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 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 the 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.

A Witness for Peace Southeast youth delegation to Nicaragua will introduce you to Nicaraguan people and culture, teach you about the realities of free and fair trade, 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 high school students.

Applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 19 to apply.

On this delegation you can expect to:

• Discover the history of Nicaragua.
• Stay with Nicaraguan families in urban Managua and rural Ramon Garcia.
• Learn about the impacts of trade policy Central America.
• Visit a maquila (factory) to witness working conditions.
• Meet with maquila workers who will share with us the realities of working long hours for little pay.
• Explore the benefits of fair trade.
• Visit beautiful national forests, mountains, and lakes.
• Meet other young adults working for social justice.
• Visit the U.S. Embassy to advocate for fair policies.

Download Delegation Flyer