A break from regular updates hasn't by any means meant a break from Nica HOPE news. It's been a busy month complete with long power outages, longer journeys, heavy rains, and heavier accomplishments. Congratulations to Deanna Ford on completing her final semester at Georgetown University's Public Policy Institute and to Ben Bodell on his acceptance into Brandeis University's Master in Social Policy program! Deanna will be working in Managua full-time starting this August while Ben is en route to Boston. Both, however, will be in Washington DC on Tuesday June 19th for Nica HOPE's much anticipated benefit concert performed by Braddigan (of Dispatch) with Taylor Carson and sponsored by Razoo, a new online web platform to connect, inspire, and empower individuals to make positive change in the world. Check out our Nica HOPE website for more information and to purchase tickets.
And as always, check back for more news and notes. The upcoming month promises to be a big one as we move closer and closer to initializing our in-country operations.
Posted by: Jordan Hooper - Managua, Nicaragua
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Student Interviews, Vol 1
As for Managuan happenings, Nica HOPE co-founder Ben Bodell and his girlfriend Jorie Miller visited last week and between thunderstorms and heat waves we were able to tour the vocational training sites at both Los Brasiles and Monte Hermon and complete a long overdue task – student interviews.
The first interviewee, Norland Alberto Quiroz Martinez, is a 19 year old secondary school student at Escuela Monte Hermon. He's the oldest of seven children and has spent a lot of time working with his father planting bean and corn and caring for livestock. His primary occupation, however, is as a student, which he takes very seriously. Next year he will complete secondary school and wants to study to be a mechanic and/or police officer. Concerning vocational training, here's what he had to say (with translations by me):
Do you have any vocational skills?
Yes, in general construction. I've worked with my father and on construction crews with other guys my age. I've even helped with some of the work here (at Monte Hermon)
Why are you interested in learning more vocational skills?
More than anything to help my family. Also to help with the development of the community. A lot of work has to be done.
What specifically do you want to learn?
I want to study auto mechanics. It interests me a lot and there's a lot of work. I also want to learn to play the guitar and the drums and to study the Bible too.
How much income could you expect with and without a skill, and how much income is enough?
One can earn 800 cordobas (about $40) every 15 days but with a skill 2000 or 2500 ($110 or $135). You have to earn at least 1200 ($65).
The second interviewee, Ivan Hector Abelez Montano, is an 18 year old vocational training student at Mike Diebert's training center in Los Brasiles. He is the youngest of six children and has spent time working in a free-trade factory that produces clothing for export to the United States. He prefers, however, working with and learning vocational skills as he has more freedom, a chance to earn more, and a greater feeling of accomplishment. He's been at the school for the last few months. We asked him the same questions:
Do you have any vocational skills?
Yes, I've learned much about designing projects. I can work well with metal shaping. I can weld a little. A little bit of everything.
Why are you interested in learning more vocational skills?
Because I like to learn them. It interests me a lot, and it helps me provide for my family. It's good for my future.
What specifically do you want to learn?
I like everything. I like drawing and planning the most. Thinking about a project and then designing it is what I like to do most.
How much income could you expect with and without a skill, and how much income is enough?
Almost nothing without. You can make 600 cordobas (about $30) every 15 days doing labor. That's almost not enough for food. I hope to make more than 1500 (about $80) or more.
Both Norland and Ivan are excited about the opportunities that Nica HOPE will provide in the near future, both for themselves and for their country. Each wants to support a wife and children in the not-too-distant future, and, while Ivan wants to stay in Los Brasiles, Norland believes that moving further into the heart of Managua would provide more opportunity for his family. Both, however, would consider leaving the country (for work in Costa Rica or the United States) if necessary although they love their country and would rather stay close to home. When asked about their thoughts on the source(s) of Nicaraguan poverty, both students admitted to an atmosphere of frustration and self-pity within their local communities but ultimately placed the blame on a lack of opportunity. As Ivan put it, “everyone wants to be here with family and to work here, but steady work is harder to find.”
And when their desires and our mission align, it's hard not to see the HOPE.
Jordan Hooper
Managua, Nicaragua
The first interviewee, Norland Alberto Quiroz Martinez, is a 19 year old secondary school student at Escuela Monte Hermon. He's the oldest of seven children and has spent a lot of time working with his father planting bean and corn and caring for livestock. His primary occupation, however, is as a student, which he takes very seriously. Next year he will complete secondary school and wants to study to be a mechanic and/or police officer. Concerning vocational training, here's what he had to say (with translations by me):
Do you have any vocational skills?
Yes, in general construction. I've worked with my father and on construction crews with other guys my age. I've even helped with some of the work here (at Monte Hermon)
Why are you interested in learning more vocational skills?
More than anything to help my family. Also to help with the development of the community. A lot of work has to be done.
What specifically do you want to learn?
I want to study auto mechanics. It interests me a lot and there's a lot of work. I also want to learn to play the guitar and the drums and to study the Bible too.
How much income could you expect with and without a skill, and how much income is enough?
One can earn 800 cordobas (about $40) every 15 days but with a skill 2000 or 2500 ($110 or $135). You have to earn at least 1200 ($65).
The second interviewee, Ivan Hector Abelez Montano, is an 18 year old vocational training student at Mike Diebert's training center in Los Brasiles. He is the youngest of six children and has spent time working in a free-trade factory that produces clothing for export to the United States. He prefers, however, working with and learning vocational skills as he has more freedom, a chance to earn more, and a greater feeling of accomplishment. He's been at the school for the last few months. We asked him the same questions:
Do you have any vocational skills?
Yes, I've learned much about designing projects. I can work well with metal shaping. I can weld a little. A little bit of everything.
Why are you interested in learning more vocational skills?
Because I like to learn them. It interests me a lot, and it helps me provide for my family. It's good for my future.
What specifically do you want to learn?
I like everything. I like drawing and planning the most. Thinking about a project and then designing it is what I like to do most.
How much income could you expect with and without a skill, and how much income is enough?
Almost nothing without. You can make 600 cordobas (about $30) every 15 days doing labor. That's almost not enough for food. I hope to make more than 1500 (about $80) or more.
Both Norland and Ivan are excited about the opportunities that Nica HOPE will provide in the near future, both for themselves and for their country. Each wants to support a wife and children in the not-too-distant future, and, while Ivan wants to stay in Los Brasiles, Norland believes that moving further into the heart of Managua would provide more opportunity for his family. Both, however, would consider leaving the country (for work in Costa Rica or the United States) if necessary although they love their country and would rather stay close to home. When asked about their thoughts on the source(s) of Nicaraguan poverty, both students admitted to an atmosphere of frustration and self-pity within their local communities but ultimately placed the blame on a lack of opportunity. As Ivan put it, “everyone wants to be here with family and to work here, but steady work is harder to find.”
And when their desires and our mission align, it's hard not to see the HOPE.
Jordan Hooper
Managua, Nicaragua
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