Service Sites

Hello family and friends! I am finally bringing to you a report about the 5 service locations that our group is working with. 2 peopl are assigned to each location for the semester to do service for around 4 hours on the mornings of Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of nearly every week we´re here.

Pajarito Azul (Little Blue Bird)
   This place is like an orphanage for the mentally and physically handicapped, though almost all the patients are mostly mentally handicapped. Though they have come very far from where they were, the organization is still extremely short staffed and because of this the patients do not receive much interaction besides help with showers, changing diapers, and eating. This is where volunteers are extremely helpful to aid with various types of therapy programs.  All of things, in my opinion, drastically improve the lives of these people. They come to be there because families don´t want them, and basically give them to the government or just leave them somewhere.


Quincho Barillete (Named after a song about a boy who overcomes his familial situation and drug problems)
    This organization is helping young kids (up to age 15 I think) who have drug addictions or are in threat of drug addictions. They also work with the families of these children, who are usually the source of the issues varying from domestic violence, to abuse, and forcing the children to work and sell things in the street. If the children do not return with money they are punished, so many times the kids just don´t go home because it is better than being there. They have 3 levels, starting with an at risk level, which is what our group is working with. The other two are for those who do have addictions, and the third level is when they get involved with the family and follow up on the kids progress.

Aldo Chavarría Physical Rehab Hospital
    This location is for people who have sustained physical injuries, often times losing a part of their body. Many times it is a leg or part of a leg, and one of the main causes (I think) is motorcycle accidents, which happen ALL THE TIME here, as the roads are by no means civil. The students working here spend time listening to the patients and overseeing their exercises which often times are painful, frustrating and uncomfortable. There is also a shop at this hospital where they make and fit ¨fake body parts¨ (I can´t remember the intelligent word for it right now, long day) and this is another aspect the patients most go through.

Olla de la Soya ("Pot of Soy")
   This program is combatting malnutrition in Nicaragua and they have spread to six locations throughout Managua now. They care for pregnant mothers (fetus) to age nine (I think) unless there is still an extreme case of malnutrition in the child. Along with providing a meal that usually is a soy product, they have programs for the children to help promote their education and learning, especially about cleanliness. They also provide programs for the mothers to help them deal with the stresses of their homes, improve their self esteem, teach them about cleanliness, and help them to become better mothers for their children. The students working here accompany the children in their morning classes and help ensure they are all washing their hands before eating.

La Mascota Children´s Hospital
   This is the only Children´s hospital in Managua, and they care for all cases and never turn a patient away, even if the family can´t afford to pay. Because of this they are always way over capacity. The situations here are very difficult because usually it tears a family apart. One family member must stay with a child and another has to work, so it is up in the air who cares for the other children and in all cases it´s a very hard situation for the family. Especially in the long-term illnesses. Because of this, students are working with the cancer patients to interact with the children and give the family members a break; as well as accompanying the family as they deal with grief when there is not good news from the doctor.



These are all of our service locations, but there is MUCH more to them than I have shared. However, I am only working at one of these places, which is Pajarito Azul. I will be posting more information about my experience there after my second week of work is over and it is possible that you will learn more about the others as I speak with my other group members. Hopefully soon is more pictures! (If they will ever upload) Much love and stay safe in your snow if you have it!

Some Views of Managua

Greetings! So I´ve successfully downloaded some more photos for you, and this time you are getting a brief tour of the city I am living in, Managua!

This is Kenneth, Kenia, and I standing in front of Lake Managua, which is clearly far away cuz you can´t see it; and this was actually like my second day in Managua. Which feels like forever ago.

This is a copy of a popular painting of Sandino, who was the figure-head of the major revolution in Nicaragua. This was located in the Sandino Museum. (in Mangua)

This is our group standing in front of the Sandino sillhouette (sp?) that is on top of a large mountain/hill. I believe it was drawn by Ernesto Cardinal, who is an extremely famous poet in Nicaragua, who I will here speak in two weeks!!!! Once again: (left to right and top to bottom) Ryan, Juan, Anna, Kayla, Zeke, Liza, Abby, Irene (Trip Leader), Katie, Brooke, Kenia (my N. sister), Kenneth (my N. brother), Me, and Nieves (she is the N. sister of one of the students but I always forget.)

A nice view of the New Cathedral, which is where I attend mass every sunday at eleven. It looks strange but I do love going there.

Nicaraguan money! Very important, the exchange rate is 1 U.S. dollar equals 20 Nicaraguan córdobas.

The Sandino sillhuoette, which I can actually see from my second-floor room in the neighborhood I live in.

The Old Cathedral, which is no longer in use, but looks way prettier.

And finally a closer view of Lake Managua, which is super high right now, that road actually goes down to a dock that you could walk out on, thus those lamp post things.

Tomorrow I will hopefully get some pictures up from some excursions I´ve gone on outside of the city and definitely information about the service sites!

Much love and misses to all!

It´s Not All Bad!

Just so everyone can know that everything is not morbidly depressing, I thought I´d share my exciting excursion to a baseball game from last Wed.! (Yes, I´ve been slacking on the blogging.)

This is me between my Nicaraguan sister, Kenia (20), and my Nicaraguan brother, Kenneth (9), as we wait for almost two hours for the game to start. They do not have numbered seating, so you have to get there super early if you want a good seat!

This is my Nicaraguan dad, Martin (age unknown), and he is not as serious as he looks in this picture. He is actually quite a prankster and he is very paternal towards me which I love. He is impatiently waiting for his favorite baseball team, Boer, to come out and play. This game was a championship game, so it was going to be really intense!!! Some Americans there related Boer to the Cincinnati Reds, just for some perspective.

Nicaraguan sunsets, the source of my entertainment for many evenings, especially for this particular night!

This is my Xavier gringo group excited that the sun is almost gone! Top Row: Juan, Martin (my N. Dad), Irene (Trip Leader), Kenia, Kenneth, Gabriel (a neighborhood kid), and a guy I forget the name of, and above him is Tim (Trip Assisstant). Bottom Row: Kayla, Zeke, Abby, Nieves (also from neighborhood), Anna, Katie, Brooke, Ryan, and Liza.

Me getting back in touch with my creeping skills. They had tons of police on the premises, and it was a good thing because later on near the end of the game a fight broke out just a few seats away from me! They had three police to a guy and it was intense!

The game finally starting!!! Go Boer!!!!! The first 7 innings were depressing because the opposing team was winning 2-0, but in the eighth Boer scored once, and again in the ninth! The crowd was INSANE! This night made me SO happy because it was almost like being at a Red´s game with Andy, and I just had so much fun!

The crowd! It got a lot more crowded later on, especially because a huge ¨Pep Team¨ showed up of intense fans; and our group was unfortunately on the opposing teams side, so our cheering got lots of glares! The fight that broke out was right next to us and we were nervous to cheer after that. lol

A crazy happy Boer fan after we finally won in the 13th inning!!!! It was a very energizing and fun night.


Coming tomorrow (hopefully) are pictures of Managua, and information about the service site locations!
Stay tuned, and much love and hugs to all of you that I´m missing so much!

Eva Marie