Phase 2, Alpha 7- Los Playones

Our community phase was a hugely satisfying project to be involved with. Our team of 13 venturers and 4 project managers spent 2 weeks in 2 different communities, in a remote part of northern Nicaragua. The aim of the project was to provide safe clean water to families in the communities that only had access to contaminated river water. We dug trenches to lay water pipes to the houses, moved bricks and built wells. The work was tough but it was massively rewarding to work alongside my team and the local community, to provide families with a substance that is so basic and yet so important. During the phase the team lived with the local families. We were made very, very welcome in their homes and I was overwhelmed by the friendliness and generosity that was shown towards me. Despite having much less than us in the way of material goods, the families were incredibly happy and vibrant.
I spoke very little Spanish but was immediately made to feel part of their family. The chance to live and work alongside a community like this is an amazing opportunity and we all learnt a huge amount from it. It feels brilliant to know that we have made a real lasting impact on these remote communities.
Andrew Riding