This is the Children of the Dump Travel Abroad Course
Hiram College
Interdisciplinary Course INDT 380
Children of the Dump - A Study in Overcoming Poverty Through Grass-Roots EntrepreneurshipItinerary, class schedules, and assignments – Hiram and Nicaragua
Texts:
1. In Focus, Nicaragua, A Guide to the People, Politics, and Culture, 2007 – Plunkett, Hazel NY
2. Jeffrey Sachs (2005) The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our TimeTuesday, October 16, 2007, 121 Hinsdale
Travel information meeting – 6 pm to 7 pmThursday, November 1, 2007
3 hour class: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm - 203 Hinsdale
Introductions, orientation, trip, and course expectations.
Come to class having read:
In Focus, Nicaragua, A Guide to the People, Politics, and Culture, 2007 – Plunkett,
Hazel NY
Paul Farmer, MD (2004) Pathologies of Power -Conclusion (mailed before class)
Richard Selzer, MD Short story Luis (mailed before class)
Supplemental readings handed out in class: poetry and prose by Nicaraguan writers.
Website Articles regarding Nicaragua Micro Finances
Capturing Remittances in Central America
http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=16752
Discussion of short story “Luis.” Initial training for work in Nicaragua.Thursday, November 8, 2007 - 203 Hinsdale
3 hour class: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Come to class having read:Jeffrey Sachs (2005) The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time
Chapter 1- A Global Family Portrait
Chapter 3-Why Some Countries Fail to Thrive
Website Articles regarding Nicaragua Micro Finances
Micro-Finance Loans Made to Micro-Finance FAMA Bank in Nicaragua
http://www.microcapital.org/cblog/index.php?/archives/173-Impulse- Microfinance-Fund-Makes-New-Loans-to-Microfinance-Bank-of-Azerbaijan,-FAMA-Nicaragua,-CRECER-Bolivia,-PADME-Benin,-and-PRASAC-Cambodia.html#extended
Literature handouts given out in class on November 1Discussion of Jeffrey Sach’s reading, continued training for work in Nicaragua.
Thursday, November 15, 2007 - 203 Hinsdale
3 hour class: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Come to class having read:
Jeffrey Sachs (2005) The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time
Chapters: 12 – On-the-Ground Solution for Ending Poverty
Website Articles regarding Nicaragua Micro Finances
Micro-venture Capital: Nicaragua’s Agora
http://www.nextbillion.net/blogs/2006/08/14/micro-venture-capital-nicaraguas-agora
Continued training for work in Nicaragua, instructions for departure.IMPORTANT LINKS
ANF (American Nicaraguan Foundation) Second site Click Here
Hotel Cesar
Hotel Los Volcane
The Barcelo Montelimar Resort Second site Click Here
Rotary Village
Santa Matilde - the village build by the children of the dump's parents
The Children-of-the-Dump school at Chinandega
The Batenia Trade School - for advanced students
The city dump at Chinandega
The fishing village of El Menco on the Great Lake of Nicaragua and Frank Huezo's PowerPoint presentation on El Menco
The Pacific Ocean fishing village of Masachapa
Casitoa Volcano mud slide
The Great Lake of Nicaragua
Rain forest canopy ride
Granada, the oldest city in the Western Hemisphere
Masaya Volcano Tour
Hope and Relief International
A. Tuesday, November 27th, 2007 - SEE MAP BELOW FOR ACTIVITY LOCATIONS CORRESPONDING TO THE LETTERS ASSIGNED TO EACH DAY ON THIS SYLLABUSLeave Cleveland Hopkins Airport for Nicaragua.
From
To
Airline
Flight #
Date
Depart
Arrive
CLE
Houston
Continental
245
11/27/07
12:40 p.m.
2:37 p.m.
Houston
Nicaragua
Continental
1774
11/27/07
3:30 p.m.
6:54 p.m.
Spend the night at the Hotel Cesar, http://www.hotelcesar.com/nuestros.htm
B. Wednesday, November 28th
Breakfast at Hotel Cesar – Pack your bags, we are changing hotels!
Visit the Chinandega dump and the dump shanty town of Limonal.
(Limonal is the slum next to the dump. Many of these people were relocated to Saint Mitilda)
Visit the School of the Dump and pass out Christmas gifts to the children.
Visit Refugio Belen, the shelter for abused women and the Clinic.
Lunch
Visit the Betania Hospital, a 16-bed hospital staffed by rotating volunteer physicians from Canada, United States, and Italy and the St. Lucia School for the Blind.
Dinner at Hotel Los Volcanes
Daily journal entries are to be made.
Spend the night at Hotel Los Volcanes - http://www.losvolcaneshotel.com/informacion.htmC. Thursday, November 29th
Breakfast at Hotel Los Volcanes
Visit the country village of and distribute Christmas gifts to the children and visit Aldeia Rotaria.
Lunch
Tour the Betania Trade School, grades 6-11.
Visit Saint Matilda, give out Christmas gifts to the children.
Study the community farming program of Aldeia Rotaria vs. the individual lot-farming program of Saint Matilda.
Dinner at Hotel Los Volcanes
Group discussion
Daily journal entries are to be made.
Spend the night at Hotel Los Volcanes
http://www.losvolcaneshotel.com/informacion.htmD. Friday, November 30th
Breakfast at Hotel Los Volcanes
Betania Trade School, grades 6-11 - working with kids
Lunch
Visit the port city of Corinto.
Dinner at Hotel Los Volcanes.
Daily journal entries are to be made.
Reading Assignment and Lecture: Jeffrey Sachs (2005) The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time Chapter:17 - Why We Should Do It
Spend the night at Hotel Los VolcanesE. Saturday, December 1st
Breakfast at Hotel Los Volcanes
Work with the students at the Betania Trade School from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Lunch
Visit Volcano mud slide and coffee farm or banana plantation.
http://ineter.gob.ni/geofisica/vol/casita/Casita-Mudflow.htm
http://snrs.unl.edu/amet351/naiman/casita_large.jpg
Reading Assignment and Lecture: Jeffrey Sachs (2005) The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time Chapters: 13-Making the Investments Needed to End Poverty Daily journal entries are to be made.
Spend the night at Hotel Los VolcanesF. Sunday, December 2nd
Breakfast at Hotel Los Volcanes – pack you bags the night before, we are changing hotels!
Work with the students at the Betania Trade School from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Lunch
(ANF) Tour American Nicaraguan Foundation
Additional Afternoon activities to be decided
Travel to Managua
Dinner at Hotel Cesar
Daily journal entries are to be made.
Reading Assignment and Lecture: Jeffrey Sachs (2005) The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time Chapter: 15 - Can the Rich Afford to Help the Poor
Spend the night at the Hotel Cesar, http://www.hotelcesar.com/nuestros.htmG. Monday, December 3rd
Breakfast at Hotel Cesar – pack your bags, we are changing hotels!
Leave for the The Barcelo Montelimar Resort on the Pacific Ocean
http://www.barcelo.com/BarceloHotels/en-GB/Hotels/Nicaragua/PlayaMontelimar/MontelimarBeach/Home.htm?ls=1
Free time, swimming, activities, night entertainment
Lunch at the Montelimar Resort
Daily journal entries are to be made.
Dinner at Montelimar Resort
Spend the night at Montelimar ResortH. Tuesday, December 4th
Breakfast at Montelimar Resort – pack your bags, we are changing hotels!
Leave the Montelimar Resort at
Visit Pacific Ocean fishing Village of Masachapa
Leave for and arrive in Managua
Lunch at resort
Group discussion.
Daily journal entries are to be made.
Spend the night at the Hotel Cesar, http://www.hotelcesar.com/nuestros.htmI. Wednesday, December 5th
Breakfast at Hotel Cesar - 7 AM
Tour the fishing village of El Menco & the Great Lake of Nicaragua
http://www.vianica.com/go/specials/18-lake-nicaragua.html
Work with the villagers from 10:00 am to noon
Meet with the Tie land micro banking representative
Lunch
Masaya Shopping, sightseeing
Dinner at Restaurant overlooking lake
Daily journal entries are to be made.
Spend the night at the Hotel CesarJ. Thursday, December 6th
Breakfast at Hotel Cesar - 7 AM
El Menco, work with the villagers from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Visit Granada, the oldest city in the western hemisphere http://www.granadanicaragua.net/
Lunch at Zajuan Restaurant in Granada
Masaya Volcano Tour (parrots, bats, lava) sightseeing
http://www.vianica.com/activity/2/visiting-masaya-volcano-national-park
Late dinner at Hotel Cesar
Spend the night at the Hotel CesarK. Friday, December 7th
Breakfast at Hotel Cesar
Rain Forest Canopy Tour http://www.mombotour.com/canopytour.html
Lunch - pack a lunch
Rain Forest Canopy Tour
Dinner in Managua to be decided
Daily journal entries are to be made
A group discussion of the final exam consisting of facts, economic concepts, cultural revelations, and insights discovered by the group during our Nicaraguan visit.
Spend the night at the Hotel Cesar – get up at 5:30 am
L. Saturday, December 8th
Leave for Houston, Texas
From
To
Airline
Flight #
Date
Depart
Arrive
Nicaragua
Houston
Continental
1775
12/8/07
7:50 a.m.
11:18 a.m.
Houston
Cleveland
Continental
744
12/8/07
12:50 p.m.
4:45 p.m.
Monday December 10, 2007
3 hour class: 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, 203 Hinsdale
Reading Assignment and Lecture: Jeffrey Sachs (2005) The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time Chapter: 18 – Our Generation’s ChallengeReview experiences, discuss final reflection paper. Take home final exam given.
First 1/2 of student presentations – 15 minutes, 5 minutes for questionsThursday, December 13, 2007
3 hour class: 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, 203 Hinsdale
Second 1/2 of student presentations – 15 minutes, 5 minutes for questions. Cultural observations and differences, effectiveness of efforts to improve family and local economy.Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm Final Class Banquet – Heritage Room in Teachout Price – Families and friends invited
Take-home final exams are due. Reflective papers are due.Testimonial presentations, Photographic presentation of trip.
Students will participate in the English and economics training seminar at the Betania Trade School and will also work with villagers and counselors helping establish micro-business needs in the area.
Discuss what you have seen and experienced over the past 10 days including family unity and culture, national politics, children’s education, role of parents economically, and general hopes and fears for their future.
IMPORTANT TRAVEL LINKS FOR NICARAGUA
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Embassy information about Nicaragua
Information about travel insurance
