Together with a Canadian high school, our team organized an incredible expedition that incorporated the discovery of the coffee cooperatives and plantations in Nicaragua, a true Nicaraguan cultural immersion, as well as a series of positive impact projects. Arriving on the ground a few weeks prior to the trip, our experienced CO (Creative Organizer) quickly realized that our planned community project in La Granadilla wasn’t providing the real solutions we were expecting. Though it might have been a question of perspective, our local partners had requested we help them revamp a community centre which, in all fairness, wasn’t truly in bad shape. A simple coat of fresh paint would have been sufficient.

In response, our CO called a community meeting to meet with almost all of the village’s residents and get a better understanding of their most pressing needs. Soon enough we had discovered that their local school had no bathrooms, no proper sewage system, no library and no recreational area for the students. Pushing to put together a truly impactful project, our CO quickly negotiated the planning and strategy to make it all happen.

Once our travelers arrived, we effectively completed two bathrooms equipped with toilets and sinks, the construction of an eco-friendly septic tank, a fully equipped library (furniture and electric generator) as well as the installation of a fenced school yard with games (see-saw, swings, etc). In essence, our hosts were surprised at the way we took our collaboration seriously and respectfully, and at the real final outcome.

Though unusual, our trip to Granadilla showed us how a community sometimes has difficulty asking for help. In short, it reminded us of the importance in our ability to break down these barriers and build true relationships with the communities we help.