Day 12

Esteli. As rural subsistence farmers, many people here have an intimate knowledge of the Earth. They notice the effects of climate change in irregular rain and temperature patterns that damage crops. In a country with limited resources for public sanitation and waste management, they also notice ecological damage in the paper and plastic waste strewn on paths, roads and fields. Unlike wealthy countries, Nicaragua can't easily hide human pollution.  

For a year, Chacrasecans have been converting discarded potato chip bags into purses, and today we got a glimpse of a new recycling effort leaders want to launch here. We traveled to Esteli, a city about two hours away, to learn about it from an organization called Mujeres Ambientalistas (Environmentalist Women). The program began as a project that employed poor single mothers to clean up a dump, started converting garbage into fertilizer, and finally shifted to paper recycling. We observed the process of mixing old paper with plant fibers into pulp that gets molded on a tray, pressed, dried and turned into sheets in a variety of colors as well as artisan bookmarks and journals. Over time, these women have also turned what was once a small environmental disaster into not just a recycling center but also an educational resource, a garden, and a canvas for several murals.  

We have come to know Chacrasecans as advocates for education and economic independence, but they also understand how social issues are totally interrelated with ecological ones.  Want to support? Let me know if you'd like to join us on a future trip, or make a donation at this link.