A few weeks ago a wrote a blog about the Pulsera Project, a non profit founded by my aunt and uncle after going on a trip to Nicaragua in the 2008-2009 holiday season. The proceeds benefit the children of the Los Quinchos and Si a la Vida children’s shelters, both located in Nicaragua. Previously, I described my first encounter with Nicaragua, and the children of Los Quinchos. Last Monday morning, I returned from my second Nicaraguan adventure, some of which I am going to share with you now.
This trip’s sole purpose was to further the mission of the Pulsera Project, unlike the first adventure. Funds were allocated to different needs, and new issues were identified. The trip lasted 12 days and in that time I learned more about the inner workings of Los Quinchos, and how the government affects the lives of these children.
Of the laundry list of good deeds the Pulsera Project accomplished on this trip, I will share a few. To begin the trip, we took a group of children to Selva Negra, a coffee plantation located in the cloud forests near Matagalpa. The experience allowed them to see part of their country, understand the world outside of Los Quinchos, and help to give them a better understanding about what their futures could be. A lot of the kids are stuck in the street mentality of the day to day. They do not think about tomorrow or the future, because they are preoccupied with finding a way just to survive for today. Trips like this also give us time to bond with the kids, to love them, which may be the single greatest thing we can do for them.
The location where young girls stay until the age of 14, was provided with outdoor electricity. These children previously had no outdoor lighting, and when most of them have been victims of abuse, it is hard to feel safe in the dark. So, the project not only provided them with light, but with the feeling of safety, which is a basic human need. The group also purchased more furniture to help complete the library project. The location where boys stay until they reach the age of 14 is an old farm, and the project is working to renovate one of the buildings to provide the children with a library. As of now, the boys do their homework in separate groups at a set of picnic tables in a small open-air hut. There is no wealth of books for them to read or reference when doing their work. The library project will give them motivation to do well in school, and a means to meet that goal. While in La Chureca, yet another Los Quinchos location, we collected a list of antibiotics the children needed.
One day was spent doing a shoe drop. The group brought 22 suitcases full of shoes and clothing donated to the children. On that day, the suitcases were unpacked to give the children two pairs of shoes and two new outfits. Both of which are an immense gift to these children. Most only have one or two sets of clothing that have been ripped, torn or stained. The kids are also growing, so a lot of the time, they have to stuff their feet into shoes that are too small, and new shoes are not something they can afford.
Another outcome of this trip was that one of the interns, Chris Howell, arranged so the girls could learn how to make Pulseras as well. Up until now, only boys have been making pulseras, because they were the only Quinchos who knew how. The boys learn this skill when they are still on the street, it is a means for them to make money. Girls however, are tasked with other jobs in order to collect money. This will give the girls a stronger feeling of worth, productivity and independence. For once, they will be on the same playing field as the boys. Nicaragua does not have the same ideas of gender equality embedded within their culture that the United States do.
Nicaragua is a country with a lot of beauty. The spirit of its people is strong and the landscapes are breath taking; there are cloud forests, coves, pristine beaches, blue skies, and jungles. However, Nicaragua is far from perfect. On this trip I was better educated on the Nicaraguan government and some of the great disservices it has done its people. To begin, the children of Los Quinchos or any similar shelter, must leave at the age of 17. However, most children in Nicaragua do no graduate high school until the age of 18. Thus forcing the kids back onto the streets, or back to abusive homes before completing high school. As a result, most children are unable to finish their high school education. A newer law passed by the Nicaraguan government is that the children must go home to their families on the weekend, if they have families to go home to. Los Quinchos is a children’s shelter for street kids, victims of abuse or neglect as well as orphaned children. What this law means is that the children of Los Quinchos with abusive or neglectful families have to go home every weekend. The government forces each of them to endure the horrors of home life each and every weekend. This law was passed because the president’s girlfriend believes family bonds are of utmost importance.
At this point I would like to share the story of Ricardo. Ricardo is a young boy who stays at Los Quinchos. On one of their breaks from school Ricardo had to go home. Out front of his house, Ricardo was caught in a drug war. An innocent bystander, he got shot in the back of the neck. Ricardo was rushed to the hospital where they saved his life, but they could not remove the bullet. Today, Ricardo walks around with a bullet lodged in his brain because he had to go home that day. His mental function will never be the same, and he will bear that burden for the rest of his life. However, Ricardo still smiles, still laughs, still plays, still inspires. Though his country may have done him a disservice, though he may have been ill fated, his spirit is stronger than anyone else I know. That’s true of all of these children. They are the embodiment of the strength of the human spirit. While I was in Nicaragua I saw and heard things that made it nearly impossible for me to hold back tears. However, these kids live with such harsh realities every day and still find a way to wake up every morning and get out of bed, to smile, to laugh, to play, to hope, to dream.
In my last entry I said the Pulsera Project was a way to give back to the kids who have nothing and still managed to give me everything. However, at this point I would like to revoke that statement. It was a rather ignorant, materialistic opinion. Instead, I would like to say that Pulsera is a way for me to give back to the kids whom with gracious hearts shared the strength of their spirits, the ability to laugh even in humanity’s darkest hours and their wisdom about what is truly important in life: our shared humanity. These kids have a greater wealth than any billionaire or bank, these kids gave me everything because they reminded me what is truly valuable in life.
At the end of this post you will find a photo gallery. Each photo description tells a little more about what was seen on the trip. Pictures themselves are worth a thousand words, and there are images of things I could not describe in such a short blog. If you wish to see more head over to our facebook page where you will find other volunteer’s blogs, photos, and much more.
For more information about the Pulsera Project please visit pulseraproject.org.
Find us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pulseraproject
Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pulseraproject
Feel free to contact me directly via the comments section of this blog with any questions about Pulsera, my experiences, or the children.
