Empowering Communities

When you sign up for a trip like this, you never really know what to expect. Will the service projects go well? Will my group get along? Will the workshops be a success? All of these questions are always at the back of your mind. This experience in Nicaragua exceeded any expectations I ever had. There are so many factors that made this trip amazing. First, the place we stayed and the non- profit we worked with were both incredible organizations. The non- profit, Waves of Hope, really inspired me and showed me what a successful non-profit looks like. Getting to hear the stories of the founders and the people that work there was extremely eye opening and motivating. It caused me to really think about what I want to do with my life and it helped me realize that there is not only one path to leading a successful life.

​What I liked most about this organization was the way that they interacted with the community. It wasn’t like a bunch of random people decided to come in and take over a community and completely change everything that the community stands for. All of the work that has been done has been executed with respect and a genuine desire to empower this group of people. Instead of telling the people what they had to do and how and when they had to do it, the founders of Waves of Hope really engaged with the village. They learned about their ways of life and how they operated. They were able to reach an understanding of what their priorities are and the kinds of values that they build their lives on. From taking this time to actually get to know the people in this neighborhood and figuring out what they actually need, this non-profit built a platform with which they could truly provide for this community. Not only did they have the respect of the people living there, but they also gained valuable and irreplaceable allies within the community. Waves of Hope created a foundation that is strong and stable and this allowed it to truly make a difference. I also really liked how Waves of Hope focused on meeting every members basic needs as well as emotional needs. The organization worked on housing, clean water access, and education but they also emphasized personal growth. They are working to build up a community by looking at them as a whole person, not just someone that needs a house or needs access to clean water. By not only focusing on meeting basic needs, this non- profit could see how their work was transforming this community for the better. Although there are still a lot of problems to tackle, their philosophy shows that if you work with a group of people and treat them as your equals, actual change will occur.

~ Sophia Johnston