Update with the Sisters of Berriz in El ViejoWe met with sisters
Paulina and Ana Noemi who had been working in El Viejo just under a
year. They began by summarising the socio-political situation in
the area by citing extremes of poverty and high unemployment
provoking increased migration, alcoholism, prostitution and drug
use. The youth were especially affected and they could see no
future in Nicaragua with boys working in low paid agricultural jobs
and girls in domestic help. The sisters said about 30-40% of the
youth go on to degree level, but this is a comparatively low
educational level. Skills training is not developed.
Another concern is that of broken families and how the family
unit has been diluted. Many families have no stable father with
fathers having multiple families and/or living in another country
for economic reasons. As the mothers are left to care for children,
grandmothers are taking on the childcare with the mothers having to
find work to make ends meet as street vendors, in the sweatshops
etc. The Nicaraguan men feel consigned to a lesser status as jobs
for them are very scarce and the women are finding employment
especially in the growing number of sweatshops which prefer to
employ the women as wages are lower. Domestic violence is prevalent
with increased occurrence of femicide.In summary, the sisters
painted a picture of a depressed horizon where it is difficult to
see the positives. They are working to open up the space in their
centre to work with other groups, to build a much needed network to
make the connections to develop the social situation and to empower
the Nicaraguans, especially the youth to generate a pride of
identity and to build a future in and for Nicaragua. The sisters
feel the hope is with NGOs.
After a delicious Nicaraguan lunch prepared by Coco (the nuns
housekeeper), from their centre we went to visit the Library in El
Viejo and we later visited Casa Esperanza and the Sports
Centre.
The Library in El Viejo: Biblioteca Padre Teodoro A.S. Kint
Funded through the Miles Money ($2000) for the librarians
salary
Situated on the 1st floor of the Amigos de Holanda Community
Centre, it has been here for 19 years. The library is spacious,
with different specialist sections for pre-school, children etc. It
has an excellent infrastructure of good tables, chairs,
photocopier, catalogued books (4730 volumes), childrens games and
puzzles, maps etc. We saw a group of children participating in
group games and book readings. The Librarian, Ana Isabel, told us
there were on average 100 visitors a day with teachers using the
resources regularly in their classrooms. There are Reading clubs
for 12-15 year olds and a Caja Viajera which is a box compiled and
sent to rural schools on a regular basis.
It is a roomy and friendly facility and the only public library
in the El Viejo area.
Casa Esperanza
A Centre supporting adults with disabilities run by the Berriz
sisters and managed by Zeta (full time) with Vero (half time).
There are about 18 attendees with a wide variety of disabilites
which is a huge challenge for the staff. They do craft activities
and sell their cards, piatas, etc. to boost funds.
The adults were all very pleased to welcome us as visitors and
very keen to show us what they had made and we purchased cards for
the SRF. It seemed to be a supportive and pleasant oasis of
calm.Youth and Sports Centre
Visited on a hot and steamy Friday afternoon where the facility
was being used by about 30 boys playing football and basketball.
Ftima was there to welcome us and told us how the centre is open
until 8pm and used by a great number of youth daily when they are
not in school. In the mornings, Elizer manages the centre. At other
times it is used by school groups and even hired out for prvate
functions. The caf was also open. The youth have to pay a nominal
amount (3 crdobas = approx. 7 pence) to come into the centre. The
centre was very welcoming and full of kids and activity!
