Reflections On the Value of a Bridges Trip

Submitted by Jared DArcey on 28 July, 2010 - 16:49

This is the question that the staff in Nindiri has recently been asking not only the North American volunteer groups; but also members from the community of Papayal and Guanacastillo, community leaders from Papayal and the crew of masons from Nindiri. The question is basically this: To come on a Bridges to Community trip the volunteer has to pay a trip fee of $1295 to cover some project costs but mainly food, lodging and transportation costs while in Nicaragua. To build one house it costs right around $3500; including materials and labor. Over the course of a week the volunteer group alongside Nicaraguan masons and community members build one or two houses. Which means that if there is a group of twenty North American volunteers paying $1295 each there would be almost $26,000; with this amount of money BTC could build 7 houses; instead of only one or two. So the question is; How can one justify paying $1295 to come on a trip versus sending the money? The following responses come from the Grace Church group:

“I feel that the experience of seeing how people live in poverty outside of America can change the world. While building a house for someone improves their quality of life, it only benefits that family. Coming to Nicaragua and seeing how people live can get people like me to think about why some people are living like that. How it is my fault and my country’s fault and what I can do to change that for a large number of people. Our whole global economy that allows Americans to live like kings for no money at all is greatly bringing down the quality of life for a vast number of people. Hopefully I, having this experience and gathering this knowledge will eventually be able to learn how to improve life for the majority and show my friends and family how too. Building houses is only a small part of the experience which will give the knowledge to actually change things for the better” (Nicholas Baere).
“We are building more than just 2 houses, we are building friendships, confidence and a greater understanding” (unknown).
“We learn from the Nicaraguan people and they learn from us; this is an important form of cultural exchange” (Brianna Nelson).
“If we had just spent our money to go towards the houses, we would never have been here to experience all this; the culture, the amazing people, the animals, the ailments we got, it was all worth the experience for the 2 houses we did” (unknown).
“The world needs love, not just money. Strengthening a community goes far deeper than our pockets” (Claire Greenwood).
“Our experience together is worth more than any amount of money, because it came from the heart…” (Katya Anger).

There are 5 program areas in which BTC works; the most recognized being Housing, Health, Education and Economic Development. The fifth however unites all areas; Service Learning. As a volunteer coordinator, my goal for our Service Learning program is to facilitate a trip that allows volunteers and community members to freely express critical perspectives about poverty, injustice and any other topic that may discussed throughout the week. We use specific reflections to encourage a sense of cross cultural understanding that will hopefully lead people to become agents of change on a local and global level. So how does one justify spending money to come to Nicaragua instead of sending it directly to fund projects? Maybe the fact that we, as people from very different walks of life, are able to come together to discuss this question is justification in itself.