Wimbledon Network and Explorer Scouts Nicaragua Expedition 2004

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After 2 years of planning and fundraising 50 Scouts from the Wimbledon (Edge Hill) Explorer Unit and members of the GLSW Network completed a month long Expedition to Nicaragua.

The group spent four weeks working in the neighbourhood of Barrio Sandino in the town of Ocotal, which was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. A local community centre, which previously provided basic education and healthcare to the people of the Barrio, was badly affected and had fallen into disuse.

With a lot of hard work the group successfully completed rebuilding one building (levelled after the hurricane), completely renovated a second, installed electricity to the site, built a “mini” adventure playground (including fort and slide, sand pit, see-saw and climbing frame), designed and painted a playground mural, repaired the vandalised latrines and parameter fencing. A last-minute dash (very Ground Force) created a garden and a concrete driveway allowing access from the main road. By the time the group left Ocotal the centre was again up and running with pre-school lessons underway.

The photos shown depict the finished product, as well as what we got up in our “spare time” (including appearances on National TV!) and, in the final week, spent in the “adventure” phase of the Expedition, which included coastering, fly wire, sailing, fishing and scuba diving.

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