The Importance of Yamil

We believe that if a project is going to work in the long-term, the community must own it.  This means, in part, that the community contributes to the project as it’s able.  Most often the community contributes its labor:  mixing cement, hauling materials, cooking meals, digging holes, planting trees, etc.  Yamil is the one on the Nuevas Esperanzas team who organizes the work groups. 

That may sound trivial, but work groups are actually where much of community transformation happens.  Work groups are where people decide to cooperate for the common good, or don’t.  They are where people buy into the project, or don’t.  Work groups are where we find out what people are willing to share.  Work groups are where we find out what kind of change people really want. 

Yamil’s job is not just having people count off and telling them what day to show up.  He’s a mediator, negotiator and motivational speaker.  He needs to be able to read people and have a knack for building relationships, which is why Yamil being Nicaraguan is such an important asset.

My job is to manage projects, monitor results and report to donors.  I orchestrate opportunities for Yamil to work.  Yamil, in some ways, is more of an artist.  He creates opportunities for change.