Nicaragua March Intensive: Changing Lives

Full Nicaragua Group
Photo courtesy of Conrad Koehler

Andrew Kazel working with a local to file down tiles.
Photo courtesy of Conrad Koehler

Every year there are a few March Intensives that fill up extremely quickly. The Bridges to Community: Building a Home in Nicaragua trip is one of the few that will usually fill up in the first week of signups. This year I was lucky enough to be one of the 14 students who participated in learning about people of Nicaragua and aiding in the building of a cement house. The trip granted my fellow peers and I an education and experience that would never be possible to replicated in a Hanover High School classroom. The trip transformed my beliefs about helping other people and the impact one person can have on an entire community.

The Nicaraguan trip for me will be something that I remember and cherish forever, especially the friendships and bonds that I created with the other students on the trip and the locals in the El Comején community. Our group was able to work with a few skilled masons and completely change the future lives of two families. On the grander scheme we were able to change the lives of everyone in the community. The house will be partially payed for by the family with the money going into a community found that will help finance community projects and development.

I am now a different person then I was before the trip and am thinking about how in my future I can help make an impact on people all over the world. I implore everyone to try and participate in a service trip because it will change your views and possible your future ambitions.

Ben Coats and Abby Smith with one of the Community Members in front of the completed house.
Photo courtesy of Conrad Koehler