By Chad Klassen

Kamloops schools fundraising for Nicaraguans living in dump

Jan 26, 2016 | 4:39 PM

KAMLOOPS – Three schools across the Kamloops-Thompson school district are fundraising to help a community in Nicaragua living in a garbage dump. 

It’s hard to imagine for many, but a community consisting of about 2,000 people, live and work in the dump. It’s been this way since October 1998 when Hurricane Mitch washed away people’s homes, forcing them to settle at the El Limonal garbage dump, surrounded by nothing but trash. 

But it’s a way of life, a way to make a bit of money, albeit only a few dollars a day. 

It’s a life experienced for 10 days last year by Kamloops’ Jess Rothenberger and Warren Fitzgerald from England. They were there to film a documentary and also to understand the community’s needs. 

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“Pressing need right now is food. with the world economy the way it is, commodities went down and these people rely on selling commodities they find in the dump, and the price of food went up,” says Teresa Cline from Global Solidarity Group, which is hoping to raise money for the people before they travel there in the spring.

At Parkcrest Elementary, students are collecting donations in their campaign “Change for Change.” Just $10 will feed a family of five there for a whole week. 

Helping people in Nicaraugua is nothing new for School District 73, which has in the last four years collected and donated more than 21,000 pairs of shoes. 

This campaign runs until March 1 when the money will be forwarded through the Global Solidarity Group. If you would like to help, you can visit Gringos in the Garbage website or call Teresa Cline at 250-682-3277.

Gringos in the Garbage is also hosting a documentary screening this weekend.