Today we left Selve Negra and headed out to Kilambe. In Jinotega we connected with a representative from CEPAD, the organization that is overseeing the work being done in the seven communities of Kilambe.
When we arrived in Maleconcito and there was a large reception waiting for us. We met in the school and each of us took turns introducing ourselves and stating our objectives for the trip. Then the president of CEPAD spoke and one leader representing each community. Two of the 12 people that spoke were women and they mentioned that gender equity is one of their goals with this project as Nicaragua is traditionally a strongly male dominated culture. One of the women even owns a farm in her own name, which is apparently an unconventional situation.
They also spoke about some of the issues they would like to address in addition to that which were namely water quality and the condition of the schools. Currently only a small percentage of students attend school, some have to walk four miles to get there. The absence of a clinic has also meant a high rate of death under five from dysentery and many of the mothers die giving birth.
Tomorrow Katie and I are going in separate groups. I will be testing both the water from the river in Maleconcito, which is used by about half of the community for drinking water, and Katie is going to head into four different communities to complete health assessments in the school and meet with representatives from each of those communities.
Thanks,
Heather and Katie
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