MANAGUA - Inter Campus Nicaragua is now officially up and running. The latest Inter Campus project has been set up in collaboration with the Nicaragua Jovenes association and involves 140 kids aged 6-11 from some of the most deprived barrios throughout the city of Managua: El Recreo, Jorge Dimitrov, Altagracia, Barrio 380, Rene Cisnero and Jonathan Gonzales.
The official inauguration took place on Saturday 31 May but the Inter Campus delegation – trainers Gabriele Raspelli and Andrea Galbiati together with project coordinator Christian Valerio – were already on site in the days leading up to the big kick-off, working with our local contacts and children from this Central-American city.
Many of the streets in the capital don't even have a name and at times it feels like a city with no identity. Yet both the city and the country as a whole exude great dignity, organisation and determination to improve basic human rights so they can leave behind poverty, social injustice, crime and social problems linked to alcohol and drug abuse.
The Inter Campus children come from these very social backgrounds. Some of them are already involved in a project linked to the National Police - set up in 1979 at the end of the revolution - which plays a crucial role for the whole of Nicuragua society: with public order and the protection and re-education of youths. Inter Campus is thus working alongside the National Police to protect young people, backed by support from the central government through the president Ortega's son and the fundamental help provided by Italian consul Lorenzo Alderisio.
The week began at Managua's Centro Deportivo Juevanil, where Gabiele and Andrea kick-started the practical sessions in an oppressive heat (close to 40°C) and theory classes for six coach-educators. Jennifer, David, Arquimedes, Cesàr, Alexander and Antonio are their names and they come from the same barrios as the children. They made an active contribution in getting the kids involved, assessing the most needy and at-risk cases.
The party on Saturday was also attended by the families of the children taking part in the project: as always Inter Campus' aim is to have a positive impact on the children's overall educational growth, besides letting them enjoy themselves.
