The Sister Islands Association’s Student Delegation Committee has decided not to take applications for a 2019 delegation because of the continuing atmosphere of tension and political instability in Nicaragua.
Last year, we were unable to send the group of students who had prepared all winter and spring to travel to Ometepe. It was a very difficult decision but as the level of violence in the country escalate, indicating it was the right decision.
Although recent news seemed potentially optimistic, events again turned more violent and repressive on Ometepe so the committee decided in early October not to take applications for a 2019 delegation. Should the situation improve drastically by next spring, students who had prepared to go in 2018 would constitute the 2019 delegation.
We’re very sorry to have to announce this news and disappoint students who were looking forward to applying and traveling to Ometepe. Until the situation improves in the country, we have deemed that it is not safe to send a delegation there.
The projects that the communities had hoped to share with the 2018 student delegation are still being funded by the Sister Islands Association.