Hey LASED and friends!
I wanted to drop one more line. I returned from a week in El Fortin 2 weeks ago. The experience was very eye opening. And as a returnee, I was overwhelmed with joy to be back in El Fortin, with a community I have grown to love with my friends.
UWEC Women’s Experiences in Nicaragua committed to a week project of painting La Casa de la Mujer- El Fortin and to presenting charlas (small presentations/discussions) to educate everyone about parasites. Five days and many songs later, our group completed our service learning project. Though we were only there a few days, bonds were created and as always tears were shared as we said goodbye.
In short these are the highlights of my reflections of my time in El Fortin (& what remains with me):
1) The change in perspective I noticed among the young ladies and teens of El Fortin (Nadir and two others have taken charge and show they plan to run the parasite program on their own)
2) The excitement for the students to learn and especially read (La Casa de la Mujer- El Fortin now has a library)
3) The possibilities for the people to start dreaming… (Nadir plans to start university, the women are starting a literacy program for all the mom’s with scholarship students---- this is all their own initiative)
4) The municipality gave the go ahead for the bridge project starting November 2009!
And for all LASED members,
We know that our organizations direction will change in time and we may start support in other areas of Latin America, but I just want you all to know there is always an open invitation to visit El Fortin (there is now room for a guest at La Casa de la Mujer with a bed and bathroom/shower). Also, we started our first project in los Malakos which is the other side of El Fortin; so Los Malakos is open to possibilities as well.
And finally, I know you will all hear something eventually from Marielos (I’m guessing in October) but she also suggested partnering in a project with Xochilt-Acalt. If you have any questions, just let me know.
Thank you all for the life experiences we have shared together. I will truly miss being in the frontlines of LASED. Good luck to you all in your futures.
You all will forever be my friends who will change the world someday.
