Nicaragua: Wednesday in Matagalpa

Busy student trip - packed with social time as most organized trips are so I definitely won't be blogging much.

Yesterday we spent the morning at the main school where kids with all kinds of disabilities begin their program here. Each kid has individual goals. For some, the goal is to learn the basic things they need to transition to a regular school. Because all the kids have behavior problems, simple things like sitting at a table with other kids are a huge emphasis. For others, they hope to move on to the more advanced vocational and therapy programs associated with the school.

The boy I was paired up with, Maguelito, has multiple disabilities including severe autism. We weren't very successful at sitting at the table for more than a few minutes, but I found that he really enjoyed flying around the playground like an airplane together, that he could get himself going on the swings without help, and that although he spent a lot of time pushing people away from him, he also liked hugs and even gave me a few kisses before the morning was done.

In the afternoon we visited the program for older girls and women with mental disabilities, where 17 young women get physical and psychiatric therapy, socialization, meds, job training and much affection so they can become independent enough to support themselves.

At the end of the day, it was great to hear all the reflections of our college students who, to a person, sincerely felt they (we) had learned more from the people we've met here so far than they from us. That's the attitude sister Rebecca began here with too - not thinking she was coming to Nicaragua to help people, but to have them show her how she could facilitate them helping themselves, and she has learned a lot from them along the way.

Today we will meet with the mother-leaders from each of the barrios of Matagalpa and have a little celebration, then tomorrow we are off to Molocucu, a 6-hour ride into the countryside, where another SND is working with the rural kids.


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