At the end of the week, volunteers from each sector came together to form a committee for the Millennium Village Project. They met in the center of the community, coming by foot, by bike, horse and boat. All of the sectors presented their work during the week with each other, learning more about their collective history, and visions of the future. While this community has one name, it actually has four diverse and divided sections. One of our more immediate goals is to create more unity between sectors.

The River of Time

This activity was also done in each sector. The people wrote a timeline of their history, and then told stories that connected them to each other. In this way the people collectively engage in storytelling, and sharing their reality. Many shared stories of their poverty, their first time learning to read, or adventures on Lake Nicaragua.

After creating a list of human rights, the groups presented their people, and what they needed.

The section in Las Piedras decides what they think every person needs to be healthy, an excercise in human rights.

Kai in our "bathtub"

Community Meeting

November 16 2007
As I lay in my hammock writing on my front porch, I can see Kai playing at the basketball court across the road in the last minutes of daylight. Today was one of the most productive days I’ve had since being here, and it feels good to be moving forward. Our meeting today was great, with leaders from all sections of the community coming together to learn about the Millennium Village. I had much support from ANF with the 3 out of 5 project staff present. There were teenagers to elders present all of which got involved through interactive activities and small group discussions about their priorities with the Millennium Goals. I now have one meeting in each of the sectors per week, totaling 4. A committee formed of leaders from all sectors that will continue to work on projects after I am gone. They will come together with me on Saturdays to share all of their work throughout the sectors during the week. The Saturday meeting is open to all, but there is a core committed group. The group is excited to work toward the Millennium Goals, and hopefully Nayda cleared up any misconceptions about the work that ANF does.
After the meeting the Executive Director from Partners of the Americas called, and arranged to meet with me and Alvaro, the Executive Director from ANF in two weeks. I have hopes to create a sister city relationship between El Menco and Ashland, WI. I believe that with the support of these organizations, we can provide transportation and communication between the two. That is my hope anyway. Then I’ll have to work more on the Ashland end. Knowing that there are organizations supporting the people here is important though. Perhaps in the future volunteers could work here. All is good news!
Also, I hear that Pamela, the little girl with the fever is ok. The fever broke overnight. It’s amazing what a little bit of the right medicine can do sometimes.

Le Islote- finally

November 15, 2007
Today was very full. I rest in my house with thoughts about the reality here. Kai and I visited the poorest part of our community today, Le Islote, which is actually a very isolated community of its own. Unlike the other three sectors of the community, La Piedra, Santa Barbara, and El Cerrito, this community hasn’t benefited from the help of ANF. Le Islote is a peninsula that at times becomes an island, depending on the shifting sand. To get there we traveled through an inland estuary by wooden boat for about 45 minutes. The estuary is beautiful and full of wildlife. Once at Le Islote, we came ashore at one of the fisherman’s houses, Luis. Luis is considered a leader here, and was glad to show us around. There is no electricity, and houses are made out of plastic and reeds, or if you’re lucky scrap wood and metal. Families gather water to drink from the lake. There was no sign of cattle or pigs, only chickens to eat. The community itself consists of 14 houses, and around 75-78 people. Luis lives in a small metal house, wrapped with bits of newspaper to block the wind, which is the strongest this time of year. He said that he and 9 family members share the house, two of which were elders in their 80’s. FISE, a Nicaraguan project, installed latrines 1 month ago, which has improved conditions quite a bit. Luis asked if we’d like to see their school, so we followed him the length of the beach to a little wooden shack with a dirt floor. There was a metal roof full of holes and the only light came when the door was open. Their teacher left, leaving 32 kids with no education. They had little hope of finding someone else, as no one in their community has the education to teach, and it’s hard to entice someone to come and live under such conditions. If people get sick, they have to make it to my part of the community via boat, usually with just oars. There is no option for emergencies. They would have to take a 45 minute boat ride (assuming the boat has a motor), and then try to find a ride to Rivas, a city with a hospital about another 45 minute drive. Family structure here is very traditional, with the fathers being responsible for all income and decisions, and the women and kids at home doing all housework. Women are constantly busy washing and cleaning because after all, we are in the tropics. Sweeping and cleaning your house and clothes are a daily business, as mold grows fast, and all kinds of critters inhabit the house, from toads to chickens.
We invited Luis to attend a meeting of community leaders tomorrow, at the church across from my house. ANF Project Staff will be conducting the meeting and formally introducing the Millennium Village Project and its implications to this community. With a population of 500 or so, in 4 different sub-communities, all quite different, I’ve got my work cut out for me, and I’m glad for ANF support. I’ve had smaller meetings, explaining my project and gathering support, but the idea of a Millennium Village has to be introduced by ANF, so as the community feels like they have support beyond my time here. It has taken some time just to come to this understanding with ANF, but now with clarification from the United Nations, I feel that we’re finally able to present a clear idea, and leave it in the community’s hands as to whether they wish to strive to be a Millennium Village. My primary objective then, is to bring the voice of the community to ANF through activities and strategic planning. They will then have to take the next steps and gain more governmental support.
On our way back to La Piedra, our part of El Menco, we traveled out into Lake Nicaragua amongst 8-10 foot waves and went around 2 protected islands. Kai loved it, rocking amongst the waves and getting soaked!
We returned home, ate a late lunch, and walked to the soccer field. Upon realizing that the game was over, we stopped by the health center on the way home. My friend Christian, a nurse, greeted us, and said she wasn’t doing too well because as she was staying late painting the center, a family brought her a very, very sick girl. Pamela is 2 years old, and had a fever of about 105 degrees F. She was completely lethargic. Christian had some Acedimedifin in liquid drops, but it wasn’t any match for the fever. There were no cars heading out to the entrance, and not many busses running to Rivas. With not much hope, I invited the family to my house to immerse the girl in cold water, as I have a small basin that worked. The family lived pretty far from the health center, so they took me up on the offer. We immediately stripped the girl down and put her in a tub, while she whimpered, not completely conscious. I grabbed some liquid Ibuprofen that I brought for Kai, and we immediately gave a dose to Pamela. Three baths and 40 minutes later, we had the fever down to about 103. Pamela came around and ate a piece of watermelon and started talking a little. Another half hour and we had the fever at about 102. With no other option, we sent them home with instructions for medication. I hope she improves over night, but it’s hard to know. The family doesn’t have a thermometer, so they don’t know how high the fever really is. Christian is only 24 years old, and usually works with another nurse, who is on vacation. She nervously returned to Dona Carmen’s house, where she stays during the week. The family plans on taking Pamela to the hospital at 6am, when the first ride leaves the community. I hope it’s not something more serious like Malaria, and I pray her fever breaks in the night. It’s so hard to see young kids so sick.
This is the reality here, and certainly I appreciate my privilege. If Kai were that sick I could afford an ambulance or a taxi from here to the hospital. This community suffers greatly though, especially the kids, as there is virtually no children’s medicine in the health center, or elsewhere in Nicaragua.
Well, as the night closes in, I’m ready to retire. Tomorrow is our meeting, and I want to be refreshed. Pamela is in my prayers.

Meeting with the United Nations

This morning we had a very successful meeting with the United Nations office. Neyda Pereira, ANF's project manager, Felix Valdivia: ANF Project Staff, and I met with Semia Tapia: Coordinator of Economic Development and Volunteer Coordinator Marzia Baldassari to inform them of ANF's initiative and request resources- specifically visual to assist us in introducing the global Millennium Village Project to the community of El Menco. They had many suggestions, most of which we're already engaged in, such as working with the leaders and teachers in the community, and getting some investment from them. One of their big concerns is our coordination with the municipal Mayor of Buenes Aires. The UN has offered support with organizing a meeting between the UN, ANF, and this mayor to coordinate efforts and seek more governmental support for sustaining the project. Government buy-in to the development of the community is one of the key elements to the entire Millennium Village Project. Hopefully by delivering the vision and goals of El Menco to ANF and the UN, we will begin the long-term process of support and sustainability for this project, and provide a model for others.

Kai at Managua Backpackers Inn

What a nice little oasis, the Managua Backpackers Inn. Kai had a lot of fun here, and it is a great place to stay while in Managua!

Me and my friend Jazmin in Managua

Still in the City

After a long day at work yesterday, we got an audience with the UN- Monday. So, as it goes, Kai and I are in the capitol for the weekend, and are enjoying ourselves staying with friends whom I met when I worked here in 2002. Today we will move to a hotel and give them a break. Our project is finally starting to take shape, as I am understanding the greater vision for ANF. They have not been officially recognized as aiding the first Millennium Village in Latin America, but are hoping for that soon. They have a good working relationship with the UN, and are hoping that with my presence and work that the UN will recognize them, drawing more attention to the broader work that ANF does. Both the goals of ANF and the Millennium Goals allign. I am excited and very curious about the UN office here. We are hoping they might have some resources to use in our meeting with El Menco community leaders next week, such as a video or visual aids about Millennium Villages. Many people do not know how to read or write, so we are trying to move beyond those barriers together.

After learning more about the infrastructure of El Menco, and its sub-communities, I’m headed to the capitol city of Managua, to meet with ANF’s project staff. I’ve asked for their help in preparing a presentation to the community about the United Nation’s Millennium Villages. We’ve also decided to formally contact the UN and ask for some support. We’re hoping that they might have a video about the Millennium Village Project in Spanish. I’m

also hoping to seek out a good bookstore and try to find some books on Popular Education in Spanish. We’ll see what turns up. I didn’t realize that the staff at ANF are just learning about Millennium Villages as well. I’m also realizing that they are great a responding to poverty with projects, but they don’t engage in education. This whole project is a new adventure for them, as well as me. Hopefully our time in Managua will be productive, and we’ll all learn a lot and develop a good workshop for the leaders in this community.

On another note, Kai attended his second day of pre-school today. He only attends for about 2 hours a day, and is learning about primary and secondary colors. The kids are ecstatic about their new school supplies (thanks to all those in Ashland and my folks who contributed). The preschool kids were painting with their new paint sets, and the teacher was making shapes for them to paint with her new rulers. The only things she had before were some crayons, paper, and a little clay. They honestly have so little. Next week they start letters. Kai enjoys his time in class, but can’t wait until recess (understandable). Later today, one of the leaders here, Warren showed us the other side of the community via horse. Kai and I left on a 3 hour adventure with this 19 year old who already carries a lot of responsibility. It turns out that the other side of the community is very isolated- about 6km from our area. There is no electricity there, and in many places no roads. People use boats on the lake, motorcycles, bikes, horses, or walk. The houses are all made of boards and metal nailed together. I imagine it looks much like our area did before all of the houses were updated by ANF. It’s beautiful there, in El Cerrito, close to a forest reserve. Most people make their living fishing, picking watermelon, or working on small papaya farms. We returned in time to watch the sunset and enjoy the breeze off the lake, and I feel better having more of an understanding of the community, and the distance and differences between sections.

What is Leptos

Kai and I have officially completed our first week in El Menco, and it has been slow going. We haven’t ventured out into the community very much, which is spread among 4 sectors along the beach. On Saturday we were supposed to travel to a small island to visit a community and educate them about a bacterial virus that is killing people. The big wooded boat was loaded with nurses, and there wasn’t room for us. We watched as teenagers made themselves some notecards and headed out into different parts of the community for the day, educating people house by house. Today I went swimming with one of the girls who was a part of the activity, and she went down to the beach without her shoes, one of the things that she just told others not to do. She laughed and said that she didn’t like to wear her shoes, which are flip flops- what everyone in this fishing community wears. The other night there was a major fish kill in the lake, and when we went for a swim, we were surrounded by dying fish. The water stank, and the kids were all just plucking the fish from the water to cook. They said it happens, but wasn’t common. This morning there were dead fish all along the beach. I’ve seen larger kills before in Lake Erie, and it’s very surreal.

Kai and I travel to the colonial city of Grenada tomorrow, which is gorgeous, despite having been burned down several times and rebuilt. We are looking forward to getting out of our community for a bit, and getting some variation in diet. I’m hoping to eat some greens, which are very rare here. Our staple diet includes red beans, rice, and a variation of plaintain, eggs, or bread. Breakfast lunch and dinner!

I am hoping to meet with members of ANF tomorrow or Tuesday as well. I’ve been having difficulty knowing where to begin with my project, as the Millinium Village Project was not explained to the community before I got here. Thus, the community has no knowledge of what I’m working with as far as the big picture goes. They don’t want to be a Millenium Village, because they don’t know what one is. It’s hard to work under these circumstances, and I’ve asked from some support from ANF. Hopefully we’ll be able to get a day long workshop with the leaders of this community. I’m learning more about ANF’s work as I’m here. They’ve only been working in this community for the last year and a half from what I understand, and have provided over 120 houses and many more latrines to families in need. The mayor of this province decided who got the houses, and it has caused some frustration in the community for those who didn’t get houses. I am feeling that perhaps because of such a short working relationship in the community, people may not be interested in working with me unless they are benefiting in some tangible way. I will write when I know more. I was hoping that this village had been introduced to the idea of Millenium Villages before I arrived, and was aware of what was involved, but there is much work to be done yet…

Pictures of El Menco

Welcome to El Menco

10/30/07

Today is our third day in El Menco, the community we’ll be working in for the next three months. Our first days have been just settling in, and learning about the community. Kai is doing well, and is so excited to have kids to play with. Life here is very slow, and we’re adjusting from the fast pace in Managua and the United States. Many of the people in the community don’t have work, so they pass the day visiting and sitting around. The kids go to school from 7am to 12pm, with a ½ hour break at 9am. El Menco is about 480 people and growing. Although the community is growing, it still remains very impoverished. Many of the children are malnourished, as there is not enough employment to feed the families. Apparently there was a large farm that employed a lot of men from El Menco, but it had financial problems and failed. Now many are looking for ways to make an income.

Our house is right at the entrance to the community, next to one of the leaders’ houses, Dona Carmen. Dona Carmen is an amazingly strong woman, who has lived a tough life. Her house is the first you come to, and is always full of people coming to visit or get something to eat. She is like our mother here. She cooks for us and is basically our gateway into the community. Our house is a pre-fabricated house designed here in Nicaragua. It has cement fiber walls with three rooms and a cement floor. There are windows in every room, with no screens but bars, as is typical. When I leave the house, I close and lock the windows and padlock the door. Strange coming from leaving my keys in my car and my house open. When we moved in, ANF had a septic tank installed, and plumbing hooked up. We’re the only house that has it. However there are problems that come with this situation. Toilet paper can’t go in these systems, and Kai was flushing the paper. Before we knew it, the toilet was clogged, and the valve got stuck and stayed open, so the entire septic tank is full. In a matter of 24 hours, we shut down the entire system. Now the only solution is to have someone from the capital come and empty the tank- something not common in el campo. The ANF has taken much precaution to ensure that we have a good experience here. I know they were trying to do a good thing, but now we use the outhouse of Dona Carmen, which was what we expected anyway. This is the first time ANF has put a volunteer out in the field to work on a project, and I know they just want it to go well.

Today we went to the school, and delivered the school supplies to the school here in El Menco. All of the kids in our section of the community have made themselves comfortable in the house, which is always full. Legos are a big hit! As I write there are 2 boys, legos in hand, watching. Another girl is dancing to my iTunes, and about 5 are playing hide and seek outside with Kai. When we went to the school today we carried the huge bag during recess, so all of the kids followed us and were elated to get new things. The teachers are going to divide the supplies amongst this school and another. The kids were disappointed that they didn’t get something individually, and right away, but there were way more kids than we had supplies. It turns out that there is preschool here, and Kai has decided that he’d like to try it. His official first day of school will be Thursday. I’ll go with him, and we’ll see what he thinks. Kai’s best friend here is a boy about 12 years old that doesn’t go to school. When I asked why, I was told he has phycological problems, but I don’t see that. He is one of 6 boys in his family, all of which go to school but him. When everyone goes, he comes and plays with Kai. Mostly legos, but in the afternoon I take them to the beach. Lake Nicaragua, the only place in the world with freshwater sharks (it’s true!) is a sandy road and a sand dune away. The beach looks beautiful, but a closer look reveals all of the animal waste. Overall the water is relatively clean. Kai has developed small bumps on his skin from swimming there, but I don’t consider them serious. Most women do their laundry and wash here. All of the kids are great swimmers. We brought a ball attatched to a kite tail (foxtail) which has also been a big hit- especially in the water. At night we sleep under our mosquito nets and are awoken by the torrential sounds of a storm on a metal roof. Other than that, we have already grown accustomed to all of the cows, horses, pigs, chickens, spiders, lizards, and such that inhabit our house and yard on a regular basis. More news next week!

Ron' Jackson's Photos from the last 2 days

Day 2: Hope through the poverty

Today was yet another full day of visiting the many projects that ANF is involved in. I am really impressed with the number of things that they fund. This morning we visited a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for men (pictured left) that treats about 200 men and has the capacity to sleep 50. By capacity, I mean floor space and some beds in two small rooms. We met a 31 yr old man who founded the organization with his mother, who recently passed away. Right now he is simply trying to keep up with the demands of his clients, and relying on aid organizations like ANF to support them. We moved onto a school and a center for developmentally disabled kids both in a suburb in Managua. The suburb has a large number of people living in extreme poverty, and both the school and center are much needed. The babies asleep in the photo above right are in the 1 and under room. The main focus in their room is to nurture them and teach them to walk. The school is run by Catholic nuns, who dress the kids in uniforms when the arrive at the school every day. They service about 350 children, many from single mothers who are then free to go make a living during the day and return to pick up their children. I cannot express how important this experience has already been for Kai. He was more tired today, and we headed home after lunch, while the rest continued to a historical spot. He is asking questions about where we go, and trying out his Spanish. He's excited to be around other children, and we talk about the conditions the children live in quite a bit. He is very excited to get to "our house", and "our community" of El Menco. We will head there on Saturday morning, and get settled in. Please, everyone, feel free to email us at elizabethpost_21@hotmail.com. It's nice to hear from folks! Once in El Menco, we will go to the internet about once a week, but we'll get your mail! Tomorrow is another day at the ANF office, after we send off our friends Ron and Keith. I look forward to the good work they'll be doing, and to read their reflections on their trip, which has obviously changed their lives.

Day one: Poverty 101

Today was a long, busy first day in Nicaragua. Myself, Alvaro (ANF's Executive Director), Keith Strandberg (International Editor and writer for New York Times), Ronald Jackson (President and CEO of Sowind Group of Girard-Perregaux Jeanrichard watch company) and Mariacelia (Development Director of ANF) and Kai of course visited a variety of projects that ANF supports. Keith and Ron are here for 4 days because they are assisting ANF by producing a limited edition watch- 17 to be exact, that they will sell for $52,000 each. All funds will go to ANF and their projects. Kai and I are fortunate to be here at the same time, as we are getting a very thorough introduction to the projects here. This morning, after visiting the ANF office and warehouse, we headed to La Chureca City Dump, where over 900 people scramble to survive. We drove through mounds of trash, and watched as people sifted through for anything they could resell. There is a local woman that buys any recyclable material from folks here- plastic, glass, metal. I have never visited an area quite like this, where the poverty is so extreme. I was deeply moved by the determination of these people to survive in such conditions. We visited one of the homes in the dump that looked very much like this one of a woman in her 70's who's raised 4 children here, as well as several grandchildren. Many of the women with young children living here take their kids with them to the dump, which, believe me, is a terrible place for anyone. Alvaro later took us to see a complex that benefits more than 320 children from the dump. This place acts as a daycare, school, and feeding center to keep the kids away from the trash, and in a better place. Next we went to Granada for a beautiful lunch. Granada is a very colonial city, which has burned to the ground several times, and has been rebuilt. Here we visited and Elderly home and had lots of fun with the folks. Elderly don't get much governmental support in Nicaragua, so ANF is one of the principal NGO's that support these types of centers.
While all of this has been an amazing experience, it is not something I'm not entirely unfamiliar with. Many of the living situations now are much better than in 1998, when I was here doing relief work after Hurricane Mitch. It has been facinating helping Kai process what he's seeing and experiencing though. I have learned to step aside from experiences and process things with him, asking leading questions..."what do you think it's like to live here? how do you think this house is different than our house..." etc. He has great answers, and a great attitude about being here. It was pretty hot this afternoon, so Kai took his great new T Shirt off while we were visiting the family at the dump. As we were driving out, we realized that we had left it there, and he decided that they should keep it. I don't think they've ever had a new shirt before. I'm sure it was much appreciated. Keith and Ron were so impressed that they later bought Kai a shirt in the market (an LA Lakers one that he proudly wore). I don't exactly know what lesson that taught him (something about privledge I'm sure), but he felt really good about giving his shirt away.Here he his in his old shirt in the dump housing. Tomorrow is another full day with a similar itinerary. Friday I will be at the ANF office, and we might go out to El Menco on Friday or Saturday. From there we'll settle into our home- which actually has 3 rooms and is bigger than I thought. I think Kai may have his own room, and plenty of room for the hammock. Until next time...

Kai at the ANF Warehouse

Fellowship Description

The American Nicaraguan Foundation (AMF) and I would like to propose a Fellowship that aligns with an initiative of the United Nations Millennium Goals, agreed to by every country in the world in 2000 to half extreme poverty by 2015. This fellowship would provide the groundwork to transform the first Millennium Village in Latin America, creating a model for the Millennium Villages program to begin on another continent.

In 2000 the eight goals set by the UN entailed the following: 1. Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty, 2. Achieve Universal Primary Education, 3. Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women, 4. Reduce Child Mortality, 5. Improve Maternal Health, 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases, 7. Ensure Environmental Sustainability, and 8. Develop a Global Partnership for Development. In addition, targets and indicators have been set for each of these goals. In 2002 the Millennium Project was initiated, charged with implementing an action plan, and the Millennium Villages project was born.

According to the UN Millennium Project’s website, “The Millennium Villages seek to end extreme poverty by working with the poorest of the poor, village by village throughout Africa, in partnership with governments and other committed stakeholders, providing affordable and science-based solutions to help people lift themselves out of extreme poverty” (www.unmillenniumproject.org).

Inspired by the Millennium Project, AMF is taking the initiative to begin this project in Latin America, starting the first village in the poorest country in Central America.

AMF is the product of the vision of three Nicaraguans who wanted to take steps toward eliminating the extreme poverty of their country. In 1992 they started the Foundation, and soon after were recognized as a 501c3 non-profit organization. By recognizing that each human life is equal in worth regardless of race, gender, social and economic standing, ANF arduously works to achieve sustainable development in Nicaragua by promoting self sufficiency and autonomy. Their goal is to eradicate the incessant poverty by working to develop support programs in education, nutrition, housing and healthcare. (www.aidnicaragua.org)

Annually AMF distributes donations of food, medicine, medical equipment and school supplies to 2,864 community based organizations throughout the country. With ANF's support these organizations provide medical care to 160,000 people a month and feed more than 250,000 people a day. While ANF supported educational programs benefit over 140,000 children a year, and at the same time, projects funded by ANF help improve living and health conditions for approximately 8,000 people a year.

The Fellowship

I would like to be direct by saying that I am approaching this application from a different perspective. I am a single mother very dedicated to human rights work, and I am requesting funding to conduct this Fellowship with my four year old son, Kai. As a survivor of poverty myself, my dedication to my work and to ensure an equitable and just world for my son and his children is a life-long and intergenerational commitment. Rather than stop my work to focus solely on raising my son, I see it imperative that I include him in my work, opening his perspective and engaging him in human rights and the diverse reality of others. I have chosen a project appropriate for the presence of a young child, as well as one of great significance for the human rights efforts of Nicaragua that I know I can accomplish with my skills and background.

AMF has identified three communities that they currently work on housing projects with as potential “Millennium Villages”: El Menco, Madre De Dios, and Chacaresecca. In the Fall of 2007, they identified El Menco as their top choice, where I will begin the process of assessing and documenting the human rights conditions outlined in the 8 Millennium Goals. While living with a family in the village, I will work with AMF staff and community partners to understand and begin documenting their current efforts, and understand the socio-economic power structures that the community faces when undergoing projects to fight the poverty and injustices in which they are embedded in.

While immersed in the village, and through complete collaboration with community leaders and members, I will examine the state of the village goal by goal, and attempt to produce a report similar to that distributed by the United Nations in 2005, documenting the progress of each of the goals based on their 2015 targets and indicators. AMF will then use this report to determine which areas are a priority for funding and projects, and will set an action plan with it’s targets and indicators for the village to half its poverty by 2015. AMF will work closely with the Millennium Project, which has offered funding and support to assist in these efforts, as well as the wisdom gained by the Villages in Africa. AMF will also outreach to other partners to begin this process village by village throughout Central America.

This Fellowship is a part of a process that I am personally and professionally undergoing to engage more directly in human rights work. Professionally the majority of my work has focused on the environment. In the last few years I have shifted my focus to human rights, in understanding that there is no hope for our future if our basic rights cannot be upheld and honored. I currently direct a national environmental leadership program for youth, entitled Lake Superior Pathfinders (www.northland.edu/pathfinders) and am implementing a social justice curriculum. It is my hope that my experience in Nicaragua will assist me in both my curriculum with youth, but also with my broader goals of working in my community through popular education models to address our needs and our rights.

I am particularly interested in the outcomes of this experience for my local community. In 2005 the City of Ashland passed a resolution to become an Eco-Municipality, becoming the second one in the United States (the first being 6 miles North in Washburn, Wisconsin). A large portion of this resolution addresses social justice by stating “All persons are entitled to "basic human needs", regardless of "superficial differences such as economic disparity, class, gender, race, ethnicity, citizenship, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, or health. This includes the eradication of poverty and illiteracy, the establishment of sound environmental policy, and equality of opportunity for healthy personal and social development” (www.allianceforsustianability.org).

As our local community begins to develop within the framework for Eco-Municipalities, I would like to not only present my experience through the fellowship, but to formalize an international partnership between the Millennium Village in Nicaragua, and the Eco-Municipality in Ashland. As these two villages struggle toward their goals, I believe that much can be learned from their journey. I am a member of Partners of the Americas, whose mission is “to work together as citizen volunteers from Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States to improve the lives of people across the hemisphere.” (www.partners.net) Through this organization, states are partnered with countries to collaborate on projects in Latin America, and provide much needed aid. Nicaragua and Wisconsin have a long partnership, and I would like to formalize the relationship between Ashland and the Millennium Village as “sister cities.”

Through the “sister cities” partnership, the international human rights work of AMF, the United Nations, and the Millennium Village will become integrated into the lives of people in the Midwest as the communities share visions, hopes, struggles, strategies, and build alliances through projects and exchanges. Not only is there the potential for ongoing physical support through direct community to community aid, but there are opportunities for inter-cultural exchanges, collaboration on projects, future volunteer projects, and long-term communication and strategizing to reach our goals.