Recent sights

Please enjoy these photos from my activities in the past 2 weeks.

Matagalpa
I traveled up north with Kira and Alicja (the other 2 ATC interns) to meet with ATC Matagalpa staff.  We interviewed them about the history of ATC Matagalpa and the work it currently is doing with dozens of unions and cooperatives in the region, with a particular focus on gender equity and youth initiatives.  While in Matagalpa, we also explored the city's steep streets, refreshed ourselves in the cooler climate, and observed feminist graffiti.

Matagalpa is in the northern mountainous region of Nicaragua.

Steep.

Some of ATC Matagalpa's staff + ATC interns

"Feminist, because I believe this society must include me and you."

"Neither the earth nor women are territory to be conquered."

Santa Emilia
Outside of the city of Matagalpa in the small village of Santa Emilia is one of ATC's schools.  At this school, we participated in a workshop for youth who are members of local (coffee, vegetable, grain) cooperatives in the departments of Matagalpa and Jinotega.  My favorite part was the practicum on biofertilizer.  We also explored the grounds of the school, which includes some agroecological production spaces.

Entrance to the school in Santa Emilia

Kira and Alicja on the school grounds.

The school keeps a number of cows on pasture.

Erika enjoying some of the cane and moringa plants on the farm.

Coffee

Vermiculture

Youth making biofertilizer!

Don Freddy demonstrates how to build the biofer barrel.

Jinotega
In addition to our internship tasks with the ATC in Matagalpa and Santa Emilia, we took a side trip to see this quaint town and drink local cooperative coffee.

Alicja and Erika by Jinotega's central park.

Jinotega is known for its coffee.

Soppexcca cooperative coffee.

More street art (from the Frente Sandinista).

Aniversario de la Día de la Revolución  
36 years ago on July 19th, 1979, the Sandanista front (FSLN) entered Managua and captured government power from Somoza.  Every year since then, Nicaraguans celebrate the anniversary by converging in Managua's city center.  I participated in the festivities with a group of comunicadores from throughout Central America (who were in town for a strategy session on communication amongst La Via Campesina's member organizations).

Everyone en route to Managua.

The bus caravan.

Some good poses.

At the Plaza de la Fe.

President Daniel Ortega gives a speech in the plaza (shown on the big screen).

More travels to the north and east to come...