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Nicaraguan Student Delegation Visits Central Vermont
Ten Nicaraguan students arrived in Vermont this past Saturday for a month-long visit sponsored by the Montpelier-based nonprofit Planting Hope. Planting Hope is dedicated to promoting global equity, sustainable growth, and mutual understanding between Nicaraguans and residents of the United States. The students are accompanied by two Nicaraguan employees of Planting Hope.
Since 2002, Planting Hope has led groups of Americans on service-learning visits to the Matagalpa/San Ramon area of Nicaragua. This delegation of Nicaraguan high school and university students is the first South-to-North exchange sponsored by the organization. Many of the students receive scholarships from Planting Hope to help with school expenses. This is the first visit to the United States for all of the students. In the students' communities in Nicaragua, Planting Hope supports a library, a preschool, and a women's weaving cooperative.
While in Vermont, the students will work with area high school students to learn computer skills and produce a book about their lives and culture; make presentations about their culture and country to area schools and community groups; and cook traditional Nicaraguan meals and perform traditional dances for communities in Vermont and New Hampshire. They will live with host families during their visit, learn about American school and culture, and experience snow for the first time!
The students will present a Nicaraguan dinner and dance performance at the Bethany Church in Montpelier on Friday, January 16, 6 p.m; at People's Academy in Morrisville on Friday, January 23, 6 p.m; and at Hazen Union High School in Hardwick on Saturday, January 24, 6 p.m.
The students will present pictures and a cultural presentation at the Kellogg Hubbard Library on Tuesday, January 27 at 7 p.m. and at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (Conference Room) in Waterbury on Friday, February 6 at 6 p.m.
Planting Hope offers many thanks "mil gracias" to the Green Mountain Fund for their generous support for this event and also the Stowe and Morrisville Rotary Clubs, Henniker-San Ramon New Hampshire, Norwich University, Concept II and the many faithful Planting Hope supporters.
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