What is it? The WCRF Chari-Tour is an opportunity to travel internationally as an humanitarian volunteer. You pay for your own tax deductible travel expenses through the Worldwide Child Relief Foundation. Our humanitarian work currently focuses on the small village of La Calle Real, Nicaragua. It is located about one hour northeast of the city of Leon. It is 15 miles east of the small town of Malp
asillio where over 90% of the people live in extreme poverty. Nicaragua is the second poorest country in all of Central and South America. In La Calle Real most people live and support their families as subsistence farmers or small pottery businesses. After generations of division, family land has been divided into tiny plots that can barely produce enough corn and beans to last between three and nine months. To supplement their income, people work as day laborers, or seasonally migrate to work on sugar and coffee plantations. Most families do not have running water, refrigeration, washing machines, dryers, or stoves. Most cooking is done inside or outside over an open fire. Most transportation is by foot, bike, and bus if you can get to the main highway. Nutrition is poor with the staple food being rice and beans. Better off families own some livestock. Public schools do not receive any money from the government for school supplies, materials, or equipment. Teachers and staff is the only resource provided by the government. Education beyond secondary school is priced reasonably, but is beyond the means for most LCR families. Despite the extreme poverty, you will notice that the children arrive at school well groomed, wearing clean clothes (even if they must wash them every day). They are anxious to learn and have a good attitude. We have found the school personnel and the community to be very supportive and grateful for our assistance.
