Here in Sandino, 78% of the girls will be pregnant by 15 years old, at which time they usually drop out of school. Many times the father of the baby is married but will send the girl monthly support. So, most of the mother's here are really young and once they have 1 baby they don't seem to stop. They are wonderful Moms and do the best they can. Some go back to school once all their kids are in school, but most have to go back to work to support their family. Many continue to live with their parents in crowded shanties on the outskirts of town as squatters. So, we are brainstorming about ways to help these moms......
Yesterday on our visit with the child who had the dog bite and chicken pox, his mom and grandma were busy making tortillas, which they sell outside their gate on a little tin and wood stand. Many of the shanties we walked by had little homemade signs declaring what they had to sell. Apparently if you can sell enough to buy a small freezer you are doing great because now you can sell small bags of ice and ice cream. There are women who make large pots of beans, rice and soup and sell it by the pitcher to other families. Because these mothers have to work it is easier for them to stop by and pick up some beans at the end of a long work day. Kinda like McDonald's in the US.
Today we are off to a local pharmacy to see what would be available if we opened a local clinic (LifeLink, International) and then off to the coast with some shopping in Leon. What a great way to spend my 52nd birthday!
I will try again to upload some pictures but most likely I will have to do it once I get back.
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