Photograph Courtesy of Vintage Chica
Nicaragua takes its name from the indigenous chief Nicarao and the Spanish word “agua” meaning water, related to Nicarao’s living near what is now called Lake Nicaragua in the late 1400’s and early 1500’s.
The country boasts the largest land-mass in Central America but is the least densely populated of the region’s countries, with only six million inhabitants in little more than 50,000 square miles – about the size of New York state. It shares borders with Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south, and is bound by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east.
About one-fourth of the entire population lives in Managua, the largest city, with the majority of the remaining population along a 62-mile wide strip on the Pacific Coast. The majority of this population is mestizo, a combination of Spanish and native Indians.
Towns on the Caribbean side are few and small. This is where the few remaining indigenous Indians live on what is known as the Mosquito Coast, named after the Miskito Indians. The current indigenous population remains ethnically separate from other Nicaraguan populations, and maintains its tribal customs and languages.
The first Spanish settlement in Nicaragua was constructed in 1524. Nicaragua did not gain independence from Spain until 1821, and became an independent republic in 1838.
Throughout its history the country has been victimized by centuries of political conflict, dictatorships, armed guerrilla uprisings, assassinations, US military occupations, the disappearance of thousands of local protesters, rigged elections, graft, corruption, and raided national treasuries. Elections held as recently as 2008, 2010, and 2011 were called “severely flawed” by a contingent of local and international observers.
Not surprisingly, then, with control of development decisions and money in the hands of the privileged few, the “average” Nicaraguan lives in dire conditions on $2.00 per day or less. Forty-two percent of Nicaraguans fall below the international poverty line of $1.25 per day.
Public education is free, but that includes only the basics – teacher, classroom, desk, and writing board. Families must pay for everything else for each child – text books, workbooks, pencils, pens, paper, erasers, etc. Considering the parents’ meager earnings it is not a surprise that forty-five percent of children who start school in first grade will be out of school by fourth grade, and only 47% will finish sixth grade.
Parents can barely afford expenses for one child, let alone the four or five that make up most families. Girls are the first children to be pulled out of school, since they are considered less economically valuable to the family. Young girls then look for a husband, begin having babies as early as 14, and so the cycle of poverty continues.
The reality of social, political, economic, and racial discrimination in Nicaragua has
created an atmosphere conducive to human rights violations. According to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“Like most of its neighbouring countries in Central America, Nicaragua is beset with human rights problems related to poverty, discrimination and shortcomings in the administration of justice. Of particular concern is the administration of juvenile justice, child labour and trafficking. The country’s communities of indigenous peoples and Afro-descendants are among those most affected by poverty. The inadequacy of public services, including education, health and justice, in the areas inhabited by these communities is particularly high compared to other areas of the country.”
Quoted text from Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.org
Other text excerpted, adapted, revised from indexmundi.com, UNICEF.org, Library.thinkquest.org
The country boasts the largest land-mass in Central America but is the least densely populated of the region’s countries, with only six million inhabitants in little more than 50,000 square miles – about the size of New York state. It shares borders with Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south, and is bound by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east.
About one-fourth of the entire population lives in Managua, the largest city, with the majority of the remaining population along a 62-mile wide strip on the Pacific Coast. The majority of this population is mestizo, a combination of Spanish and native Indians.
Towns on the Caribbean side are few and small. This is where the few remaining indigenous Indians live on what is known as the Mosquito Coast, named after the Miskito Indians. The current indigenous population remains ethnically separate from other Nicaraguan populations, and maintains its tribal customs and languages.
The first Spanish settlement in Nicaragua was constructed in 1524. Nicaragua did not gain independence from Spain until 1821, and became an independent republic in 1838.
Throughout its history the country has been victimized by centuries of political conflict, dictatorships, armed guerrilla uprisings, assassinations, US military occupations, the disappearance of thousands of local protesters, rigged elections, graft, corruption, and raided national treasuries. Elections held as recently as 2008, 2010, and 2011 were called “severely flawed” by a contingent of local and international observers.
Not surprisingly, then, with control of development decisions and money in the hands of the privileged few, the “average” Nicaraguan lives in dire conditions on $2.00 per day or less. Forty-two percent of Nicaraguans fall below the international poverty line of $1.25 per day.
Public education is free, but that includes only the basics – teacher, classroom, desk, and writing board. Families must pay for everything else for each child – text books, workbooks, pencils, pens, paper, erasers, etc. Considering the parents’ meager earnings it is not a surprise that forty-five percent of children who start school in first grade will be out of school by fourth grade, and only 47% will finish sixth grade.
Parents can barely afford expenses for one child, let alone the four or five that make up most families. Girls are the first children to be pulled out of school, since they are considered less economically valuable to the family. Young girls then look for a husband, begin having babies as early as 14, and so the cycle of poverty continues.
The reality of social, political, economic, and racial discrimination in Nicaragua has
created an atmosphere conducive to human rights violations. According to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“Like most of its neighbouring countries in Central America, Nicaragua is beset with human rights problems related to poverty, discrimination and shortcomings in the administration of justice. Of particular concern is the administration of juvenile justice, child labour and trafficking. The country’s communities of indigenous peoples and Afro-descendants are among those most affected by poverty. The inadequacy of public services, including education, health and justice, in the areas inhabited by these communities is particularly high compared to other areas of the country.”
Quoted text from Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.org
Other text excerpted, adapted, revised from indexmundi.com, UNICEF.org, Library.thinkquest.org