Preparing visitors to Nicaragua

1. Preparing visitors to Nicaragua

2. Aims of this workshop: To explain why the Education Pack was developed To give an outline of the pack’s workshops To try out one or two of the excercises

3. Overall outcomes of the Education Pack Have an understanding of historical, political, social and economic issues facing Nicaragua and Esteli Have skills and knowledge for living day-to-day in Nicaragua and Esteli in particular Have skills and knowledge to be able to report back in the UK on experiences in Esteli in particular Develop an awareness of their role as visitors from a country of the North to a country of the South and from Sheffield to Esteli in particular Achieve knowledge and understanding of the ways in which the sister cities participate in solidarity work in Esteli

4. Outline Workshop 1 Nicaraguan history, politics and society. Workshop 2 Living in Nicaragua & Nicaraguan Society Workshop 3 Work of the sister cities with Estelí Workshop 4 Practical preparation for a stay in Estelí

5. Materials in the workshops

6. Example plan WORKSHOP 1 – Introduction to Nicaragua Outcomes 1. Have an understanding of the political, economic and social issues facing Nicaragua and Estelí Develop a framework for interpreting the information Plan 1. General 1.1. Facilitator introduces self and explains why they are enthused about Nicaragua - 5 mins 1.2. Ice-breaker - ensure everyone knows each other - 15 mins 1.3. General overview: general aims and objectives; quick description of each Session. Ask if there is anything else they want included - 5-10 mins 2. Geography 2.1 Facilitator presents slides and pictures - 5 mins 2.2 Land, people and climate - 10 mins 3. History 3.1 Up to Somoza - time line sheet with world events; cards with Nicaraguan events on and students fit these to timeline - 10 mins 3.2 Facilitator links in with Esteli - 10 mins 4. Politics 4.1 Facilitator shows pictures and elicits responses/interpretations - 5 mins 4.2 Facilitator tells story of revolution - 10 mins 5. Economics 5.1 Facilitator asks what factors participants think affect Nicaraguan Economy - 5 mins 5.2 Talk about 3 or 4 major factors and then give handout - 5 mins

8. Discussion scenarios from workshop 2 a) New arrival You are taken to a house where you will be staying while you are in Estelí. You have been looking forward to this; on arrival, you find that no-one is particularly interested in talking with you. You have prepared your Spanish phrases carefully and are disappointed that they are not talking to you much. The TV is on and everyone is watching that. Later that evening, you find that they are talking about you. The neighbours have come in to take a look at you. One person asks you a question, but that is about all, and they don’t appear particularly interested in your answer. b) Washbag (if you are a woman) After a few days, you have settled down a little and you feel that you and they have got used to being with each other, and you even have chats in the afternoons. One day, you come home to find that your underwear is out on the kitchen table. The girls in the family ask you if this is really what you wear, and if this is what everyone wears in your country. You are embarrassed. Then they show you the washbag which they have found in your rucksack containing tampons & condoms. They ask you why you are carrying them and if you use them regularly. They also ask about a (personal & private) letter that they have found.

9. c) Girlfriend If you are a man: After a few days, you have settled down a little and you feel that you and they have got used to being with each other, and you even have chats in the afternoons. One day you come home to find that a packet of condoms that you had in your rucksack is out on the table, and next to it is a photo of your girlfriend that you thought was in your wallet. The two young men in the house ask you if you have sex with your girlfriend often, and ask you if you always use a condom. d) Money You have been in the family’s house for a while now, and have got quite used to the chickens coming in, to the dusty floors and the noise of the TV in the evening when you are trying to sleep. You are beginning to trust the people in the family. One afternoon, you go to have a shower (bucket in a hut in the patio of the house), taking all the things with you that you need, and leaving your bag on the bed. Later that day you realise that money is missing from your bag, around $100. You don’t know what to do about this; you can’t believe that it is your family, and you don’t know who else it could be. e) European Visit You are working in Estelí on behalf of the twin towns. You are volunteering and helping to organise a visit from some of Estelí’s children to Europe. The funding is from one of the European towns which is a real opportunity for the children going, as it only happens every 4 or 5 years. You have heard that there is a special selection process for this trip but are unsure of the exact details as they are being arranged by a local group. When you see the final list of children, you see that one child from each of the organising group is among those chosen to go.

10. f) Dancing (If you are a woman) You are out dancing to a club with a group of friends and one man. When the women friends decide to go home, you are still keen to carry on dancing & it is the first time you have been out to a club in Nicaragua. The man offers to stay with you and you carry on dancing & drinking, chatting to other people for an hour or so. When you decide it is time for you to go home, you find a taxi & he gets in even though you know he lives just around the corner from the club. g) Attraction (If you are a man) You have met a friend of the family who you really like and are very attracted to. She is also clearly attracted to you and you are both enjoying each others’ company a lot. You feel as though you have never felt this way before about a woman and you want to make the most of the opportunity. h) Animals You are walking s=down the street and you see a group of men throwing big stones at a scraggy dog. You hate cruelty to animals. What should you do? i) Laughing In the park you see a group of Nicaraguans making fun of someone who has a learning difficulty. They are taunting him, jeering and laughing. What should you do?

12. Example pictures for discussion