I spent the summer of 2001 in Nicaragua as a volunteer for Amigos de las Américas. The Nicaraguan project consisted of 57 volunteers: 12 guys and 45 girls, only two of which were from the Houston Chapter. This was the first year in which Amigos worked with the organization CARE Nicaragua. The Amigos' Nicaraguan project consisted of the construction of Lorena stoves, latrines, and a pilot agriculture project that worked in conjunction with the Red Cross.

The name of the community I lived in for a period of 8 weeks was Guanacastal Norte. The community consisted of about 500 people, none of whom spoke English. My town can be described as very rural. There was no running water or electricity. There were two female partners that lived in my community with me one from Austin, Texas and the other from Chicago, Illinois. The three of us lived and ate in separate houses. Our meals were provided on a rotational schedule, eating each day of the week with a different family.

Our town's project was the construction of 20 latrines (i.e. outhouses). The most exciting part my summer experience was the opportunity to learn about a culture that was completely different from my own in the U.S.. One aspect that was new to me was the religion of the town. The community was deeply rooted in the Evangelical faith. I remember a local woman reading the bible to me in attempt to explain her religion whenever I ate with her.

I also had some interesting conversations with the community minister about their religion. During our conversations, we would exchange different viewpoints on religion. Our community held a special prayer service for my partners and I the night before our departure. It was emotional and very special.

If I had to describe what Amigos de las Américas is, I would say it is a learning opportunity. Its a chance for young people to experience life outside the U.S., enhance their Spanish speaking skills, and make lifelong friendships while providing community service.

Last Updated
2/6/02 6:43 PM