It's Complicated

One of my priorities this year for BECA is to work on the sustainability of the organization. 

This is a buzzword one hears often in development circles. It can mean different things to different people.

Here's my working definition: BECA will continue along fine enough if I'm hit by a truck.

The reality is that right now, we're very far away.

And I accept complete responsibility. It hasn't been my focus up to this point. Nevertheless, if a development newbie were to ask me for advice, I would tell them to make this implicit in every decision they make from the very beginning.

So, while I'm a little late to the sustainability game, my plan this year is to do my darndest to see what I can figure out.

Case in point. Last night, I met for the second time with the Estelí Rotary Club ("Los Rotarios"). This is a group of 8 to 10 local business people who are committed to local service projects.

And they are a nice, very welcoming group of people.

Three of us made a presentation to them two weeks ago. Our mission: to convince them to get involved with BECA in some way. We presented two ideas; i) that they organize homestays for students coming to study from outside the city, and ii), that they form an advisory board.

Last night they told me what they thought.

"Walter, we are going to apply to Rotary International in the United States for financial support for scholarships."

"What about the homestay idea?" I replied.

"Well, that is complicated. And it really isn't in our culture to do that."

Huh?

It's complicated?

I'm starting to realize what I'm up against here.

It isn't indifference. After all, these well-meaning people graciously serve their community with no hint of compensation.

But it is a tendency to expect the gringos, or europeans, or martians for that matter to come to the rescue and solve their problems.

And it isn't completely their fault. The well-meaning do-gooder organizations -- including BECA -- can share the blame for not working hard enough to include local actors in their projects.

Bottom line. I know they agree with me when I tell them that when a young, ambitious Nicaraguan from the country comes to BECA for an opportunity to study but needs a helping hand with accommodation, the last thing she wants to hear is:

"Sorry. We can't help you with that. It's complicated."

It Happened Like This

 . . . very early one brisk February morning in Estelí, Nicaragua.

"Good morning," says the papaya-seeking Gringo approaching María, a middle-aged street vendor busy cutting up fruit in her street corner kiosk.

"The same to you," replies María.

Stepping in closer to inspect the fruit on display, he notices a dog lying passively beside María.

"Nice dog, it's a doberman, right?" probes the Gringo.

"Yep," replies María. "But don't worry one bit, he's an absolute pussycat" not taking her eye off her fruit-cutting.

"Are you sure?"

"Wouldn't hurt a fly," María confirms in a soothing voice.

"Great!" Feeling a little bit more at ease, the Gringo steps in closer to pet the animal.

"GUAU GUAU GUAU!!!"  (loud Spanish barks and growls)

Alarmed he jumps back thinking that maybe the dog doesn't care much for foreigners.

Looking over to María, he asks, "By the way, what's your dog's name?"

María looks up from her fruit smiling innocently.

"Rambo."

"Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering" replies the Gringo walking away . . .

The Good Hands People of BECA

These are the people that I have been trying not to work with in Nicaragua.

Those that have been following along know that my resolution for 2012 is to not stick my nose in as much as I usually do with BECA's operations.

It isn't easy.

And not because the BECA team lacks competence.

It's because it is such a wonderful experience watching these young, enthusiastic people grow into their roles and exceed my expectations.

And who wants to miss that?

If I could only learn to keep my mouth shut more often and enjoy the view. :)

Snobs and School

From my letter in the BECA February Newsletter. You can subscribe here.

Point #1. The BECA program facilitates technical school scholarships. To those students that finish a six-month screening process, that is.

Point #2. Our marketing efforts to attract scholarship candidates in Masaya in January bombed. Only 20 applications. Our goal was 100.

Are points #1 and #2 related?

There is an argument that they might be. Here's how.

The reality is not that many kids finish high school in Nicaragua. Especially those that come from "el campo" (rural communities.)

My perception is that those that do finish believe that they deserve better than a "lowly" technical school.

It's understandable. Aren't we a little snobbish about universities vs. technical schools in Canada and the U.S. too? I believe we are.

So why should these young people be any different?

And why should they listen to some gringo who shows up and preaches to them that a technical school will serve them better? (And he went to university, too!)

For the record, after three years here I haven't changed my mind. I still believe very strongly that a technical school makes more sense.

I'm just not sure anymore if it is really up to me to make that decision for them.