Template:AAG active project EWB SFSU has taken on this project and will be traveling to Morrito on Aug 1st 2008. We are looking for people who want to help and translators in particular, so if you are interested, contact me david.reber (talk · contribs)

Background Materials

this PDF has some background information on Morrito

This pdf also has descriptions for several projects available.

Proposed Itinerary

Aug 2nd - half of us fly to Managua Nicaragua. And drive/bus/taxi to the American Hotel in Leone where we will stay for the week and help out at the Whirlwind facilities.

Aug 2-8 Make contacts at the local universities, take Spanish classes, visit USAID office, Peace Corps office, Seeds of Learning, Whirlwind Wheelchair International, etc.

Aug 9th - The other half of us including Elena (our translator) land in Managua.

Aug 10th - take the ferry to Morrito

Aug 10-20 - conduct the activities listed below in Morrito

Aug 20 - return to Granada

Aug 21 - fly back from Managua.

Morrito Activities

We are conducting this trip in order to get to know the people of Nicaragua and assess what projects we might be able to conduct and how we might be able to help.

specific activities

  • Conduct Sanitary Survey - There was a well drilled several years ago by an NGO but the water in it is acidic and yellow so we will be taking samples and surveying the facilities to see if we can fix the problem.
  • how do Nicaraguans use water? Do they boil it? do they use water cachment? how far must they go to get it? Bathing? Washing cloths?
  • The EPA has a manual for conducting sanitary surveys we should think about following. Also, as content produced by federal employees, this manual has no copyright and you can help by porting it to appropedia if you have the free time.
  • Learn about construction techniques - there are 10 schools in the region which are constructed of dirt floors and thatch roofs. If we are to construct a school, we must design it with local construction techniques and materials. We will need to determine what these techniques and materials are.
  • Talk to the local government. It is important that the choice of projects be collaborative. By asking what we can do for them, it is more likely that our project will be valued and maintained after we leave and we will receive more support in conducting the project.
  • The community has voiced the desire for a library. This sounds like a really good idea and if we could get that library on the internet, it would be the first internet connection in the community.
  • Arrange contacts. Whatever project we eventually take on, it will be very important to have strong contacts that we can contact for whatever questions we have.
  • Whirlwind wheelchair has also invited us to tour their facilities which are a 4 hour ($0.50US) bus ride from Granada.

Things to bring

  • gifts
  • post cards from your home town
  • shorts (it's hot)
  • paper (for writing)
  • flash lights (power in Morrito is intermittent)
  • shirts and hats with western logos
  • acidophilus
  • Food - we will need to obtain all of the food we will need in Morrito ourselves. We will probably take as much as we can carry on the boat and then hire a truck to go to the closest market a few days in.

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Costs

Plane tickets to Nicaragua are around $586 (as of May 17) and in country costs shouldn't get beyond $40/day. You are responsible directly for

  • Plane tickets
  • Travel Insurance
  • Food

The following costs will be reported to the trip treasurer and divided evenly at the end of the trip

  • Lodging
  • Long distance transportation

Proposed hotels

Ralf H of whirlwind wheelchair (whom we will probably be visiting in Nicaragua) has recommended American Hotel in Leone.

Proposed Flights

WARNING: NO ONE HAS ACTUALLY BOUGHT ANY TICKETS YET, SO IT WOULD BE HASTY FOR YOU TO, THESE ARE PROPOSED FLIGHTS

those leaving on the 2nd of August will take this flight

San Francisco to Managua
Flight 1 Saturday, August 02, 2008
Departure: 01:10 San Francisco, USA - San Francisco International, terminal I
Arrival: 07:40 San Salvador, El Salvador - Comalapa International
Airline: Taca Intl Airlines TA563 e
Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A320-100/200
Change of plane required. Time between flights = 1:00

Flight 2 Saturday, August 02, 2008
Departure: 08:40 San Salvador, El Salvador - Comalapa International
Arrival: 09:35 Managua, Nicaragua - Augusto C Sandino
Airline: Taca Intl Airlines TA360 e
Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A321

those joining on the 9th will take this flight

San Francisco to Managua
Flight 1 Saturday, August 09, 2008
Departure: 01:10 San Francisco, USA - San Francisco International, terminal I
Arrival: 07:40 San Salvador, El Salvador - Comalapa International
Airline: Taca Intl Airlines TA563 e
Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A320-100/200
Change of plane required. Time between flights = 1:00

Flight 2 Saturday, August 09, 2008
Departure: 08:40 San Salvador, El Salvador - Comalapa International
Arrival: 09:35 Managua, Nicaragua - Augusto C Sandino
Airline: Taca Intl Airlines TA360 e
Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A321

Everyone would return on this flight

Managua to San Francisco
Flight 1 Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Departure: 12:05 Managua, Nicaragua - Augusto C Sandino
Arrival: 13:15 San Salvador, El Salvador - Comalapa International
Airline: Taca Intl Airlines TA7716 e
Aircraft: Aerospatiale/Alenia ATR 42/72
Operated by TACA INTL
Change of plane required. Time between flights = 5:30

Flight 2 Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Departure: 18:45 San Salvador, El Salvador - Comalapa International
Arrival: 23:35 San Francisco, USA - San Francisco International, terminal I
Airline: Taca Intl Airlines TA562 e
Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A320-100/200

Contact

Leave a comment on the talk page with your contact info and we will get back to you shortly.

Read More

As your research leads you to interesting Nicaragua sites, post them here.

Misc Notes

  • mail takes 8-10 days
  • It will be very hot and humid with frequent showers while we are down there.
  • when the peace corps sends people, they get the following shots, and I suggest we follow suit.
  • Flu shot
  • Typhoid shot
  • rabies shots
  • malaria pills
  • NOBEL has been recommended as a good calling card to use when contacting Nicaragua

People Attending

Note: a question mark means this person has expressed interest but hasn't committed

Questions

  • Will we have access to ATMs? Travelers Checks? US Dollars? Credit Cards?
  • Should those of us going on the first attend spanish classes in country
  • Might the Peace Corps be interested in collaborating with us? Note: I tried to find contact information for the Nicaraguan Peace Corps office and had no luck - feel free to pitch in here
  • should we rent a house for the first week in Aug?
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