So last post I mentioned that there are problems here, and that the government is not helping very much. I want to talk now about the organizations we have met up with so far and what they are doing to help with the issues here in Nicaragua.
The first organization we visited was NicaHOPE. They provide educational programs to children of families who work in the city dump, La Chureca. On top of helping with math, language and such, they also teach the children how to make jewelry in order to have a skill they can use to bring in money for themselves and their families. The most outstanding thing about this program was hearing how the dump was cleared out (because people were living in the dump) and houses were built for the families who were living in the dump.
When we got to León, we met with some UNAN professors. UNAN’s goal is to oversee the problems that are happening in León. Some of the masters programs they have there are in criminology and sexual reproductive health. Human rights is included in all the programs because they believe that it’s so important. There are many health programs that deal with suicide or mental health or abuse. There are programs that focus on gender issues, both male and female. There are surveys done then help given to students to help them with mental issues and drug abuse.
Then they gave us examples of things that happened that show what UNAN is doing is important. They went to an area that is cut off from much of the country. One night, a girl refused to have sex with a man, so he took a machete and stabbed it through the wall and stabbed her. She was dying but the nearest hospital was so far, and no boats were available. UNAN showed up the following day, miraculously and helped her to get to a hospital.
The work being done by UNAN is an important step towards bettering the human rights situation. Next post I’ll speak of some other orgs!
Ricky Galvan