This upcoming spring break, Binghamton University students will have the opportunity to visit Nicaragua, one of Latin America’s poorest countries, and help their poor through community service while earning academic credit.
“It’s important to bring and expose the group to Nicaragua to see the poverty. It’s not the same as on the TV,” said Nelson Lopez, assistant director of Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies (LACAS). “They can experience first hand [the poverty that] is found in many areas of Latin America.”
This service trip is sponsored by the Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies program and the Office of International Programs (OIP).
Participants will not only explore the country’s history and culture but will make an impact on the communities they visit. They will be participating in activities like constructing homes, medical offices and donating clothing to needy children.
Students will also have the opportunity to interact with locals through the school’s exchange program with the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Nicaragua, Leon (UNAN). Participants will stay in the dormitories at UNAN and observe the lifestyles of the Nicaraguan students and the people of Leon.
“Last year, Binghamton students were able to raise enough money to help build a home and donate shoes to poor students,” said senior Mary McNamara, who has helped coordinate the Binghamton-Nicaragua trip for the past two years. “The schools they attend require school uniforms and many of the families in the area don’t make enough money for the kids. We’re helping these kids go to school.”
In conjunction with Soles4Souls, a nonprofit shoe donation charity, BU students were able to donate 100 pairs of shoes to needy children in the communities they visited.
According to McNamara, participants are expected to raise money to help fund their projects.
“We were able to raise $5,000. We used the money to build a house for a poor family, provide scholarships to students in elementary school and college, as well as building a medical center,” said Lopez, who is the academic adviser for the program.
Lopez and McNamara have hopes that this year participants will raise even more money for more projects.
According to Lopez, in order to gain academic credit, students are required to do nightly journal exercises during their 10-day journey, as well as complete a project of their choice. Last year’s students presented movies, photo-journal narratives and essays describing their stay in Nicaragua.
“I was happy to hear of the students’ final thoughts of the program. Not only did they leave knowing they helped those in need; they also helped themselves,” Lopez said.
Binghamton’s trip to Nicaragua is student-driven.
Last year McNamara and her friend approached Lopez with the idea to bring a group of BU students to Nicaragua for community service purposes. Lopez agreed to be their academic adviser.
McNamara visited Nicaragua on two separate community service trips in high school.
“I enjoy helping those who are less fortunate and it really is a satisfying feeling to know you have made a difference in these people’s lives,” she said. “I wanted to share my experiences from high school to students at Binghamton through this program.”
In addition to community service projects, the program itinerary leaves room for many cultural and adventure-filled activities like horseback riding, sandboarding and climbing volcanoes.
“Anyone who is community service minded and open to learn about a culture different from ours should apply,” McNamara said. “Also for those who want to pursue academic research, this trip will offer another perspective to your major.”
There will be a general interest meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 28 in Lecture Hall 7. Applications can be found on the OIP website and are due on Nov. 15.