Training in Dolores

I think it’s about time that I talk about training and what it is that I am actually doing out here in Dolores.

Peace Corps training was revolutionized by PC Nica. I know that sounds ridiculous, but the “Community Based” training model was made, adapted, and disseminated from Nicaragua. I’m not sure of exactly how many countries implement this type of training but it is certainly different than I expected. As I understand it, most trainees are in a compound where they have intensive language and technical training, but generally, everyone lives together. In our training here we live with a host family, there are only 4 of us in our training towns, and our language classes and technical training are integrated into our everyday routine.

What I mean by that is this:

-We have a youth group. This is a main priority for all Peace Corps projects in Nicaragua because more than 25% of all pregnancies are in girls under the age of 19. I see regularly girls between the ages of 13-16 walking the streets of Dolores 6, 7 and 8 months pregnant. It is unbelievably sad and could have large implications on future HIV rates.

We have a solid 10 kids in our “Club de Jovenes” (Youth Group) that meets two times a week and so far, so good. It got off to a rocky start, but slowly it is becoming easier, and we have given them two charlas (interactive lectures); one on skills to build a healthy life and the other on self-esteem. Next week is a big week because we are doing sexual health, etc. They have a final project at the end where they have to give a charla to another group of people (we are being trained in training the trainers- a tongue twister for sure), but haven’t talked about this final project very much because most of our kids are shy and we don’t want to scare them away, ha. Many kids here have “pena” or embarrassment, especially the girls. Anyway, we are trying to ease them into it slowly; we’ll see how it goes.

-I also give charlas in the Centro de Salud (Health Center). Healthcare is free in Nica but cost is not the only barrier in providing effective healthcare, especially here. (A post for another time: “Socialist Values in Healthcare”, “Republicans, beware! Healthcare in Nica”, etc). Patients come to the health center, and as they wait to see a doctor, I give them a 15-25 minute charla on some topic of health- yes in Spanish. Last week I talked about STDs and this week I hope to give 2 or 3 charlas, possibly on malaria, dengue and general hygiene.


-Right now we are also preparing our Survey of the community. We decided to complete our survey on alcoholism in Dolores and the effects on the Community. There is plenty of public drinking, public passing-out, etc. Results to follow.
Also in my training here in Dolores I will give charlas in the schools to youth between the ages of 9-13 during one of their school periods. The children in Dolores attend school either in the morning or in the afternoon, not both. In the campo (rural areas), kids attend school only on Saturday. I thought that was because they needed to help their parents during the week but the truth is that school is only once a week because there is a lack of resources aka buildings and teachers.


So basically we are doing a lot of what we will also be doing in our sites, but here we are doing it together, struggling with Spanish, and we have support from the training coordinators and our language facilitators. I can’t imagine how other Peace Corps countries do it, training is so hard and we are constantly tired, but we are lucky that we get a test run before jumping into site.

My schedule this week looks like this:
Monday:
8AM-3PM- Language class
3PM-5PM- Club de Jovenes (and charla on STIs, teen pregnancy and birth control methods)
6-7- Dinner
7-8- The family all watches “our” favorite telenovela. It’s about a two girls that were in a horrible car crash. One dies but the doctors put the face of the dead girl on the body of the live one. She now works undercover trying to take out the huge drug lord who is in love with “her” (but remember, she is really the other girl). Oh, and they were married to the same man at some point, but I can’t figure out when that happened. It’s a Latin American soap opera and it’s amazing. It’s also on EVERY night during the week…. My parents (mostly my papa surprisingly) watch novelas from 7-11PM.
8-10PM- Homework: preparing charlas for the next day, reading technical books for the week etc.

Tuesday:
730AM- Charla in the Health Center and then the same as Monday.

Weds:
Same morning routine.
Group technical session in the afternoon: All trainees attend.
Weds afternoon technical test

Thursday:
730AM Chalra in Health Center then same as Monday.
Second meeting with Club de Jovenes.
Language proficiency test

Friday:
Technical training all day in Managua: 7AM-5PM

Saturday:
“Field visit”: We are traveling 4 ours north to 2 volunteers who work primarily in the Casas Maternas (The ministry of health is implementing institutionalized births and so these “houses” keep women who are 8 1/2 months pregnant, until they give birth in a hospital or a centro de salud.)