Local students from St Olaf (in Northfield, Minnesota) recently went to Nicaragua to take health surveys of the local population in Jalapa, Nicaragua. I think this closely ties to what we hope to see through our own organization, Bright New Ideas. We hope to build awareness of the situation in Nicaragua. Many of the students traveling there had their first experiences with poverty.

“Student Polina Bugayev ‘10 says seeing the poverty and need in Jalapa put her own problems and worries into perspective. The pride community members there took in what little they have also touched her.

“‘I saw people empowered and encouraged by someone just taking the time to listen to their problems, beliefs, goals and dreams,’ adds Bugayev.”

Make sure to read more about what their goals were in Nicaragua by reading this article.