Our third distribution today was held on the shores of the Pacific at
Playa Poncloya - just on the outskirts of historic Leon. As we arrived
at the site, I was reminded how our
work is not only dependent on the volunteers on our team but,
importantly, so dependent on a large legion of volunteers on the ground
here in Nicaragua. We have now worked with two Rotary Club partners -
our host partner the Managua club and, today, the Leon
club. Today we worked with an impressive team of young Rotaract
volunteers - all students in their late teens - who probably had other
ideas about what to do on hot sunny day by a beautiful beach besides
assembling and slinging bedkits and helping the 400
children who received them through today's process. And yet they worked
unflinchingly in somewhat challenging logistical circumstances to help
us all accomplish our shared goal. The sense of service and commitment
to others that these young people are developing
in this type of work will serve them and their country well as they
cope with the challenges of the future.
After our distribution was complete, we had the opportunity as a
team to visit two homes of children who had received bedkits today. This
"brought it all home" for us as well. Handing out bedkits to smiling
children is one thing. Seeing where they will
be used and the primitive beds they will be replacing is another thing
all together. As volunteers and donors ourselves, we all left with an
entirely different perspective on the changes that SCAW's donors can
bring to a child's life. And we left with big
smiles on our faces too. We wish the children of Playa Poncloya dulce suenos (sweet dreams) on their first night in their new beds.
Team Nicaragua 2013
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