Worcester State University: MPIN

Each January, a team of occupational therapy students accompany Professor Jackie Brennan to the Manna Project site in Nicaragua. These Worcester State University students volunteer with a school for children with special needs, Tesoros de Dios, while also attending Manna programs while they are in Managua.

This year's group got a full picture of what Manna Project International does on site in Nicaragua. They helped kids get creative at Camp JAM, assisted the Program Directors on milk distribution day in Villa Guadalupe, and helped out at the new clinic in Cedro Galán.

 Cedro Galán Clinic

Projects from Camp JAM

Tesoros de Dios

It was fantastic to have the WSU group onsite. Each of our three Manna Project sites is getting extremely pumped to have other amazing university groups join us for a week over spring break! We're looking forward to a fabulous March, and we cannot wait to welcome the WSU occupational therapy group back again next year.

Sochi 2014: Setting the Stage for International Peace

It's that time of the decade again -- the winter Olympic games debuted last Friday in Sochi, Russia. Although Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala will not be represented by winter athletes these 2014 games, citizens from all countries can reflect on the values for which the Olympics stand. The Olympic Truce was derived from the ancient Greek tradition of the ekecheiria in the eighth century BC "to encourage a peaceful environment and ensure safe passage, access and participation for athletes and relevant persons at the Games, thereby mobilizing the youth of the world to the cause of peace", explained the United Nations Organization of Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP). The UN Assembly has called on all member states to observe the Olympic Truce throughout the Sochi Winter Games.

Even if a country is not represented in the Winter Olympic Games this year, peace is an idea all countries can stand behind. In an effort to really promote international cooperation, as conflict has become a recurring theme in recent years in the international system, the International Olympic Committee aimed to make this a very memorable games, with input and support from many different countries.

The traditional torch relay, always an impressive feat, was the longest in history this year, both in distance and in time it took to complete. Carriers from 160 nations participated in the passing of the torch between October 7th and the Opening Ceremony. The torch even made its inaugural visit to the International Space Station! The tour took 123 days to complete, covering over 165,000 km. "I think the key phrase is international cooperation", responded astronaut Rick Mastracchio when asked about the significance of the torch making its way to the ISS. "Both the Olympics and the International Space Station are great examples of what folks can do when the countries get together and try to accomplish something", Mastracchio added.

The Winter Games are off to an impressive start, and although Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Ecuador will not be making an appearance these winter games, MPI is looking forward to cheering on Ecuador in the World Cup this coming summer.