NICARAGUA NEXUS NICARAGUA NEXUS The Beginning Babcocks Project

NICARAGUA NEXUS

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Beginning… …Babcock’s Project Nicaragua • In March 2007, 18 Babcock students and their faculty began a business education seminar for Managuan entrepreneurs during winter and spring breaks. • Participation grew from 20 to 40 business in just one year. • Now seeking ways to quantify the impact of the seminars on the local businesses and community.

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Beginning… …Babcock’s Project Nicaragua

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Beginning… …Babcock’s Project Nicaragua • A graduate two years later… • Owns a small bakery • Implemented bookkeeping system • Added equipment and personnel • Tripled volume • Nets 20% return on revenue

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Beginning… …Babcock’s Project Nicaragua

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Potential… …for the University • Academic programs • Short-term in duration • Non-traditional in nature • Service opportunities • Volunteer work • Educational programs • Research activities • For faculty and students • Across disciplines and schools

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Place… …Managua • Fast facts: • Population: Approximately 1. 7 million • Almost one-half of the city lives in poverty • First capital in Central America to end illiteracy • Ranked safest capital in Central America • Considered Central America’s greenest metropolis

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Place… …Managua

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Progress… … 2008 Service-Learning Program • A summer program in which students spent one week of class on campus, then three weeks in Managua taking two courses: • “Social Enterprise Leadership in a Developing Country” (taught by Holly Brower in the Business Schools) • “The Writer and Society in Central America” (taught by Jane Albrecht in Romance Languages) • The classroom curriculum was combined with meaningful service experiences through teaching, learning, and reflection.

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Progress… … 2008 Service-Learning Program

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Progress… … 2009 Service-Learning Program • Steve Giles in Communications and Gary Miller in Health and Exercise Science offered two service-learning courses during Summer 2009 • The courses focused on Global Health Issues and Health Communication, and included service projects and clinical work in Managua. • Students spent two weeks on campus before going to Nicaragua for three weeks.

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Progress… … 2009 Service-Learning Program

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Progress… …Spring 2009 Biology Class • Last spring, the Biology department offered a course titled, “Tropical Conservation. ” • The class met the first half of the semester on campus, then traveled to a biological field station in Nicaragua for a week of field study during Springbreak that completed the course requirements. • Faculty hope to offer the course again in a future semester.

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Progress… …Spring 2009 Biology Class

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Prospects… …Environmental Sciences Research • Robert Browne in the Environmental Sciences visited Nicaragua last spring to explore opportunities for teaching and research in the field. • Given the focal areas of the faculty in the Environmental Sciences are Marine Life and Dry Tropical Forests, they see potential for scholarly activity in the region.

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Prospects… …Medical School Opportunities • Manna Project International, Project HOPE, and Centro of Social Studies and Promotion (CEPS) recently opened a “teaching” clinic in Ciudad Sandino, outside of Managua. • Their goal is to reduce maternal and infant mortality in Nicaragua through continuing education of medical professionals.

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Prospects… …Medical School Opportunities

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Prospects… …Medical School Opportunities • Opportunities exist for the WFU Medical School to provide medical training, conduct research, and offer learning experiences for its students through the clinic. • Last November, two doctors from the Med School visited the clinic to assess these opportunities. • They also met with the dean of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma Medical School in Leon to consider possible service and research opportunities at the school.

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Prospects… …Divinity School Opportunities • The Graduate Certificate in Spirituality and Health offered by the Divinity School includes an Experiential Learning/On-site Observation in Travel Courses. • If the Medical School becomes involved with continuing education at the clinic and/or the Universidad Nacional Autónoma Medical School, Nicaragua could serve as a destination for graduates pursuing this certificate.

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Prospects… …Graduate School Opportunities • The Graduate School currently is exploring ideas for involvement. • One focal area might be Global Health Disparities.

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Prospects… …Additional Opportunities • Last month a team of faculty and administrators from across the College and School visited Nicaragua to renew and explore relationships. • Possibilities range from programs for high school students, research collaborations at universities, internships with organizations, consulting for businesses, continuing education for professionals and academicians, and service projects with NGOs.

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Plans… …of the Programming Steering Committee • To develop a rubric for assessing potential partners • To determine the best fits given our mission, values, strengths, and interests • To form an advisory board of Nicaraguans • To serve as a clearinghouse for new and ongoing initiatives • To maximize utilization of the property

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Property… …A Future Training and Conference Center • Tom and Karyn Dingledine have donated property in Managua for training and conference center with housing accommodations. • Plans are now underway for completing the interior of the house and re-purposing the space for conference facilities. • In the long term, “casitas” are planned to accommodate visitors to the center.

NICARAGUA NEXUS • The Property… …A Future Training and Conference Center • Fast facts • Approximately five acres of land • 6660 sq. ft. home (interior unfinished) • Fenced/Walled perimeter • Planned design/construction • Center: Conference room, library/study, dining room/patio, reception hall, faculty suite, lounge, and basement apartment • Casitas: Four two-story units for up to 32 people located behind the Center