Friday 15 February 2013

Day Four




"Don't bring anything valuable with you - we will be going into a very dangerous part of Managua this morning.  Only one person should bring a camera and only take pictures indoors!! " These words of caution set the tone for our day.  It caused  a bit of apprehension along with an escalated sense of anticipation and intrigue for some of our group.

Our destination was the Reparto Schick Mobile Library project, sponsored by Global Family and run by the Brethren in Christ Church.  One of the pictures on the 2013 MCC Calendar is taken at this school.  The library project seems very modest.  The theft of 50 books a few months was devastating.  And yet there is a profound sense of satisfaction and accomplishment associated with the mobile library.  Literacy is improving, and use of the library is rapidly increasing.

We then heard more about the Brethren In Christ Church venturing out well beyond their comfort zone to address issues of violence and gang activity, often right outside the gates of the church.  Initially setting out to evangelize the community, church members took to the streets praying and speaking with whoever they met along the way. They shared their vision for peace in the community.  With the support of another MCC partner, the Peace & Justice Commission, they offered a safe place for young people to gather and to receive training in areas such as conflict transformation, self esteem, AIDS, etc.
Good snacks were definitely an attraction as well.

They talked about the shift from focusing solely on evangelism to creating a safer community.  Personal engagement was the key.  In extending non-judemental friendship and acceptance, the door has been opened and a community is being transformed.  The street picture is where much of the violence took place in the past.

Later in the day we found ourselves meeting with Maria, a lawyer very familiar with restorative justice in Nicaragua.  We learned that there is a government sanctioned mediation process, most typically initiated by the police.  Maria was keenly interested in the wide range of restorative programs our group is involved in and soon we found ourselves brainstorming with her about how RJ could be moved forward in Nicaragua. Her passion for Restorative Justice was inspirational.

The picture on the mural says, "Justice: where is it? I don't see it."  This picture was taken on an early morning walk.  By the end of the day we could honestly say we had seen evidence of justice in Managua.

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