® Country Overview 2 The NPH Home 4 Visitor’s Guide: Travel Tips 7 Suggested Packing List 9 NPH Nicaragua Contact Information 11 Country Overview Google Guide Sources: The CIA World Factbook, Lonely Planet.com, UNICEF, U.S. Department of State Nicaragua borders both the Caribbean Sea and A Brief History the North Pacific Ocean. Since the arrival of the Europeans in people had been killed in the the early 16th century, and especially revolutionary struggle and 150,000 Area: 49,998 square over the past 100 years, Nicaraguans were made refugees. This, miles – slightly smaller have endured civil wars, brutal compounded with the fact that than the state of New York dictatorships, struggle and hardship. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Even after the country won Salvador caused the U.S. to sponsor Population: 6,085,213 independence from Spain in 1821, a anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas (July 2018 estimate) power vacuum led to civil war. For through much of the 1980s, inevitably decades there was struggle between created further turmoil for Nicaragua conservatives and liberals, and with for the years to come. 1990 brought Languages: Spanish, U.S. involvement, many liberal rebels the first free elections for Nicaragua. were put down. By the 1920s, English and indigenous resistance had been mostly quelled, Nicaragua has a great socio-economic languages on Atlantic Coast the U.S. detracted its presence and the division. A small number of the rich Somoza family dictatorship began its controls most of the wealth while the domination, which would last for more majority of people are immersed in than 50 years. It was finally uprooted poverty. The government is often 40% of the population has in 1979 by the Sadinista revolution. corrupt and the criminal enterprises no access to health care. seem to be on the rise. Many children The Sandinistas inherited a country in are orphaned, abandoned or neglected shambles. Poverty, homelessness, and live a life of malnutrition, begging, illiteracy and staggeringly inadequate stealing, prostitution, and early Climate/Environment health care were just a few of the pregnancies. Interior is covered in widespread problems. Some 50,000 mountains surrounded by both Atlantic and Pacific coasts Serenityweb1/WikiCommons Mostly tropical in the lowlands while there is cooler weather in the highlands Susceptible to earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides and hurricanes Environmental issues include deforestation, soil erosion and water pollution Visitor’s Guide: NPH Nicaragua • nphusa.org 2 NICARAGUA The NPH Home Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH, Spanish for “Our Little Brothers and Sisters”) Nicaragua opened in 1994. Casa Padre Wasson is located on rolling hills of picturesque farmland about 45 minutes from the capital, Managua. More than 140 children live in the 16 family-style homes, complete with a porches, courtyards and cement pathways throughout the property. An additional 200 children from the community attend the NPH school, and/or receive ongoing support. Casa Padre Wasson 1. Entrance 2. Greenhouse 3. Workshops 4. School 1 5. Clinic 3 2 6. Dining hall and kitchen 7. Boys’ homes 8. Office 4 9. Sport Court 10. Girls’ homes 5 6 11. Volunteer and staff homes 12. National Director’s home 8 13. Visitors’ home 7 9 10 11 12 13 200 ft. 100 m Google Visitor’s Guide: NPH Nicaragua • nphusa.org 3 Daily Life Typical Day at Casa Padre Wasson Highlights • A folkloric dance and music group performs locally and in the U.S. 5:30 a.m. Wake up • The farms have a variety of fruits and vegetables, as 5:30 - 7:15 a.m. Get dressed, chores, well as chickens, cows, fish and pigs. breakfast • The wastewater treatment system works without 7:15 a.m. Walk to school electricity or chemicals and the treated water can be 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Classes and workshops used for irrigation of green areas, gardens and 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Lunch together in Ranchon agricultural programs. or in workshops • The Samaritan Project at Casa Samaritano on Ometepe 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Classes and workshops Island and at Casa Padre Wasson provides occupational 5:00 p.m. Chores, homework, and free time 6:00 p.m. Dinner and physical therapy, medical and psychological care, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Homework, free time food baskets and more for special needs children in the 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. Bedtime (depending on community. age group) • The vocational workshops offer certification in shoe- making, sewing, residential electricity, welding, computers, and English. Godchildren • In 2018, a tutoring program was developed for If you sponsor a child at NPH community students who could not travel to school Nicaragua, arrangements will be made because of civil unrest. for him/her to spend time with you during your visit. Please contact your Responsibility regional office if you are interested in Responsibility is one of the most important values that NPH becoming a Godparent. tries to instill in their children. This is why each child is expected to not only be responsible for him or herself, but to contribute to the family. This includes traditional chores such as washing clothes, cleaning, and serving food. Each child also has additional responsibilities after school and during the weekends. Some work in the gardens, while others care for the grounds and clean common areas. Everyone knows how much effort goes into caring for their home and all the people who live there. Every child at NPH Nicaragua is asked to do two years of service: one after 9th grade and another after 11th grade. National Director Marlon Velasquez is an hermano mayor (“older brother”), who was raised at NPH Honduras. Visitor’s Guide: NPH Nicaragua • nphusa.org 4 Travel Tips Please read NPH International’s Visitor Policy and Guidelines, Entry Requirements sign the form and return it to A valid U.S. passport is required to your trip coordinator. Time Zone enter Nicaragua. While a visa is not Central Standard Time required, your passport must remain UTC/GMT -6 hours valid until your return date and you must purchase a tourist card for $10 While on day trips, we will eat in and pay a $2 migration processing fee restaurants where we are sure that (both in cash) upon arrival. Tourist food will be prepared safely. cards are typically issued for 90 days. All visitors are welcome to bring Vaccinations additional snacks to share. Be sure to bring things that can withstand hot When traveling abroad, we Before traveling to Nicaragua, please and humid conditions and preferably recommend enrolling in consult your physician and visit are individually wrapped. the U.S. Department of www.cdc.gov/travel State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program Transportation Water DRINK BOTTLED WATER ONLY. (STEP). This free service • For group trips organized by This cannot be stressed enough. helps the U.S. government NPH USA, transportation will be know where citizens are, provided by NPH. so they can notify and • Do NOT hitchhike under any Bathroom Etiquette It is not possible to flush toilet paper assist them in case of circumstances. in most Latin American countries due emergency. To enroll, visit to the poor plumbing systems. Toilet http://step.state.gov/step Accommodations Lodging varies depending on trip paper and all sanitary products must package. See specific trip information be thrown in small waste baskets next or consult the coordinator for details. to the toilet. DO NOT flush toilet paper or sanitary products while Food visiting the NPH home. The goal of the trip is to While at NPH facilities, we will eat Bring travel toilet paper, or a small have fun, experience the just like the children and staff at packet of facial tissues on day trips. culture of Nicaragua and specific mealtimes: Tissue is not always available in meet the inspiring public bathrooms. children of NPH. Each • Breakfast: 5:30 a.m. traveler has so much to • Lunch: 1:30 p.m. share with this great • Dinner: 6:30 p.m. Electricity Electrical outlets are the same as the family and so much to U.S.: 120 volt, 60 hertz, so no learn. We hope that each Food at NPH is NEVER wasted. If you adapters are needed. You should visitor grows from their are unsure you will like what is being expect power outages, which are interactions with the served, ask for only “un poquito” (a common in Latin America. children we support, just little), and if you cannot finish, as your visit helps them please offer it to one of the kids. to do the same. Visitor’s Guide: NPH Nicaragua • nphusa.org 5 Travel Tips (continued) Terms to Know E-mail & Phones See page 9 for Good morning/afternoon/evening! - There are nearby Internet cafés for emergency contact ¡Buenos días/tardes/noches! e-mail and phone calls. information. See you later! - ¡Hasta luego! How are you? - ¿Cómo está? Clothing PLEASE DO NOT Fine, thank you. - Bien, gracias. Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes give children your Please - Por favor are a must! The days are warm, so light address, e-mail or Excuse me - Permiso clothing – shorts, slacks, cotton phone number Do you speak English? - ¿Habla inglés? T-shirts, sandals and/or running shoes even if you are Yes - Sí – is appropriate. their sponsor. No - No Thank you - Gracias Keep in mind to dress conservatively You’re welcome - De nada and in a tidy manner. Please do not wear anything torn, How old are you? - ¿Cuántos años tiene? too short or provocative. If you have any piercings other How much is this? - ¿Cuánto es? than ears, please take them out during your visit. If you More - más have any tattoos, please keep them covered.