Create Lasting Change in Nicaraguan Villages

The Villagers truly a​re the "Poorest of the Poor"

Most of the 70 Villagers of Wascatan sleep on dirt floors or take turns on a few make shift hammocks. Infants are placed in used fruit boxes or beer cases. The Elderly sleep on planks of wood raised off the ground. As darkness approaches they situate themselves into 5 cramped Huts. These Huts don't have doors or windows. Some don't have complete roofs or walls. They are pieced together with scraps of tin, wood & cardboard. Indoor plumbing and running water are not available. The kitchen, dining area and bathroom are located outside. Life is lived outdoors (rain or shine, day or night) for these Villagers.

Electricity does not exist here. Villagers manage without refigeration for food storage, A/C for comfort, washing machines for laundry, power to run tools, lights for security or to enhance night time activities. Walking, Horse or Bicycle are the only modes of transportation to transport villagers to school, hospital, hardware or grocery store.

Yes, life is difficult but consider life in the Jungle. Night temperatures hover in the 90's. The humidity in the Jungle is insufferable. Swarms of Zancudos (Mosquitoes) carrying Malaria & Dengue Fever attack at night during the rainy season (June - November). A more imposing flying mammal, the Desmodontinaes (Vampire Bats), drain the blood from Cows, Dogs and small Children if left unattended. There is ever present danger in the jungle. Oversized, black, hairy spiders called Pica-Caballo (Tarantulas) inject flesh rotting venom that can eat through a Horse's hoof. 11 varieties of Venomous Snakes, 2 varieties of Scorpion, giant boa constrictors and iguanas roam the jungle floor. 6 varieties of man eating jungle cat exist in the Nicaraguan Jungle. Fear is natural but it has become a way of life for the Villagers of Wascatan.

Their food source varies according to what nature provides. Trips to the grocery store are dangerous and made impossible by distance, rocky roads and by 3 treacherous high water rivers crossings. It took the N.A.T.I.V.E Team 2.5 hours to reach the village in a 4x4 truck equipt with an underwater snorkle.

Young girls and boys walk in the dark through the jungle to attend Mass. It is a 2 hour trek each way resulting in them arriving back to the village at midnight. Their School is 2 hours in the other direction, however, it's only a short 5 minute walk from the N.A.T.I.V.E facility in La Trinidad. Our future plans would compliment and encourage students to travel to school by providing a "Interdenominational" House of Worship, a Shelter or Rest-stop with refreshments and After School activities in the purposed Classroom & Athletic Field. The parents of the village children could accompany their kids to school and find work at the N.A.T.I.V.E facility while their children receive an education. A Farming Co-operative is underway, 6 acres of farm land will be dedicated to the villagers to learn practicle & sustainable farming techniques while providing the villagers food to eat. 100% of the produce from the land is certified Organic. The farm has maintained the Certified Organic Seal for 18 years straight, since 1996. We believe in Fair Trade which offers wages equal to work preformed. In addition there will be a market place setup for villagers to sell excess produce and handmade goods.

Our goal is to offer Wascatan and it's 47 sister villages life giving bare essentials, life saving necessities, vocational training as well as employment opportunities while preserving their culture.

Can you possibly imagine you or your family surviving without these "Modern Conveniences":
***groceries, protection from elements & predators, clothing, A/C, medical, running water, electricity, sewer, refrigeration, automobile, work, income, higher education, books, computers, phones, internet, laundry, furniture, tools, books, toys, games, music, TV***