STUDY TOUR ITINERARY

Nicaragua Campus Trip: Coffee With a Conscience
January 3 - 13, 2005

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Arrival in Managua Monday, January 03, 2005   DIARY

Welcome to Nicaragua! The staff of the Center for Global Education meet study visitors at the airport and escort them back to the CGE guesthouse to settle in and for dinner.

Orientation and Nicaragua Overview Tuesday, January 04, 2005   DIARY

After breakfast, the group reviews the itinerary and safety precautions. Then, Mark Lester from the Center for Global Education offers an update on Nicaragua's current political and economic situation. The group tours the city and lunches at a Managua restaurant. Later, Rene Mendoza from NITLAPAN, a research center from the Univeristy of Central America (UCA), will present the history of land reform. Dinner and overnight at the CGE guesthouse.

How Fair Trade Links to Food Security Wednesday, January 05, 2005   DIARY

The group visits an LWR partner, learning how fair trade links with LWR's food security priorities in Central America. Then, the group heads to the city of Matagalpa to prepare for the next day's journey to the campo -- the countryside, where the coffee cooperative is located. Each evening the group participates in group reflections, a purposeful technique to enhance learning. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Lomas de San Tomas in Matagalpa.

Meeting the Coffee Farm Families Thursday, January 06, 2005   DIARY

After breakfast, the group gets an overview of fair trade from Alison Booth of Equal Exchange, LWR's partner in the LWR Coffee Project. Then, the group embarks on a two hour drive, deep into the country side, heading to CECOCAFEN, the coffee cooperative who produces "Cafe Nica" for the LWR Coffee Project. Study visitors will learn about CECOCAFEN's new eco-tourism project, supported by Equal Exchange and Lutheran World Relief. Dinner and overnight with coffee farm families.

Harvesting Coffee Friday, January 07, 2005   DIARY

An early morning wake up, then the study visitors -- divided into smaller groups -- hike out to the respective coffee farms located on the steep slopes of the mountainside. Visitors depulp, wash coffee or do other farm activities. The afternoon includes festive music before visitors retire with host families for the second and final home stay evening.

Coffee Processing and "Cupping" Saturday, January 08, 2005   DIARY

Now that the study visitors have spent two evenings with members of the CECOCAFEN coffee cooperative, they are ready to learn more about how CECOCAFEN works, the coffee crisis, and this community's integration into fair trade. Visitors will tour CECOCAFEN's processing plant, called SOLCAFE. There visitors will participate in a cupping, which is like a taste testing for quality control. Return to Matagalpa. Reflections and overnight the Hotel Lomas de San Tomas.

LWR's Natural Medicine and Organic Farming Sunday, January 09, 2005   DIARY

It's another early morning, after breakfast taking off to the community of Aranjuez, where study visitors will meet with LWR partners who are working in natural medicine and diversified organic farming. After a late lunch overlooking the mountains, vistitors return to Managua for dinner, reflection, and overnight.

The Masaya Volcano and More Monday, January 10, 2005   DIARY

Today, visitors see the spectacular Masaya Volcano and shop at the community market. The afternoon is spent further discussing fair trade, the LWR Coffee Project, Equal Exchange, Lutheran World Relief, and how it all fits together.

CAFTA, Civil Society, and the Church Tuesday, January 11, 2005   DIARY

Visitors meet with a representative from the government or private sector, who will present the benefits of CAFTA (Central America Free Trade Agreement). Then, the group meets with the Rev. Victoria Cortez, president of the Lutheran Church in Nicaragua. Later, visitors will meet with Carlo Pacheco, an economist with the Center for International Studies, who will present CAFTA from the perspecive of civil society.

Action Plans Wednesday, January 12, 2005   DIARY

On this last day before departure to home, visitors spend much time in reflection, evaluation, and preparing for how to take the experience home campuses, communities, and churches.

Return to the USA Thursday, January 13, 2005   DIARY

The CGE staff escort visitors to the Managua airport for departure. But the journey to justice has just begun. Adios!