The Park of Stars, Special Families, Nicaragua

In August we left Scotland to fulfill a life-times ambition to ride on a motorbike from Alaska to Argentina whilst raising money for SCIAF. One of the projects that SCIAF supports is Families Especiales (Special Families) in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, and as we would be riding through Central America we got the opportunity to pay them a visit.

On our arrival in October, we were guests of honour at a welcoming party held in their Park of Stars. This is a specially designed, brightly painted and landscaped children’s play park promoting integrated play between able bodied children and children with disabilities. It includes climbing frames, a roundabout, a tree house with slides, and specially adapted swings. The park is accessible to wheelchairs and also houses a shop, kitchen and therapy rooms.

At the party we were entertained with traditional dances and received a blessing for a safe trip. Everyone made us feel so welcome. They even made a piñata (a hollow papier-mache model) in the shape of a motorbike which was hung from the ceiling and bashed with sticks until it split open and showered everyone with sweets.

We were taken on a tour of the women’s co-operative that makes delicious natural yoghurt and cheeses, and got to see the different therapies on offer including physiotherapy, psychology and horse therapy which uses horse riding to promote posture and control in children and young people with disabilities. It was a delight to see one little girl’ s face light up as she experienced the freedom of riding a horse.

The work of Families Especialles includes support in the community to families, and particularly mothers, of children with special needs. The project also has a cafe, a recycling centre, a wheelchair workshop, and artists who produce wonderful cards and murals. These projects are all based in and are lead by the local community and aim to be sustainable in the future.

Our host was Sister Rebecca Trujillo, of the sisters of Notre Dame, who is the founder of Families Especialles. Sister Rebecca and everyone at Families Especialles made us so welcome. Being able to meet the people at Families Especialles and see first hand the kind of work which SCIAF supports was a highlight of our trip.

A big thank you for this opportunity and to everyone at Families Especialles.

Audrey & Stephen Martin

Stephen and Audrey’s mammoth trip will help raise money for SCIAF and Yorkhill Children’s Foundation. If you would like to make a donation please visit www.justgiving.com/pan-american highway1.