This document provides information about an international learning exchange trip to Nicaragua planned for September 2012. It includes details about the schedule, locations to be visited, collaborators and organizations in Nicaragua, and costs. The goal is for educators to learn first-hand about rural outreach approaches in Nicaragua and develop international collaborations to address complex problems through an interdisciplinary network. Locations include San Ramon, El Chile, Leon, Masaya, and Granada to visit cooperatives, women's groups, and universities working in areas like agroecology, food sovereignty, and microenterprises.

1. NICARAGUA | SEPTEMBER 2012
May 2012
Paul Treadwell

2. • First-hand experience of how rural outreach/extension
agencies in a foreign culture address issues similar to
those that New York faces.
• Development of a multi-disciplined Extension Educator
network that will work together in the future to provide
interdisciplinary solutions to complex problems.
• Opportunity for Educators to learn about themselves in
relation to other global citizens and return home with
renewed enthusiasm to develop innovative Extension
programs
• Enhancement of Cooperative Extension’s ability to make
informed decisions that strengthen youth, families and
communities, sustain natural resources, and improve the
economy.
BENEFITS OF INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES

3. • There are a number of factors contributing to our
selection of Nicaragua as the environment for
our international learning activity:
– Active connections to non-profits working in
Nicaragua
– Connection to the National University of Nicaragua
– Ease of access and relatively low cost of travel
WHY NICARAGUA ?

4. GEOGRAPHY
Approximately the size of New
York State.
3 zones –
Pacific Lowlands
Central Highlands
Caribbean Lowlands

5. ECONOMY
• coffee, beef, gold, sugar, shrimp
and lobster, industrial goods.
• 2nd poorest country in the
Americas

6. A LITTLE HISTORY
• 1821 – Independence from Spain
• 1849 – Railway and Canal Treaty
• 1856 William Walker
• Somoza Regime 1936-1979
• July 1979 – Sandinista revolution

7. U.S. INTERVENTIONS IN NICARAGUA
1907-1990
• 1907 - U.S. war ships take possession of Fonseca Gulf.
• 1910 - : U.S. troops impose a puppet government
• 1912-33 - U.S. military assistance requested to control
civil unrest.
• 1934 - Sandino successfully expels U.S. armed forces
from Nicaragua. The U.S. withdraws, leaving Nicaraguan
military officer, Anastasio Somoza as Commander of the
National Guard.
• 1981-90 – The Contra war

8. WILLIAM WALKER
• 1856 – “President” of Nicaragua
– Invited to Nicaragua during civil war
– Took power, recognized by President Pierce as
legitimate governor of Nicaragua.
– Torched Granada during retreat.

9. SANDINO
• U.S Military occupation of Nicaragua, 1927-33
• Sandino fought against the occupation, propagated a
Nationalist ideology
• Betrayed after negotiations with Sacasa (president) to
lay down arms
– Assassinated By the National Guard
• Commanded by Anastasio Somoza Garcia

10. Somoza and sons
1936-1979

11. THE SANDINISTA REVOLUTION
July 1979

12. A LITTLE CULTURE
• A nation of poets
• Christian – largely Catholic with an increase in
evangelical
• Mostly mestizo, except:
• Caribbean coast - English influence
– 3 main indigenous languages and identities
• Gallo Pinto

13. Ruben Dario
FATALITY
The tree is happy because it is scarcely sentient;
the hard rock is happier still, it feels nothing:
there is no pain as great as being alive,
no burden heavier than that of conscious life.
To be, and to know nothing, and to lack a way,
and the dread of having been, and future
terrors...
And the sure terror of being dead tomorrow,
and to suffer all through life and through the
darkness,
and through what we do not know and hardly
suspect...
And the flesh that temps us with bunches of cool
grapes,
and the tomb that awaits us with its funeral
sprays,
and not to know where we go,
nor whence we came!...

14. 2011-2012 TRIPS WITH STUDENTS
January 2012 Learning Exchange to Nicaragua.

15. COFFEE, CRAFTS AND CULTURE
January 2012 Learning Exchange to Nicaragua.

16. LEARNING THROUGH EXPERIENCE
• We do not “serve”, this is
not service learning.
• Collaborative learning
model evolved from
discussions in Nicaragua.
• Focus on activities and
experiences to build
solidarity
International solidarity is "not an act of charity but an act of unity between allies fighting on
different terrains toward the same objectives." - Samora Machel

18. 2011 LEARNING EXCHANGE

19. WHY A LEARNING EXCHANGE?
• We wanted to
shift the model of
“service”
learning.
• Collaborative
learning model
evolved from
discussions in
Nicaragua.

21. SEPTEMBER 2012 EXTENSION TRIP
September 07 – 16th, 2012

22. September 7, 2012: Managua
Arrive at the Sandino International Airport in Managua. First night spent at Best
Western. Introduction to Nicaragua, General discussion of expectations,
activities and schedule.
September 8: Travel to San Ramon
Morning departure for San Ramon with a stop in Matagalpa to change money,
possible visit to Museum of Coffee, Lunch and Biblioteca La Chsipa. Arrive San
Ramon in the afternoon, meet host families, settle in. After dinner with host
families convene at Planting Hope office.
September 9 Cooperatives and Sustainability
Breakfast with host families, meet for travel to La Pita. From La Pita to La
Hermandad (coffee cooperative). Meet members to discuss coffee production,
visit projects on the finca related to sustainability, eco-tourism.Return San
Ramon and dinner with host families
September 10 – San Ramon CAN and UCA – youth and cooperatives in
promoting community food sovereignty
Community Agroecology Network and UCA San Ramon – field visit to a
cooperative, afternoon discussion of collaborative possibilities, potential project
development. Focus on the role of youth and cooperatives in promoting
community food sovereignty in the communities in the municipality.
Tentative Schedule – September 7 – September 16, 2012

23. September 11 Microenterprise, Women and Economic Development
Breakfast with host families, meet for travel to El Chile. Visit Tejido Indigena El
Chile (weavers) and others in the community. Return to San Ramon for lunch.
Afternoon meeting with Colectivo Mujeres Ecologistas and others.
September 12 – Travel to Leon
Depart San Ramon. Possibility of visit to El Sauce for microenteprise and youth
development tour and discussion(Connection with SUNY Geneseo program).
Arrive Leon in the afternoon and meet with participants/potential collaborators
from UNAN Leon (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua)
September 13 – Leon
UNAN Leon and region – community development
September 14 –Masaya | Granada
Morning travel to Masaya Market. Afternoon arrival in Granada.
September 15 – Granada
Laguna de Apoyo – unwinding, preparation for return home. Evening final group
discussion, exploration of future work, reflections.
September 16
Travel to Managua Airport-return home
Tentative Schedule – September 7 – September 16, 2012

24. Collaborators in Nicaragua

25. SAN RAMON
September 8-11

27. HOMESTAYS

28. LA HERMANDAD
September 9

29. EL CHILE
September 11

30. LEON
September 12 and 13

31. GRANADA
September 14-15

33. • Lodging - $400.00
• Food - $250.00
• Transportation - $350.00
• In country staff assistance - $100.00
• Coordination / Misc costs -$250.00
• Total for 9 days - $1350.00
• If we exceed 10 participants, cost will be reduced to
$1250.00
• Current (May 04, 2012) Flight cost from LaGuardia (NYC) to
Managua - $570.00 ($600.00 from Syracuse)
THE COST
(Not including airfare)

34. • Paul Treadwell
– pt36@cornell.edu
• More about San Ramon
– http://learninginsolidarity.wordpress.com/san-
ramon/
QUESTION AND MORE INFO