One of the pillars of the mission of Chica Brava is service, specifically offering support to the local San Juan Community through positive activities and sports. In the past Chica Brava has worked with Barrio Planta Project doing a surf lesson program as a reward for high achieving students. We have also worked with the Biblioteca doing trips to neighboring communities to bring literacy and books into rural areas. And at the beginning of this year we launched ‘Agarrala’, which is a monthly surf lesson in the bay for any community members who first participate in a beach clean up with us. Camp Bella, our other in house service project, providing an annual surf camp for Nicaraguan girls who have been rescued from or associated with sex trafficking, was a success this year as well! With this year being the third annual Camp Bella we are happy to say that it is a part of our program that is here to stay!

We are overjoyed to introduce the Chica Brava family to our latest service option with Escuela Adelante! The name ‘Adelante’ suggests forward moving momentum, and that’s exactly what this program is all about. With it’s current home base at the Biblioteca Movil, Escuela Adelante has a long term vision of eventually becoming an international school for secondary students that will prepare the youth of San Juan for the globalized world around them. In the meantime, Adelante is starting as an afterschool English Prep program, preparing the students for a higher level of education and schooling. The pedagogy is based on language support and exchange between the foreign and local culture, uniting the two and creating a positive learning environment for all. Students who are doing well in their schoolwork are accepted to the program based on merit and stay with the program for two years. Jaime Hunter, a hard core, make-it-happen type of chica, and fabulous educator is the spearhead of the project, and has invited the ladies of Chica Brava to participate on weekly basis.

The program began on September 17th, so we have only had a couple of groups participate but those who did found it to be an exceptional experience not only in the aspect of interaction with local kids, but they are also given the opportunity, in helping with English lessons, to learn Spanish. Like they say, teaching is the best way to learn!

Our Camp Bella attendees also joined Jamie’s class and found it to be an empowering and inspiring experience. One of the girls commented, saying, “nunca habia tenido una experiencia asi. Los ninos y ninas se portaron muy lindos conmigo tambien los extranare.” (I had never had an experience like that. The boys and girls behaved beautifully. I’ll miss them.) Another of the girls said, “Me gusto mucho, es un ejemplo que puedo ser util para muchas cosas, como ensenar a los demas.” (I loved it. It was an example that I can be useful for many things, like teaching others.)    

We will be incorporating one optional volunteer afternoon a week with Escuela Adelante into the Chica Brava schedule, with the option to go everyday if any chica’s heart desires! We’re super stoked to be on board with this project and can’t wait for the day we get to write a blog introducing the CHICA surf team at Escuela Adelante! Let’s hope that’s sooner than later! 

Noelani
Camp Operations Manager