“My relationships with women never lasted very long. Either they left or divorced me, one even died.” “If you could change something about the past, what would it be?” “I’d probably just stuck with Yolanda, she was a good girl.” Nicaragua - Matagalpa
‘What are you guys doing outside, shouldn’t you be in class?“ ’'No, not today.. It’s cleaning-the-school day!” Nicaragua - Matagalpa
“The first man I fell in love with was already married. Because the Christian missionary movement was in control it was forbidden to get a divorce. That’s why it was not possible to re-marry. We ended up getting four children. The second man I fell in love with was...
“The war in the 80’s was a nightmare for all of us. We were treated like animals. There was no education, no food, no jobs, no nothing. By the time the Americans came we had to split up our family. The boys who were fourteen and older had to pick up arms and were...
“Our coffee beans don’t have a fixed price. We’re completely dependent on our natural resources and the market in New York. This means that when the harvest is poor it directly affects our lives. We either have to cut down on education, food or investment.” Nicaragua...
“My boy is doing very well in school but my daughter has problems reading because she is visually impaired. I talked with my husband about saving money to get her an eye surgery. Unfortunately he is dealing with an alcohol addiction so that’s where the money ends up...
“It’s important my kids get to go to school. I’m relieved to see that they are learning more and more everyday. I try to support them but it’s hard because I never went to school myself. Sometimes they ask me to help them with their homework but I just don’t have the...
“I want to become an engineer.” “Why do you want to be an engineer?” “So I can leave the countryside and visit the big city.” Nicaragua - Jinotega
“We nourish them as if they are one of our children. It might just be a seed but to us, this is life.” Nicaragua - Jinotega
“Last year, I went to school for the first time in my life.” “What did you learn there?” “To read letters.” “What is the best thing about knowing how to read?” “That nobody can lie to you.” Nicaragua - Jinotega
“For five years I visited her house. I was very much in love but her father did not approve. I used to make up all kinds of excuses just to be around her. One day I collected all my courage and asked for her hand. He didn’t thought she wanted to marry me so he joked...
“He was very romantic with me. When we were young he always sang these songs that involved my name, which is Miriam. After the Sandinistas came they took all his money and belongings. It was such a big tragedy for him that he developed a terrible drinking...
“We are a bit nervous, It will be our first..” Nicaragua - Laguna de Apoyo
“Our coffee plantation got hit by roya, which is a fungus that attacks the leaves of the Coffee plants. My daughter wants to become a doctor and next year she will go to high school. The school is outside of the plantation so she will have to travel by school...
“I feel god is always with me, in the good and in the bad times.” “When was god with you in bad times?” “When I couldn’t stop drinking he didn’t leave my side.” “What was the moment you decided you needed to stop drinking?” “One day I was hangover at work and I...
“I have been working in the social sector for more than twenty years. I am very blessed that I get to work with people. I run a program that teaches teachers how to give quality education with a modern twist. Here in Nicaragua there is a traditional approach to...
“My wife just gave birth to our daughter.” “What is your biggest dream for her?” “That unlike me, she will be able to finish university.” Nicaragua - Diriamba
“She told me about her life as a full-time working mother with four kids. She explained that she tries to set a good example for them, a role model they can look up to. In the end of the conversation she got tears in her eyes. When I asked her why she said: ‘It’s a...
“I grew up near a Japanese community here in Nicaragua. My mum always listened to this lady speak Japanese. Even though she didn’t understood a word she enjoyed the sound of the language. There was this specific word she loved the most, it’s ‘Sayonara’. She even named...
I’m very excited to announce that I’m in Nicaragua! Starting tomorrow I will be joining a field trip for 10 days supported by UTZ Certified. UTZ is a not-for-profit international organization based in Amsterdam that stands for making sustainable farming the norm. You...