The Giving Lens

A Brief History of Nicaragua

Kate — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:19:45 +0000

Just the other day, someone asked me “How did Nicaragua get so poor?” It’s a common question about most countries. Nearly every country in the world, outside of the 20 or so “developed” nations, has it’s own story as to just how this happened. The answer is generally “Corruption.” Nicaragua’s story is no different; its ending, however, is full of hope.

The name “Nicaragua” comes from the Nahuatl-speaking tribe who originally inhabited the country; their capital city was Nicarao. Later, when the Spanish arrived, the combined the name of the capital with the spanish word for water: “agua.” There are ancient footprints that suggest Nicaragua was inhabited as far back as 6000 years ago. It is thought that the three major tribes that existed had migrated from what is now Colombia and Mexico, and well as possibly Paleo-Indians. These tribes had kingdoms marked out, monarchies, and consisted mostly of farmers and weapon-crafters. The Spanish first entered Nicaragua in 1522. Francisco Cordoba entered in 1524 with the intent of colonizing the area, which lead to the city of Granada. Cordoba became the namesake for Nicaraguan money (which is dealt in “cordobas”). After multiple wars with the indigenous population. Nicaragua was considered “complete” by 1529.. As usual at the time, the native Nicaraguans were abused, sold in to slavery, put to work in the farms, and generally treated as less than human.

Nicaragua struggled but became officially independent from Spain in 1821, but suffered through many more dictatorships and foreign rule. Augusto César Sandino is Nicaragua’s martyr and hero. He protested US military occupation in 1927 to 1933, and was assassinated when he went to negotiate a cease-fire. He was only 39 years old. Sandino remains to this day a symbol of resistance and national identity. The man who had him assassinated, General Somoza, who had seized power in a coup d’etat, began a brutal dictatorship that passed to his son, and his brother, and lasted 43 years. Somoza was overthrown by a rebel group, then Sandinista guerillas (name taken from Sandino) in 1979. They formed a new government. One of these Sandinistas was Daniel Ortega, who would go on to be a major figure for Nicaragua.

In 1981, Reagan condemned Nicaragua for many reasons, one being supporting Cuba’s revolution. He, among other countries, authorized the training of anti-Sandinista guerillas, also called counter-revolutionaries. This was shortened to the term “Contras.” The Contras camped out in neighbouring Honduras and Costa Rica. Local anti-sandinistas joined these camps and thus guerilla warfare began, known as the Contra War. The foreign-funded Contras went to war with the Sandinistas throughout the 80s, resulting in deaths all across the country. Nicaragua in shambles from the never-ending corruption: many dead, many more displaced as refugees, uneducated, poor, and scared. There was no health care and no education system to speak of. Human Rights violations were country-wide, from kidnapping, to torture, to the burning of villages and more. These violations made international headlines and the foreign-funding was cut off, forcing the Contras to retreat and eventually disperse by the late 80s.

Nicaragua limped through the 80s and 90s as various politicians, including Daniel Ortega from 1984-1990, tried, with some success but mostly failure and more corruption, to get the country on its feet. Ortega failed to get re-elected in 1990, 1996 and in 2001 but was re-elected in 2006.

Prior to the earthquake in Haiti, in 2003 Nicaragua surpassed Haiti as the poorest nation in Central America. Unemployment was around 50%. In more recent years, Daniel Ortega seems to be taking great strides towards making health care, education, and work more accessible to the masses. For example, unemployment is now just 5%, but underemployment (not enough work to provide for ones self or a family) is still 48%. The main source of work remains agriculture and sweat-shop style labour.

With education and health care more readily available, there is much hope for Nicaragua’s future. Tourism, for example, has risen more than 70% in the last ten years. As the country stabilized politically, people began to take notice of the stunning landscape and history in Nicaragua. From soaring volcanos to white sand beaches, and spanish colonial buildings around every turn, it is a country with much to offer. It touches both the Caribbean and the Pacific ocean, with lakes and valleys and jungle in between. It is home to resilient, humble, honest, beautiful people. It is becoming known for its rum, cigars, and world-class surf spots. Exports such as Fairly-Traded coffee beans are beginning to provide stable income and work for farming families.

Nicaragua still has a long way to go. Education is more widely available, but many students cannot afford to go to school when their families need money to make end’s meet. Empowerment International, the non-profit our teams will be partnering with, steps in to encourage families that education is the only way to break the poverty cycle. They win over families one at a time, each child in the school a victory.We stand by them in their belief and conviction that ending poverty begins with education. We are so thrilled to send not one, but two teams down to make a difference in the lives of these youth!

Happy New Year!

Kate — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:16:49 +0000

Despite only getting up and running in the last quarter of 2011, The Giving Lens couldn’t be happier with the response we’ve gotten. Photographers and photo-enthusiasts alike, you all seem to have enormous hearts for others and a passion to make a difference. While we are so excited about our two teams coming to Nicaragua, we’re just as thrilled with all of our fans, followers, “likes” and “+1′s”. The TGL family has grown exponentially since our launch and it means amazing things are on the horizon.

2012 is shaping up to be an incredible year of adventures, challenges, growth and change. We’re going out in to the world to put our money where our mouth is, to have our feet hit the ground in another country, get our hands dirty, and open our hearts.

As photographers, we are blessed to see the world differently. We see the world in snapshots, in a single frame and moment. We see the light and shadows, the textures and layers. While others admire a scene, we think in f-stops and fractions of seconds. We redefine what is beautiful every time we open our eyes. Isn’t is a wonderful life?

With that, we’d like to thank you for a wonderful end to 2011 and an hopeful and inspiring start to 2012!

See differently.

Be the difference.

TGL Holiday Fundraiser

Colby — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:00:26 +0000

The Giving Lens is proud to partner with Empowerment International to bring you the first ever TGL Holiday Fundraiser. EI focuses on using Child Education to combat poverty and by keep kids off the streets and out of gangs in the country of Nicaragua.

The Giving Lens has partnered with six professional photographers to give you an opportunity to not only help fight for child education in Nicaragua, but possibly come away with one of six 20 x 30 prints from some of the most beautiful locations on the planet. These prints are valued at over $500 each.

The photographers include:

Colby Brown
Elia Locardi
Jay Patel
Varina Patel
Ken Kaminesky
Alexander Safonov

For every $10 you donate, you get entered in a chance to take home one of these prints. Please note that an individual can only win one print durring this contest. Your donation is a tax write off and you will receive the proper paperwork.

Click HERE to donate…

The fundraiser runs from December 8th – 14th, with the winners being announced on December 15th, 2011. Names will be assigned a number based on the order in which the donations came in and then using www.random.org, 6 random numbers will be drawn to decide the winners.

We would like to thank SmugMug for sponsoring this Fundraiser.

*Prizes can only be shipped US/Canada addresses

Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About: Nicaragua

Kate — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:17:07 +0000

- the country’s favourite past time is baseball, not football like the majority of central and south america.

- the average temperature year round is 30C / 87F

- Nicaragua has 25 volcanoes pretty much in a row, starting on Ometepe (close to Costa Rica) and running all the way up to Honduras!

- While the majority of Nicaraguan remain below the poverty line, the country boasts a very low crime rate.

- Lake Nicaragua is the largest fresh water lake in Central America, and 10th largest in the world

- The lake is the only one in the world to contain fresh-water sharks

- Established in the early 1500s, Granada is one of the oldest cities in the Americas

- Nicaraguans are proudly recognized as crafting the finest, and most comfortable, hammocks in the world.

- The country has 500 miles of coastline, along which are 5 of the best surf spots in the world.

- There is an incredible island within Lake Nicaragua called Ometepe. It’s comprised of two volcanoes, forming a figure-8 island. It is the largest island on a freshwater lake in the world. It produced amazing coffee and produce from the rich soils, and the island has only had to been evacuated once.

kate with ometepe in the background (2007)

- Granada means “pomegranate”

- NIcaragua is known as the “country of lakes and volcanoes”

- The population is approaching six million people

- In the 16th century, the Spanish reduce two million indigenous people to just 8,000 in 35 years of rule.

- The population is 60% catholic, and 20% protestant

- national average annual income: $2,200

- it is the poorest country in Central America; it is 2nd poorest in the hemisphere, after Haiti

- However, tourism is in the rise due to Nicaragua’s dramatic landscapes, warm weather, variety of activities, historical sites, and much more.

TGL is now taking applications for this amazing trip – find it under “Workshops” !

Applications for TGL: Nicaragua are Open!

Kate — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:42:35 +0000

We’re pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for TGL: Nicaragua!

Applications can be found here.

We’re looking for anybody with a heart for helping others and a desire to go abroad. Your photography skills can be at any level! From beginners to pros, Colby’s workshops will be amazing and you’ll come back a better photographer – and maybe a different person, as well.

Here’s what you can expect:

- we will be staying in a comfortable, mid-range hotel in Granada, Nicaragua

- we will be working alongside Empowerment International, helping run their photography program that works with at-risk and underpriveledged youth.

- you’ll get to know the kids, and help them learn from Colby and yourself (in as much as your ability allows)

- we’ll tour around Granada and the beautiful countryside, taking in Colby’s expertise as a professional photographer.

- you’ll come back having been a positive influence in these kids lives

- you’ll come back a better photographer having learned from Colby during his workshops

- you’ll experience the culture, language, food, music and more in a way you never could from a fancy resort or private rental.

- you’ll be supporting Empowerment International and their work, both financially with your trip fees, and also by showing up and telling these kids they are worth it!

If this sounds up your alley, consider applying to TGL: Nicaragua!

The Giving Lens: Nicaragua

Kate — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:23 +0000

The team here at TGL is unbelievably excited to announce our first official photo education trip: Nicaragua! We’re teaming up with Empowerment International to work alongside underprivileged youth in Granada. These youth will be learning how to express themselves and their stories through photography, as a means of self-expression, therapy, communication, and as a creative outlet. Working with these youth, the team will follow Colby through the exciting and amazing culture and countryside of Nicaragua, from colonial downtown cores, to the rolling countryside, to volcanoes, barrios, and more.

Nicaragua is located in Central America, and is known as “The Land of Lakes and Volcanoes.” It has two coastlines, and an enormous fresh water lake, Lago de Nicaragua. From climbing a smouldering volcano for incredible views, to touring the lush and tropic countryside, to the long stretches of delicious white sand along the coast, to world-class surfing, to the colonial and historical town of Granada, – Nicaragua has an abundance of activities and sights. While it has a troublesome history, Nicaragua remains one of the safest countries in Central America today. However, for those living there, tourism has yet to take off and jobs are scarce. Poverty is prevalent all over the country; in fact, it is the second poorest country in Central America. For those willing to go, Nicaragua is a hidden gem, full of flavour, beauty, and heart.

For more information on this incredible journey, click HERE.

IMPORTANT LINKS
Tourism Nicaragua | Empowerment International | Join TGL in Nicaragua

Who and What is TGL?

Kate — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:59:02 +0000

The Giving Lens is the brainchild of photographer Colby Brown, a professional landscape and humanitarian photographer. As Colby traveled around the world, he became more and more challenged by the poverty and desperation he was experiencing. He became very aware that he was in a privledge place in this world and felt the need to share what he had, both in time, in money, and in skill. He wracked his brain thinking of a way he could use his photography to make a difference. After working in post earthquake Haiti, he co-founded Lespwa Haiti, an organization that provides a free service to small NGO’s on the ground doing amazing work, allowing them to raise more money and connect with donors unlike ever before.

Not far behind was The Giving Lens, an organization that seeks to give back through photo education. TGL designs photography workshops, and lead teams of photographers to undeveloped countries around the globe where there is an NGO organization and a cause that has touched our hearts. Each trip will look different in terms of what will happen on the ground, based on the Non Profit and their needs, but rest assured, each trip will be an adventure. Not only will volunteers experience the country in a way they probably never would have on their own, ingraining themselves in the local culture and meeting the local communities first hand, but they will also get to lend a hand, share their skills, and truly make a difference. If that wasn’t enough, volunteers will benefit from working alongside Colby, who will run workshops with the team throughout the trip. At the end of the adventure, the vast majority of the profits will go straight to the organization and the individuals we have worked with, photographers will have a wealth of new and amazing photos, and everyones lives will have changed for the better.

Welcome! Buenos Dias! Jambo! Goeiedag! Hej! Salut!

Kate — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:58:38 +0000

The whole team here at TGL is thrilled to announce the launch of our new website, The Giving Lens. So welcome! Here at TGL you will find news on all our upcoming photo education trips, and how you can be involved either from home, or with us in the field! There’s lots to do, and so many people to help, so we’re ready to get underway and start making a tangible difference in some of the poorest places in the world. Not to mention we get to combine our biggest passions into one amazing journey: travel, photography, and giving back. Who could ask for more? Not us. We’re humbled. we’re excited. We’re passionate. We’re committed. We’re ready. Are you?

Find out how YOU can make a difference by checking out our Join The TGL Team page.