My last day on Ometepe I took the Totoco Cultural Tour with Martijn’s partner Patricia. As I mentioned before, the Totoco Foundation is a separate entity from the business to ensure that it is not fully dependent on the profitability of the business.

I could have spent my morning lounging in the Ojo de Agua swimming pools or hiking on a volcano, but I really wanted to learn about this small, sustainable nonprofit organization and see the work they are doing in the community of Balgüe.

Totoco Cultural Tour

Starting at the Eco-Lodge, we walked on a trail down the volcano, passing small homes, coffee farms, and the local cemetery.

Patricia explained the lifestyle and the challenges people face living here.

It was obvious from the way the locals greeted us that Patricia knows them well. She is a part of this community.

 

Patricia is from Spain and came here with Martijn to live full time almost five years ago. She took a sabbatical from her banking job to see if she “could live with this crazy traveler” and brought several books donated by a library near her office to start a project in her new home.

While we joked about the hardships of life on the island (she once opened a drawer to discover a family of boa constrictors had moved in), it was obvious that she is passionate about what she is doing and proud of what she has accomplished with the Totoco Foundation.

Similar to Martijn’s approach to the Eco-Lodge and permaculture, Patricia’s approach is affordable and sustainable growth.  She has learned that you need to empower people and give them what they want, not necessarily what you think they need.

The Totoco Foundation focuses on three aspects of improving the community: education, health, and microloans.

Education

They have several education programs that you can read about here. Two really stood out to me: Windows to the World and On the Right Way.

Windows to the World is a community library that started in 2008 with just English books. Now they have over 3,000 books in Spanish, many donated by the library in Spain that Patricia first established a relationship with.

Perhaps the key to success is that this library has gotten kids to use it because they lend out the books. I was surprised to hear that other libraries in the region do not actually let people borrow books.

On the Right Way is my favorite educational program started by the Totoco Foundation because it is the result of listening to people’s challenges, identifying a commonality, and finding a simple collective solution.

Students who live on the island can attend university on the mainland on Saturdays from 7am-7pm. Their biggest challenge was transportation because there are no local buses running on the island past 7pm, and it can be up to a three hour walk. On the Right Way is a private bus service for these students. They started with eight students who are now about to graduate, and now there are 21 students.

Health

 

The Totoco Foundation recently established the first clinical laboratory in Balgüe as a collaboration with the Nicaragua Ministry of Health.

Previously, residents had to take the bus two hours to the other side of the island in order to have any tests performed. Now they can perform 14 different tests right here.

 

This lab may look simple, but it has huge implications for the community.

The Totoco Foundation has recently started selling adjustable eyeglasses made in Holland. They only cost $12. In addition to helping people see better, they have trained local women to become entrepreneurs and sell the eyeglasses to the community.

Micro Loans

Beyond health and education, the Totoco Foundation also helps community members help themselves by giving micro loans to start their own businesses. My favorite part of the tour was meeting these local entrepreneurs and seeing them realize their business ideas.

We visited the first printer and only cyber cafe in Balgüe.

 

I met the man who raises and breeds these adorable pigs and Indian hens.

There is a bike repair and rental shop and even a used clothing shop.

 

I met this local electrician who has an electronics repair shop.  He also happens to be married to the local nurse who works at the health clinic.

The Totoco Foundation has provided micro loans to 21 community members with six currently active. The maximum loan is $600 with a 1.5 year payment period. I believe that micro loans are one of the best ways to help families and communities.

The Totoco Foundation is doing great things.

 

I prefer to donate my time and money to small nonprofits where I know exactly how funds are being used and that the programs are helping people become self-sufficient.  Spending the morning with Patricia and interacting with the locals of Balgüe made me want to quit my job and run off to Nicaragua to be a part of the Totoco Foundation.

If you want to be a part of the Totoco Foundation’s work, read about the options here.