Nicaragua
TeamWorks was born when a group of college students stumbled across Puerto Cabezas, a small town in the
northeast corner of Nicaragua, the 2nd poorest country in the western hemisphere. What began as a
one-month trip designed to deliver dental supplies to an economically depressed area turned into
a long term partnership in several communities in Nicaragua.
Two TeamWorks trips have gone to Nicaragua in the last several months and written about their
adventures. Be sure to check out their blogs for the December 2005 trip
as well as the March 2006 trip.
Puerto Cabezas is one of the most economically depressed areas in Nicaragua. 85% of it's 30,000
inhabitants are unemployed. A single medical facility in Puerto
Cabezas serves the surrounding communities of 300,000 people, a diverse blend of
Spanish, Miskito (indigenous) and Creole cultures. A majority of the projects are done in
conjunction with Verbo Ministries, an organization that supports an
orphanage, a discipleship center and two schools, all run by local Nicaraguans.
Somotillo is a boarder town located near the Honduran boarder of Nicaragua, still struggling to
recovery from Hurricane Mitch in 1998. All projects in Somotillo are done in conjunction with
San Ignacio and IBRA. San Ignacio is a school for street children, grades 1-6. IBRA, the Instituto
Basico Rural Agropecuario, is an organic farm and agricultural school in the hills around Somotillo.
Leon is the second largest city in Nicaragua, and its hospital and medical infrastructure serves a very
large number of Nicaraguans. However, there are not many options for the destitute poor who may be able
to receive some services at a public hospital, but cannot afford the cost of even cheap medications.
El Dispensario La Dolorosa provides general medical services and needed medications five days a week from
1:30-5 PM, and is staffed entirely by volunteers. Because they serve Nicaraguans living in poverty, the
optional cost for a visit is less than one US dollar, and all medications are free. In addition to providing
treatment to those in need, a principle goal of the dispensary is to educate patients about the prevention
of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases, and to provide information about a variety of social
services available to Leon's citizens. TeamWorks is currently working with El Dispensario La Dolorosa to
improve the clinic site by donating and purchasing needed medical equipment, installing a computer for inventory
purposes, and building locking cabinets for the storage of medications. Read more
about this project.
Krin Krin is a little town located up the Rio Coco on the boarder between Nicaragua
and Honduras. The residents of Krin Krin suffer from a 100% unemployment rate and many send their
children to the orphanage in Puerto Cabezas, a 15-hour trip by both boat and bus, so that they have a chance to
receive an education as well as regular meals and clothing. TeamWorks does not currently have any
long term projects in Krin Krin but is looking several opportunities to help the people there.