Buenos tardes, todo el mundo! I’m Savannah Hirst, one of four students from the College of Charleston chapter of Nourish International, and I’m writing our first post before we depart to Jinotega, Nicaragua.
Just in case you haven’t heard about this awesome organization, Nourish International is a non-profit that promotes student leadership and social entrepreneurship in order to make a lasting impact on extreme global poverty. Our chapter from the College of Charleston has raised money to work with AVODEC, a non-profit located in Jinotega, Nicaragua that works with local citizens on developing sustainable projects in their communities.

Our chapter will be working with AVODEC for the next four weeks providing the resources and labor to build a native chicken farm. This will give a source of income and practical business skills for a handful of families, and it will also provide a sustainable meat and egg source for community members.

As I’m preparing for this trip, I can’t help but feel a little nervous and excited. Families in Nicaragua are waiting and preparing for our arrival. They’ve known for weeks, maybe even months, and it’s such an honor to be accepted and taken into their homes for the next four weeks. We are ab.out to experience and live in their culture, eat their food, and build relationships with community members. We are about to be disconnected from social media, our phones, and our comfort zones. I look forward to getting to know my team members at a personal level, and to struggle and grow with them.

So am I prepared for this? There’s still lots of packing and organizing, preparing group discussions, and reading up on this beautiful mountainous area in Nicaragua. It’s not hitting me quite yet, but I believe my team members and myself have the right mindset and attitude to make this a beautiful and life changing experience.