Part of the reason I chose to spend a month of my summer with Manna Project was the opportunity I would have to work with the community of La Chureca. This is my fourth time in Nicaragua, but on all of my past trips I have only had one day each time to spend in the dump. It’s a hard feeling to explain, but from the first time I stepped foot in this bittersweet place I knew I wanted to come back as often as possible.
Working with the Child Sponsorship Program in La Chureca has definitely been the highlight of my experience with Manna Project. In the States we always see commercials on television about donating a small sum of money each month to help sponsor a child, but people usually don’t feel enough of a connection to pick up the phone and make a commitment. It has been incredible to see firsthand how $18 a month is not only helping these children to physically survive, but the sponsorship program goes much beyond that. Last week I got to experience a “milk day” which is when all the children come in, get weighed and measured, have a consultation, and then if everything is good and their mom has attended the health talks then they are given oatmeal, vitamins, and milk for the next month. The money that these child sponsors give covers all of those food items, but Erin and Marcela also add so much more. They care about each child individually. Over the past year they have developed relationships with the families of each child in the program. They want to see that the child is not only looking healthier, but they also check weekly that the moms are feeding the children correctly, and they encourage the children not to work in the trash like the majority of people, but to get an education at Esperanza (the school of hope in the dump). The love they show to these children is what makes this program a success.
Even though I have only had one month to see all that the Child Sponsorship Program has to offer, it has greatly impacted me. It is so great to know that as each year passes this program will continue to grow and change, to not only benefit these children, but so that each child will have a chance to go out and make a difference in their community of La Chureca.
-- By Christa Samaha, Summer Volunteer
