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IBHS humanitarians reach out to Nicaraguan children. Since their return from the first Thailand Global Leadership and Service Project (GLSP) last spring, Christian Jarquin and Norman Uriarte have been planning a similar project in Nicaragua. Thanks to their efforts, those of other members of the International Business Honor Society (IBHS) and of a host of generous sponsors, the dream for a “Nicaragua December of Dreams Trip to Help Kids” is going to come true.
Twenty-four students have signed up for the NICA GLSP, which will place twelve each in Granada and Managua between December 26, 2005 and January 8, 2006. They will teach the children English and work on other projects at eight schools and orphanages. Many of the children will receive their first shoes, school supplies, and toys. The trip planners also hope to establish educational scholarships for the orphans. With the area damaged by Hurricane Beta, the need has grown even more acute. Grupo TACA is a major sponsor of the project, reducing the airfare for the good Samaritans and donating two tickets that the students can sell to raise money. The students also have gotten extensive media coverage on La Prensa, La Estrella de Nicaragua, and Channel 51.
“Companies have come forward to sponsor a child at $20 a month, given us donations so we can make repairs to the schools, and provided other forms of sponsorships,” Jarquin said. With the trip approaching, participants escalated their efforts to amass the quantity of items they want to distribute—through a local toy marathon; participation in a Nicaragua festival; and a toy and supply competition among the University’s fraternities, sororities, and student organizations. In addition to trying to make the trip an annual event, the organizers are thinking long term. “The children currently make hammocks, arts, and crafts,” Jarquin said. “We thought if we were able to sell the items in the United States, the schools and orphanages would receive more money for the goods than they do in Nicaragua.” To make this new dream the next reality, they will be seeking help to identify contacts, handle logistics, and create distribution channels in the United States. If you can, contact Jarquin at Christian.Jarquin@yahoo.com or Uriarte at nuria001@fiu.edu.
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