Leading a summer volunteer session with Andrew Hemby was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had this year. From May to June, we hosted our first group of volunteers, a group of 9 students and recent graduates from all over America. They constantly challenged and encouraged me with their enthusiasm and work ethic, and their humor and good nature kept me in high spirits for the whole month. Summer Sessions, I came to realize, meant sharing a house with twenty people and handling and coordinating ten new schedules, but the tradeoff was the privilege of getting to know some new friends!
One of things I really enjoyed over the course of two months was taking a group of summer vols to partner with House of Hope, an organization that empowers former/current prostitutes by employing them in a bead-making program that provides alternate income. Each Tuesday morning, I went with a group of girls to volunteer at this nearby nonprofit. We sat with the women and helped make the beads made of wrapping paper. The results were pretty awesome, and I know all of the volunteers who worked in this program were touched by the women and girls they met. We spoke with the owner about Nicaragua's sex trafficking issues and were all shocked by the intensity of the problem. Young girls are sold into the sex industry, generations of women in the same family make a living out of prostitution, and the government does little to nothing to stop this travesty. I only regret it's the end of the year and I have less time to work with this organization and learn from the women who work here every Tuesday morning.
The summer volunteers were very helpful with a range of programs. The first group attended our Child Sponsorship field trip to Laguna Xiloa and kept all of the children entertained and safe in the waters.
Summer session one also organized all of our donations to get ready for the Clothing Sale held in Cedro Galan during session two (more on the sale in another post). This was a huge (hot, sweaty, smelly) task as we did it outside one morning, but everyone was positive and helpful in organizing the clothing.
Both sessions enjoyed meeting the people we work with in the nearby communities of Cedro Galan and Chiquilistagua. Our friends at 13.5 hosted a dinner, and the antics of the chavalos didn't disappoint!
Thank you, Jan Margaret, for your blog!
ReplyDeleteYou helped me to establish high expectations, well before flying out of Houston, for a 2 week visit to Nicaragua.
Our group of 16 returned, yesterday, from working with orphans in Jinotepe (Brazos De Amor) and digging a well (Living Water, Intl) near of Leon. We also fed kids in La Chureca and Tipitapa.
Without your blog, I would have known much less about what I was getting into, and would have been less prepared for what was encountered. You set my expectations high...and they were fulfilled! What a great place -- I'm looking forward to a return visit!
Last week, I met Luke, who had just joined Manna but was visiting the orphanage I was at. I asked him if he knew a blond who was Christian, was wrapping up her stay, and who had a great blog called "mango something" -- he replied, "You must mean Jan Margaret...she just left for the States". Sigh. I'd have loved to have met you.
Anyway, thanks!
Jeff Ford
rjford at usa dot net