two weeks away from my family and the fact that Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the western hemisphere made me uneasy and anxious. After struggling with the decision to participate in the delegation before leaving Kansas, I felt a sense of strength for making it to Managua. On the bus ride through Managua I realized just how bad things were. Children flooded the streets selling things to earn money for Washburn University delegation to Nicaragua food and, in some cases, drugs. I was heartbroken because some were no more than five years old. I kept thinking, “Could you imagine?” The thing is, I really do not think I ever could. No amount of meetings, videos or trainings could have prepared me for the things I experienced.

As emotional as that first impression was for me, it was not even close to the next day. We visited La Chureca, one of the world’s largest dumps and home to many men, women and children. I will always remember what Lillian, our group leader said. “You’re lucky; most people have to wait to die before they see hell. You’ll get to see it today”. I had no idea how true this statement was until we came to the entrance of the dump and I saw the mountains of garbage and smoke that filled the air. From the moment I entered the dump until late that evening my eyes burned. The children once again broke my heart. Many of them became addicted to glue at birth by their own mothers to keep them from crying from hunger. To see barefoot people scavenging through garbage, glass and metal was simply horrifying. I cannot accurately describe the smells and feelings that are a part of La Chureca. This place will forever haunt my memories of Nicaragua.

Our second week we spent in El Cacao. By the time we reached this town I was near my breaking point. I spoke no Spanish and started to feel run down. Luckily my host family was extremely welcoming and patient. If there is one thing I took away from my experience living with them and in this village, it is that the sense of pride and the ability to live on they had and was just amazing. They managed to make so much out of so little and were more than generous within their homes. I almost feel like we were treated better than we deserved. I look at the project we did there, and realize that it was a very important part of their community. These people would no longer have to walk numerous times a day for something as vital as water. This project put the water so much closer to their homes and created a break in their daily tasks. I cannot describe the feelings that ran through me during my stay in El Cacao. I have never been so accepted by a group of people; especially a group of people that truly had so little to give.

This trip was more than a vacation; it was even more than just a service opportunity. Traveling to Nicaragua was the best decision I made so far in my life. I look at myself now and see how this experience has changed every part of me in some way. I will never forget the time and emotions I spent in this country. For me, going to Nicaragua was truly transforming.

Editor’s note: El Cacao has 16 houses. Prior to the delegation arrival, villagers prepared for the water system installation. Students dug trenches for three days. $800US bought PVC pipes, cement, faucets to build two simple hand pumps and paid for the village overseer.

Washburn University plans to return each year to continue to build on previous year’s development project, thus increasing its effectiveness and building solidarity between individuals.

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Washburn University delegation

Stateside office

Nicaragua office