This summer, six Alberta teachers travelled to Nicaragua as part of the Change for Children 2024 teaching tour. The teachers spent two weeks working with Nicaraguan teachers, supporting their professional development and learning about the unique challenges they face.
The Change for Children participants capture their shared experience below, in verse.
Deacachimba
Seven strangers were on an adventure knowing their role was to serve.
They all had signed up for an experience none of them would soon forget
Once they loaded into the boats, quite certainly their destiny was set.
The sun shone down on them, then the rain soaked them to the core —
Some of them were wondering, “What am I really here for?!”
When they arrived at San Andrés, looking like a pack of drowned creatures,
La Casa Verde was a welcome site for the weary group of teachers.
With new adrenaline pumping, the teachers got straight to work.
They were excited knowing they’d be helping kids, a true teacher perk.
Organizing, planning and packing were all checked off the list;
Just like Santa, they checked twice so no school or teacher was missed.
Warned about the disparity they would surely see at Pansik,
They prepared for what could be the toughest day of their week.
When they made it to the village and the families began to arrive,
The inquisitive eyes put all fears to rest; these teachers were ready to thrive.
San Andrés, Amak, Tuburus, Pankawás, Shimenka and Yakal,
In each community the teachers made a difference, big or small.
Everyone did their best and learned together along the way,
Helping other teachers and making children smile — the best kind of pay.
The teachers made it through the journey, all the twists and turns and bends,
Hopefully leaving this experience as the truest of lifelong friends.
As experienced by Alberta teachers Ashleigh Barsalou, Suzie Beckett, Sarjenka Kuryliw, Samantha Lynas, Timothy Murawsky and Jessica Vargas, and Change for Children representative Adrienne Wiebe ❚
“Deacachimba” is Nicaraguan slang for “cool” or “awesome”.