Leaders and members of the Wisconsin 4-H program were introduced to the work of Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners of the Americas, Inc. through an exchange called "Hands Across Borders," a program that offered three adults and nine youths the opportunity to learn about Nicaraguan culture while sharing information about 4-H programs.
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The idea for the exchange was planted at a meeting of University of Wisconsin - Extension faculty in central Wisconsin. The speaker at that meeting was Lucille Harvey, then-interim Executive Director of W/NP, who talked about the work of W/NP and put forth the idea that 4-H programs could be added into the opportunities available to Nicaraguan youth through the W/NP Learning Centers. A few weeks later, the seed that Lucille had sown was brought up at "Developing Multi-Cultural Understanding," a Wisconsin 4-H Youth Development team meeting. As the discussion progressed, the excitement for the exchange grew. The team applied for, and received, grant funding from UW - Extension to help make the idea become reality.
An invitation to participate in "Hands Across Borders" was extended to 4-H members from across the state. Participants were then selected based on a variety of criteria, including their interest in diverse cultures, ability to teach others about 4-H programs, and dedication to sharing their experience with the people of Wisconsin upon their return. Prior to departure, the participants attended two orientation sessions, developed teaching curricula and project kits, and prepared to share their excitement for the 4-H model of learning in a youth and adult community partnership. A unique dimension of the exchange was that the programming was designed collaboratively by participants from both Wisconsin and Nicaragua, thus ensuring an equal exchange and keeping with the Partners mission.
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The group traveled in Nicaragua from June 23 through July 02, 2005. The Learning Center in Los Cedros, situated a few kilometers outside of Managua, served as their host. The Los Cedros Learning Center was the first center formed and continues to be the cornerstone of the Learning Centers project. Los Cedros has been advantaged by its geographical proximity to the capital city and by its energetic and motivated director, Doña Angélica Pavón, a diminutive powerhouse of a woman. Due to the efforts of Doña Angélica, and the long history of the Center, the Learning Center in Los Cedros has a highly developed youth component and thus was a natural fit for the exchange. The youth group at Los Cedros practices macramé, baseball, gardening, embroidery, typing and keyboarding, sewing, tailoring, cosmetology, cooking, baking, traditional dancing, and women's soccer, among other things.
This particular exchange was a pilot project, which will hopefully be replicated in years to come. Ideally, the collaboration with Wisconsin 4-H will become a regular practice at W/NP, as partnering with Wisconsin 4-H is a move that strengthens both organizations as "Hands Across Borders" continues to be an enriching experience for all involved.
