By Dominic Abassi

Nanaimo volunteers build home in the midst of Nicaraguan civil uprising

Apr 29, 2018 | 8:46 PM

Nanaimo’s Sarah Pachkowsky fulfilled a lifelong dream of making an impact on the global stage, despite unwittingly finding herself in the midst of massive and violent protests.

Pachkowsky recently returned from Esteli, Nicaragua where she led a seven-member team from Vancouver Island on a volunteer mission to build a home through Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village initiative.

Several days into Pachkowsky’s trip, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega unveiled controversial changes to the country’s social security system. What followed are reportedly the largest street protests the country has seen since a civil war ended in 1990.

While the local government said 10 people were killed in the ensuing violence, the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights reported 42 deaths by Sunday.

Pachkowsky, who is the community engagement manager for the local Habitat chapter, told NanaimoNewsNOW the escalating violence was visible and audible and their travel plans were altered to avoid looting and fighting.

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Despite their surroundings, Pachkowsky and her colleagues achieved their goal of providing a family of nine with their first ever home.

“When we were physically building the house or having the dedication ceremony, you would never know any of that was going on. The tears that were shed and the hugs…It was like it was another world away. We were really able to be in the moment with the family and just take in the real reason we were all there.”

Pachkowsky said while their hosts and Global Village staff shared often disturbing stories from the ongoing protests, she stressed the volunteers were very safe and not in imminent danger.

Beyond what Pachkowsky described as some “complexities” surrounding the trip, she said it was a dream come true and left her with many difficult-to-explain emotions.

“It’s something that stays with you and in your heart. Every single one of us wants to go back and see the family again and how they’re doing in their new home,” she said.

The family of nine were squatters, using garbage to fill the holes in the home they’d cobbled together with materials found on the side of the road. Their income was roughly $200 a month, Pachkowsky said.

“The amount of tears that were shed, both happy tears and overwhelming emotion because this family now has a place they don’t have to be worried about getting flooded out in rainy season. They don’t have to worry about using a latrine for the washroom anymore.”

Pachkowsky has another trip to Nicaragua planned for later this year, joking that she strongly considered not even leaving the country in the first place.

“I’ve never met such grateful people…The warmth you felt in the hug was unbelievable and so impactful.”

The volunteer team included local Habitat board members Dave Hitchcock and Lynne Henshaw. The team featured six women and Pachkowsky said they finished building the home a day ahead of schedule.

Plans are also in the works for a July 6 fundraiser in Nanaimo, where Pachkowsky aims to raise enough money to build another home in Nicaragua.

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi