Academics > Majors and Areas of Study > History > Travel > David Buck: Nicaragua

During the Summer of 2009, Dr. Buck spent from July 18 until August 3 in Nicaragua. 

The first part of the trip was spent working with Compadres de Nicaragua, a non-profit organization that has programs in Managua and La Paz.  The focus of this trip was to work with the Women in Action co-operative that in La Primavera, a non-permenant settlement between the edge of the city of Managua and Lake Managua.  I went on this part of the trip with a group of 14, which inlcude Dr. Joyce Cuff from our Biology Department.  The trip started with some sight-seeing and orientation to Nicaragua.

Here I am with a Red-eyed Tree frog during an evening tour of the Mombacho Volcano crater.

It was an amazing experience working with Women in Action in La Primavera.  We each spent a day shadowing a members to see their daily lives.  In addition, we put in some grey water systems to help reduce the standing water in their yards and overall neighborhood pollution.

I spend a day with AnnaTae (above left with her son, Ettie).  We spent most of our day at the local hospital.  In the afternoon, we returned to house ( above right) and I attempted to carve a gourd.

The main service project was installing system that will reduce grey water (above left).  It was a simple design consisting or a bucket, pipe, sand and gravel.  Here, we are making sure we have the trench long enough.

There was time for relaxation.  Anna, the co-director of Compas de Nicaragua, performed a traditional dance at the farewell celebration (above left).  We also spent a day at the beach with the women and their families (above right).