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Establishing an arts and education program

To ensure the Nicaragua project is successful, it is essential for local populations to adopt as their own the techniques and knowledge imparted by program staff. ONE DROP’s use of the arts as a means of educating local communities involved in the PECAN project is truly innovative. Making learning fun and bringing local culture to the fore are central to our awareness initiatives.

A touring play on the theme of responsible water conservation and responsible usage promotes the transfer of knowledge and techniques to the community, helping to ensure the project’s lasting effects. The play, Texoxell and the Dream of Clarita, is based on local folklore and well-known Nicaraguan characters such as the shaman and Güegüence. A group creation, the show was based on the results of research into local people’s situation and perception of water issues. Allowing for direct interaction with the audience, the performance lets everyone get involved, helping them to remember the play’s key message.

Subsequently, the actors facilitate workshops on the project’s technical and scientific aspects with specific target groups in six communities. At each workshop, participants undergo in-depth training. After learning more about the use and management of water and agricultural resources, they will be able to apply the new techniques on their own. They thus effectively become proponents of change in their own communities but in a manner that respects and values popular culture and local identity.