Day 3: Market Challenges Are The Best Type Of Challenges

       Our 3^rd day in Managua was a hard-working blast! We had a full day of working at the Clinic, a seminar at JHC ( Jubilee House Committee ), guiding ourselves through the streets of Ciudad Sandino for a market challenge, and playing with the boys of “Los Leones”. The day started off with us heading to the Nueva Vida Clinic to finish what we started on day two. While others were working at the Clinic, Destiny and I had the opportunity to work with the toddlers of Nueva Vida at their school. Walking into the pre-school, we were greeted with hugs by the little ones. Destiny and I had the job of weighing and taking the height of each child. After we took their measurements, they would go to the JHC volunteer to get their ears, teeth and hearts examined. The purpose of this checkup was for the clinic. Each year the clinic goes back to the students to do the exact same thing, with the exact same kids to see if differences are made between their teeth, weights, heights and hearts. This experience was such an eye opener for Destiny and me. Seeing kids at the age of six who already had rotten teeth or who are under/over weight and the implications that it may have for them in the future was something I will remember forever. We have already learned so much about malnutrition and diabetes that I know these issues are devastating and so prevalent in this community. But I will also remember the smiles they left with me.

            After working with children, we met up with the rest of the group to go eat lunch JHC. Right after lunch we had a in depth discussion with Mark Lester about the politics, economics and history of Nicaragua. It was very interesting to hear and learn about the past events that happened in Nicaragua, and how they have affected Nicaragua today. 

           Next, we headed to the markets of Ciudad Sandino for a market challenge! Students were divided into three groups and given 200 Cordobas (which is about US$7). With this money, we quickly learned that this is the amount of money an average school teacher in Nicaragua would have for disposable income for food each month for a family of four (one adult and 3 children). The students' challenge was to buy a week’s worth of groceries using the money given: beans, rice, oil, fruit, vegetables, sugar, salt, cornmeal, fruits and vegetables. Most students didn’t get very far in the challenge. After buying rice and beans most groups had already ran out of money. Students could bargain with street vendors asking for a discount. Making sure to tell them that the food being bought would be going to a family in need. Many groups decided to add in a few extra cordobas to assure the donations to the families in need received a full week of necessary food. 

            We ended our day playing with the “Los Leones," a group of boys ages about 6-14. Los Leones is a community group of boys who are at risk. The goal of Los Leones is to encourage boys to go to school and to keep them active and busy in their free time. Students were divided into different groups with about 5-10 kids per group. We did a series of actives that allowed us to get to know them a bit more. Overall today was a day full of eye opening experiences that allowed us to change our mindsets and see how hard life is in Nicaragua. Yet the people continue to have smile on their faces.