Jeanine Stewart Lupisella '87/ MS '92 was part of a group of SUNY Geneseo alumni, staff, students and friends and supporters who raised money to open the first elementary school in Las Minitas, Nicaragua. The family spent a month there building the school. They share their experiences living and working

1. Jeanine Stewart Lupisella ’87/ MS ’92 and her family spent a month in El Sauce helping to build
an elementary school and celebrated its grand opening Feb. 11, 2012. Here are some of their
experiences living with families and working with the community.

2. Las Minitas, School Construction
Las Minitas is a small mountain community outside of El Sauce. Residents lobbied the
government for four years to obtain a permanent teacher for their children in elementary
school. First, the teacher taught in a yard. Fathers then used salvaged wood to build a shelter.
Geneseo alumni, staff, students and many members of the public and friends raised more than
$11,000 to build a permanent school.

3. The10-mile ride from El Sauce
to Las Minitas took over an
hour due to the steep incline
and rough terrain.

4. A small truck was used to ferry
people, materials and supplies
to the top of the mountain.

5. The school that was replaced was
a simple structure made of wood
beams and an aluminum roof.

6. The school had a dirt floor, a
dilapidated white board, and
desks in need of repair.

7. The new school was built upon the
old school. The old school structure
was utilized for shade as long as
possible.

8. Rebar was used to reinforce
the concrete columns and
support beams.

9. Four lengths of rebar were joined
together using rectangular
supports, and then tied together
using metal twist ties.

12. The first week was devoted to digging
the foundation and constructing the
rebar supports for the concrete
columns.

14. All the water used during
construction came from a
nearby well.

15. The water was pumped
through a long hose and
then carried in buckets
up to the building site.

17. Water was used to soak
the bricks before they
were laid down.

18. Everyone of all ages helped bring the bricks from the brick pile to the masons.

21. Once the foundation was
completed, the brick walls
went up rather quickly.

23. Throughout construction, the walls
needed to be kept moist. Water was
poured over the walls frequently.

25. Once the wall was a specified height, concrete was
then poured down chutes to create the main support
beams.

29. Special care was taken to prepare
the wall in the front of the school.

32. Sand, stone and cement were
used to make concrete and
mortar.

40. Digging the school’s latrine
took more than two days to
reach the correct depth.

42. After leaving Nicaragua, the
floor, roof, windows and doors
were installed.

45. Before
After

46. Before
After

50. At the grand opening
ceremony on Feb. 11, 2012,
the students were immediately
drawn to the new books which
were on the shelves.
Volunteers were able to outfit
the school with books, wall
maps and other resources
often not available in schools.

52. Everyone celebrating the grand opening, which included
speeches, performances and a skit.

53. El Sauce
We lived with Alida in the village of El Sauce when
we were not in Minitas constructing the school. She
is one of several host families with whom Geneseo
students and volunteers stay with during service-
learning and academic trips. At night, we attended
the English class organized by Geneseo.

70. Las Minitas

91. The School Promotion Ceremony
Families in Las Minitas celebrated promotion from
first grade while we were in Nicaragua. We were
excited to join in the event, and the community
party that community leader Gustavo Martinez
held. It was the final event held in the old school
before the shelter was torn down and replaced.
Kids used to have to walk to another settlement to
attend classes.

105. Coffee Production
Members of the Los Altos de Ocotal cooperative who are
building tourism in El Sauce are mainly subsistence
farmers, growing enough to eat for their families. They
also raise coffee and live in the traditional way – no
electricity or machine-based production. Everything is
hand harvested, roasted, ground and bagged.