Nicaragua: Fair Trade Teen Delegation

Witness for Peace has a long history of leading delegations to Nicaragua. The WFP Southeast region has led youth delegations to Nicaragua every summer for over 20 years. Nicaragua is an ideal destination for youth who want to experience a different culture and way of living. It is a peaceful and beautiful country with abundant natural resources. It is also the poorest country in Central America.

U.S. policies and corporate practices have contributed to this extreme poverty. In this 1980’s, the U.S. organized, trained, and armed a Nicaraguan paramilitary group that came to be known as the Contras. The resulting war left thousands of innocent Nicaraguans dead and the country’s infrastructure in tatters. Currently, Nicaragua is party to the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which encourages Nicaragua to compete globally by attracting foreign investment with cheap and abundant labor. These companies set up factories, or maquilas, where many Nicaraguans work in harsh conditions for little pay.

The Witness for Peace Southeast Teen Delegation to Nicaragua will introduce you to Nicaraguan people and culture, give you the skills to be an advocate for social justice, and allow you to explore some of Nicaragua’s most beautiful attractions while developing life-long friendships with other teens!