Wise Words from a Program Director's Mother

A guest blog from Joyce Calvo-Chen

So what is it like having a daughter work for Manna Project International?

I was shocked when Carissa first told me she was applying to Manna Project, and if accepted would be living in Nicaragua for 13 months! I had definitely been spoiled having Carissa in college only 15 minutes away from our home. After she graduated, I originally thought she would be working in New York City and was already having a hard time accepting that! The day finally came for her to leave on a grand adventure to Nicaragua and as any parent may have, I cried as we said goodbye at the airport, and then again in the car ride… all the way home. I knew it would be a long time until Christmas break and began counting down the days…

Once she started telling me about her experiences in Nicaragua, her first week in Spanish school and living with a host family, I knew she was in the right place. She was so happy and with wonderful loving people. From what I could see, she was having such a beautiful experience right away. I was relieved hearing about Carissa’s new home and so excited for her.

I never would have been brave enough to do something like that and I was in awe and so proud of her. Those words cannot describe how I felt and how I feel now.

When she came home for Christmas I was so happy to be reunited with her again! It was Carissa’s first day home when she received a Skype call from her host family in Nicaragua. She was speaking Spanish to them and I could not believe how well she was able to communicate. Her second family in Nicaragua already missed her and I could tell that the little girls in that family love her so much!

She continued to share her experiences with our friends and extended family that came to visit for the holidays. She showed us photos and videos of herself teaching English, helping the women with their jewelry cooperative, and the different communities where she works. After looking at her photos on Facebook, seeing the beauty of Nicaragua and how many experiences she has had with her new friends I am so happy for her. Despite my initial sadness and heartbreak from Carissa leaving, I am able to forgive her knowing Nicaragua is exactly where she is supposed to be.

-Joyce Calvo-Chen

Spring Break in Nicaragua

In the Manna Project world, March is one of our busiest months because of Spring Break season! This year, Vanderbilt University, the College of Charleston, the University of North Carolina and the University of South Florida came to Nicaragua to participate in MPI programs, hold their own community project, and visit a destination outside Managua. As Program Directors, it was our duty to ensure that the groups are taking part in each of these activities, while making sure they are having fun, learning and, most importantly, that they are safe. Thank you to our amazing Spring Break groups!

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

Meeting with the community advisory board.

An incredible medical team from the University of South Florida including attending physicians, medical residents and students worked with the Cedro Galán Clinic to reach 230 patients in just 5 days. This group of 15 worked hard to build the capacity of our clinic staff and volunteers, offered specialized care and education to community members in the clinic and during home visits, met with the community advisory board, and taught lessons on nutrition and exercise in the Girls' Health class at Chiquilistagua! 

The USF team

Vanderbilt

The students from Vanderbilt were absolutely amazing and took on two different projects within the week they were here. One project was with our jewelry cooperative, which employs 22 women who are former residents of Central America’s largest municipal trash dump, La Chureca, where they survived by sorting and selling trash. These women now live in Villa Guadalupe and earn a living through sales of their jewelry line, Camino Nuevo. The cooperative designs and produces its own jewelry, and members receive 100% of the profit. They worked with students from Vanderbilt to share their creation process. Then, the Vanderbilt team took great initiative and created a new, creative marketing scheme to help the cooperative improve sales.

The Vanderbilt team and the community held a talent show with the children from Camp JAM. Over 100 people came to watch!

In addition, Vanderbilt organized and held a talent show for MPI’s children after-school program, Camp JAM. The children and families absolutely loved the event with over 100 people in attendance! After their trip and projects were complete, one student felt so passionate about Manna Project that they applied to come back for a month in May as a Summer Intern! 

The students from Vanderbilt not only created a marketing scheme for Camino Nuevo, but also learned how to make the pieces in our collection from the women themselves!

College of Charleston

Within the same week, students from the College of Charleston visited MPI’s site in Nicaragua and had an extremely positive experience. The group held three deparasitation clinics in Farito, MPI's community center, and were extremely successful. Deparasitation is very important, because 100% of children in the community have parasitic infections that lead to impaired absorption of nutrients and decreased immune function. Overall, the team deparasited 826 community members in Cedro Galán! 

College of Charleston held a Deparasitation Clinic in Farito and, overall, treated more than 800 community members! 

The students from College of Charleston loved working with the students from MPI's Vocational Training Course!

In addition to their project, the group attended many programs like our English Vocational Training class, which prepares students for employment in one of Managua's call centers. The students from the College of Charleston thoroughly enjoyed this class because not only did they help the class practice speaking conversational English, they also were able to form a bond with the students and get to know the Nicaraguan culture better. The College of Charleston team consistently went outside the boundaries of their comfort zones, practiced their Spanish, and immersed themselves in the culture. 

 

 

 

University of North Carolina

The UNC team played in a lacrosse tournament with students at Club Hope!

The volunteers from UNC-Chapel Hill were our last group for Spring Break! This group selected to hold a 5K to raise money for the MPI Clinic in Cedro Galan. Throughout the week, the UNC team walked throughout the community to flyer for the 5K and met many different community members in Cedro Galan. 300 people participated in the 5K and we raised more than $7,500!!! In addition to this achievement, the UNC members kindly donated $2,800 worth of Spanish books for the children in Camp JAM. The children were given one book each during Camp JAM that week, and were so delighted with UNC and their donations! UNC joined with the Program Directors and students of Lacrosse the Nations to play in a fun lacrosse tournament and connected the students to the community in Villa Guadalupe. 

The combined efforts of the UNC team, the Program Directors, the community and our donors led to a more than successful 5K. 

The Weekend

Spring Break groups were able to spend time and eat dinner at a community member's house! Here is the UNC team with Sonya and her family!

During the weekend, some groups went on an away trip to Laguna de Apoyo, a beautiful natural reserve with kayaking, paddle-boarding and a beautiful beach! Then the teams spent the night in Granada: a vibrant, historical city in Nicaragua which they enjoyed exploring.

Each group was able to truly immerse themselves in Nicaragua’s culture through community walking, community dinners and program participation. At the end of each trip, the Spring Break volunteers gave their opinions on their trips. Unanimously, they said that the most rewarding experience was meeting the people of Cedro Galán and Villa Guadalupe because not only did community members help them with their projects, but they also learned from them as well. 

Thank you to our spring break teams!

We would love to see some of you continue your work here as Summer Interns and Program Directors!

Semana Santa in Nicaragua

Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is a common Latin American religious celebration prior to Easter. The week traditionally a reminder of Jesus Christ’s final days prior to his crucifixion and is a national holiday in most Latin American countries.

During Semana Santa, our Nicaraguan Program Directors took a much-needed reprieve and traveled to San Juan to visit the beautiful and eponymously named Playa Hermosa. Next, Program Directors flew in a tiny prop winged aircraft to the other side of the country, all the way to the Corn Islands, widely held to be one of Nicaragua’s loveliest vacation destinations.

The Program Directors stayed on Little Corn, which is so removed from civilization that it only has electricity for half of each day. 

Semana Santa was a wonderful time for rest and relaxation for everyone, but now that it’s over, everyone is hungry to get back to work on our amazing programs.

See yourself here? Join MPI's team in Nicaragua:

The Numbers Are In

Third Annual 5K Infographic

Support MPI's health programs in Nicaragua:

Thank You from Cedro Galán

The Cedro 5K was a huge success!

Your support made it possible for 300 community members to participate in the third annual Cedro 5K. This community health-focused event raised $7,120 to benefit the Cedro Health Clinic. The Cedro Clinic will provide an estimated 2,000 medical consultations in 2016, and is the only prescribing clinic open 5 days a week. The clinic's success means so much for the health of this wonderful community, and you made it all possible! 

THANK YOU!

Program Director Hank led everyone in a round of stretches before the race.

And they're off!

Running for the finish line together.

It was a scorcher of a day! Taking a breather to trade hats with Program Director Dave.

Lots of encouragement at the finish line from Shanelle, Jess and Alex!

The competition was fierce!

Meet the Winners

First Place Winners, Child division

Congratulations, Alison and Jorge!

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First Place Winners, youth DivisioN

Congratulations, Dania and Bryan!

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First place winners, adult DivisioN

Congratulations, Team Leader Emerita and David!

Thank you to everyone who supported these amazing runners and the community of Cedro Galán by donating to the 5K!

Still want to support the clinic? It's not too late! Every dollar goes a long way.