Day 1

       
      We had not even been here for a full twenty four hours and I already felt right at home. Manfred showed up at the airport in his GLOBE t-shirt and to greet us. He and Dr. Sama looked as if they had known each other for years. We had not even been in the country for an hour before we tried food off the street. Nelson was so sweet and bought us mangos on our way to La Pyramide, the hotel. We got acclimated with where we were staying briefly, had a bite to eat, then headed to Fabretto.

All of us had done our homework on Fabretto but little did we know that the children the organization served in Managua were from La Chureca, the dump. We read a great deal about La Chureca during the months leading up to the trip and how the people in the dump subsist sifting through the trash to find recyclable, re-usable goods. Visiting Fabretto we saw how the children used the recycled goods anything ranging from tin cans to bottle caps to make jewelry and baskets. 

Mallory showed us around Fabretto and how it came into existence and evolved from NicaHOPE. She was so honest and open with us about her background and how she ended up staying in Nicaragua. It was really inspiring seeing how she was able to truly make a difference with the children and also how the success stories at Fabretto became a part of her story. The children at Fabretto were learning how to use the computer and high school students were also learning to use basic Microsoft office and other applications. Fabretto provided scholarships and remained a safe haven for children of all ages over the years. 

The "Buseteria" and "Area de Buseteria" seen in the photos here is the jewelry made by the children and sold in Fabretto. The center also had baskets seen in the photo that were made out of pine needles. We were even able to test our skills at making bracelets which the children at the center helped us with. Their fingers moved so quickly and they were so well-mannered and well-behaved. It was hard to think about the fact that they were not just making the buseteria for arts and crafts but because they really needed the money. Also the thought that some of the jewelry was made from pieces of trash that the children found in the dump was really a wake up call. 

Children seen in the photo playing were right outside of Fabretto enjoying themselves despite the fact that the area was dangerous. It was inspiring to see them free-spirited, well-mannered, and peaceful. It really makes you stop and think about how insignificant some of the things are that we concern ourselves with when you consider their circumstances.