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Out of the Ivory Tower and Into the Mud
Independent student organization plans cultural exchange project in Nicaragua
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Laura Dunn-Mark
Reed College, MS 626
3203 SE Woodstock Blvd.; Portland, OR 97202
Tel: 503.517.4999 Email: Laura.Dunn-Mark@reed.edu
Portland, Oregon -- An independent group of Reed College students plans to travel to Nicaragua this May to spend three weeks doing a cultural exchange project. It will be the groups second visit to Nicaragua in two years.
The Reedie/Jalapeņo Cultural Exchange (RJCE) was formed in 1999 to help create an annual cultural exchange between students at Reed College and the small community of El Trapiche. In May of 2000, a dozen students traveled to El Trapiche and worked with Jalapeņo families to conduct a community health project with long-term benefits. They spent two weeks producing and installing Lorena stoves, a lower-cost and more fuel-efficient stove than previous designs. They also taught the construction technique to several members of the local community, who have since built more than seventy stoves.
This years delegation will be in Nicaragua from May 15 to June 5, and will work with Jalapeņo families to dig and construct ecological latrines. The latrines contents can eventually be used as organic compost, making them agriculturally useful as well as improving health and sanitation in the village. As with the stoves, this years group plans to work extensively with the local community, so that they will be able to maintain the latrines for years to come.
Meanwhile, the group is also planning the visit of two representatives from El Trapiche. They will visit Reed College from March 26-31, and conduct a series of lectures and discussions in the Portland area addressing issues from life in the campo to political and economic relationships between Latin American and the United States. This exchange will be an annual occurrence.
The eighteen students in this years group are excited about this opportunity. "Its a wonderful chance to visit another culture," says sophomore Sarah Klain. "Im especially excited about the opportunity to help people directly. I think we run the risk of forgetting about the rest of the world from inside our ivory tower -- this is a great way to broaden everyones horizons."
The group, an independent entity not formally sponsored by Reed College, has won strong praise within the school community. Associate Chemistry Professor Arthur Glasfield, who traveled with last years delegation, calls the exchange "a remarkable effort," and says he is "enthusiastic about the positive impact that this project is having on both the students who are involved and the Jalapa region." President Steven Koblik lauds the inclusion of faculty and staff, and says the RJCE "has provided a wonderful way to strengthen the sense of community at Reed."
The group will travel as cheaply as possible, but remains $5,000 short of its fundraising goal. Donations of any kind are welcome; please contact Laura.Dunn-Mark@reed.edu.
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