Day 4: They even made the bricks!

The morning was spent at the University of Central America, the only private university in Nicaragua and a Jesuit university. Although it was in the past considered “elitist,” because so few could afford the tuition, after the revolution it was adopted as a national university, and now 50% of its operating budget comes from the state. They have more than 8000 students, and 65% of them are on full scholarship.

We met with their Vice President, Academic Vice President, Director of International Relations, and Secretary General. Their university was conceived as a social project, and their mission statement -- in its first sentence- -- focuses on equal and sustainable human development. They are keenly involved in the community.

The university benefited from the Revolution, in that higher education became state-operated and state money followed. They were able to open their doors to students who otherwise could never afford a college degree. The downside -- they had a prestigious engineering program that the state determined should be operated by another university, and so they lost that degree in the process.

They have no healthcare programs, but we had several ideas for collaboration while we talked. They are very interested in sports medicine, exercise science, public health, and maternal/child nutrition. Sandra Mitchell and I are energized by the possibilities of both intercultural learning and service here in Nicaragua.

The afternoon was an awe-inspiring experience. The picture above is of a huge, 1800 square meter concrete building. This is a cooperative project for spinning cotton into cloth to sell and support these women. They started out with more than a hundred people, and, after 3 years, 18 are left. These women literally built this building from the ground -- digging the trenches for the foundation, mixing and pouring the concrete slabs, putting on the roof. They even made the bricks! They were most proud of their ability to work with rebar. Their quiet accomplishment was inspiring to all of us. They are patiently waiting for their spinning equipment to arrive, at which time they will all become owners of the business. All workers are owners, all owners are workers. Sounds a bit like San Francisco in the 60’s, but this kind of cooperative engagement is the only option for making large scale change in this community. A committed Presbyterian minister and his wife are changing lives here, one family at a time. Take a look at the work they are doing at http://www.jhc-cdca.org/

There is clearly a lot of need. I am having trouble fitting this experience into the context of my life; it is overwhelming. The poverty is crushing, the quality of life (or lack of it) inconceivable. Even the horses and dogs look as if they are suffering. There is so much to be done that one wonders how to even begin.

Back to air conditioning and beer. This afternoon, meeting with the minister, was the hottest I believe I have ever been, and that is saying something for a woman whose internal thermostat is broken. On the plus side, the humidity is plumping up our faces and we are all looking very non-wrinkled. Which is not the case for my clothes. No iron! Ande, you would have a cat.

Tomorrow we meet with the UN ambassador and the son of a previous president, then off to Leon for two nights in the country. I am not at all sure whether I’ll have internet access or not so it may be Thursday before I check in again. Stay tuned.