Students Share Experiences in Nicaragua in New Documentary

As part of the Alternative Spring Break program run by NYIT Career Services, eight students, a faculty member, and a career advisor went on a community service trip in March to Nicaragua, the second-poorest country in the western hemisphere. Its citizens currently face limited accessibility to clean drinking water and proper education.

Team NYIT stayed at Campo Alegria, where students kicked off the trip by running a three-day sleep-away camp for Nicaraguan children. Camp activities included giving lessons on math, science, and geography; doing arts and crafts; learning a language; and playing sports. For example, students taught kids how to count in English, use a microscope, locate Nicaragua and other countries on a world map, and make personalized bracelets using alphabet beads.

The trip's second part consisted of visiting local communities to observe the architecture of homes, schools, wells, and hot houses. Team NYIT also interviewed residents. Many families struggle to find clean water in the town Nandaime. One woman described how she wakes up every day at 2 a.m. and walks two hours to get six buckets of water for her family.

The series of interviews conducted by NYIT students informed THIRST, their documentary about the needs of children in Nicaragua, namely education and water. Attend a screening of the documentary on April 24, 6 p.m. at NYIT Auditorium on Broadway, followed by a panel discussion with Alternative Spring Break participants, who will share their firsthand testimonies. Be part of this global conversation. R.S.V.P. for this event.