Alvaro Montes is a final year student at the URACCAN (Universidad de las Regiones Autónomas de la Costa Caribe Nicaragüense/ Nicaraguan University of the Autonomous Regions of the Caribbean Coast). He studies agro-forestry and he is currently writing his thesis. He has volunteered with Bridges to Community for several years and he worked in Fonseca with the Dartmouth CD team in December of 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Alvaro’s autobiographical statement:
My name is Alvaro and I am twenty-three years old. I am studying agri-forestal engineering at the URACCAN university campus in Siuna, which is located in the RAAN in Nicaragua. I finished my course work in 2013 and now in 2014 I have my thesis to complete during my fifth year of university studies. I met a friend whose name is Hugo González, and he is a kind-hearted person and he told me about his work as an international volunteer with the NGO, Bridges to Community, and that’s where it all began. I started to participate with university groups of volunteers from the United States like Tufts, Cornell, Dartmouth, Fox Lane [high school], and UVA. Of course, I always felt very cool with all the groups and I hope to continue participating in the future. I have observed that Bridges to Community is very well organized and always has thought about the well being of the rural families. One example is the community of Fonseca with their water project, and this is one of the most important projects that Bridges has done in this community. This water project started in 2010, and Dartmouth worked on the project in 2012, and of course, we finished the project with the same university in December of 2013.
Audio:
http://youtu.be/58OdGb7-bwQ
Alvaro Montes Interview (English)
Interviewer: I am here with a friend, a colleague on the project, and first can you tell me your name?
Alvaro: Well, first my name is Alvaro and I am here to support the group from Dartmouth College. My principle role is to lend my support for the students and the people of the community, helping to build the water posts, latrines, the ditches and everything else related to the water project.
Interviewer: How many years have you been involved with groups?
Alvaro: Well, I have three years working with different groups such as Cornell, Tufts and Dartmouth.
Interviewer: How many years has it been?
Alvaro: Three years in total.
Interviewer: Where do you study?
Alvaro: I am a student of URACCAN University. I have one more year to finish my thesis and obtain my title.
Interviewer: What do you study?
Alvaro: I study agri-forestry engineering, that’s anything in the fields, agriculture, the trees the animals and everything else that is mother earth.
Interviewer: When did you being to work with Bridges?
Alvaro: I started three years ago because I knew Hugo, who is a good friend and he said I should look into working with groups. So now in my free time or vacation I like working with groups.
Interviewer: We are very thankful for your help, its good interchange. Can you tell us about what its like to be a Nicaraguan working with foreign groups?
Alvaro: I am also very thankful for the exchanges with the students from other countries, with the people of the community because I don’t always the know the people of the communities but more than anything interactions with people from other countries, like the United States makes me feel happy. I have improved my English and that has helped in my interactions.
Interviewer: Can you give me your perspective into social work?
Alvaro: I think Bridges is an organization that from my point of view, It is a well managed organization. From the plans to the execution of the project, I think it is very good how the organization and the community members relate to each other. They help each other and are very organized.
Interviewer: What have you observed in the construction of the water project here in Fonseca?
Alvaro: I have observed that the people of the community and the groups as well have exchanged many ideas. I have observed them advance in ideas and achieve the goals of the community members. The people that come from other countries also engage in these interactions and in the work and in development.
Interviewer: You study agri-forestry engineering, what opportunities are there in that field?
Alvaro: Well this degree offers me many opportunities, For example, the lumber industry, Farm management but also being employed in a farm, I think I could be happy like that.
Interviewer: So I assume you need to dedicate yourself to your thesis?
Alvaro: Yes, this is the first year I will dedicate myself to my thesis so I could graduate and obtain my title to find a job.
Interviewer: What is the focus of your thesis?
Alvaro: The focus is on Cacao more than anything
Interviewer: Can you tell us a bit about the importance of cacao?
Alvaro: Cacao is very important in our region for the agricultural workers. The importance of cacao is in its generous financial income, and from the fruit we obtain what we can process and make chocolate. Afterwards, the leaves have organic benefits to the soil and makes for natural and organic fertilizer.
Interviewer: Well I think that is all, thank you for participating.
Alvaro: Thank you.