Where is Masaya and What is it Like?
Masaya – Leicester’s Twin City in Nicaragua
Masaya is a city of around 100,000 people, situated twenty miles south of the Nicaraguan capital, Managua. It is the administrative centre of the smallest and most densely populated department in Nicaragua. Dramatic volcanoes and sparkling lakes dominate this part of the country. The climate is tropical with a rainy season from May to November, when the land is verdant and fruits and flowers are in abundance. For the rest of the year the weather is hot, dry and dusty. Natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, hurricanes and earthquakes are common and constantly threaten the lives and livelihoods of the Nicaraguan people.
Masaya’s historical centre is typical of Spanish colonial settlements, with open plazas and two large baroque churches, built in the 16th century. Otherwise, buildings on the criss-cross streets are usually single storey and houses are mixed in with shops, bars and small workshops in neighbourhood areas called ‘barrios’. Though most people living near the centre of town have small but well-built houses with piped water and sewerage, conditions are less favourable in the outer ‘barrios’ where there might only be a tap in the yard, basic cooking facilities and a simple pit latrine.
Not all roads in Masaya are paved and people generally walk, cycle or use the buses which are plentiful, noisy and always full to capacity, but services run frequently from Masaya to all the major cities and most small towns. Few people own cars and those who do seize the opportunity to run a taxi service, charging a standard flat fee to travel anywhere in Masaya.
Like Leicester, Masaya has a history of manufacturing footwear and clothing and is well known for its large, bustling market which sells a rich variety of fruits, vegetables, foodstuffs, flowers, household goods and a wide range of artefacts which are hand-made by local people.
The Nicaraguan arts and crafts industry is based in Masaya, operating mainly in small family-run workshops in the indigenous district of the city. Artisans use traditional techniques to produce a range of crafts including woven mats, baskets, leather goods, masks and hand embroidered costumes, as well as hammocks and decorated wooden rocking chairs for which Masaya has an international reputation. There is also a strong artistic tradition among painters working in the ‘pimitivista’ style. Large murals and smaller works on canvas vividly depict an idealised view of the lives of ordinary people and the dramatic landscapes that surround them.
Masaya is also the folkloric capital of Nicaragua and the Masayans love any and every excuse to celebrate. The city is especially lively during the Festival of St Jeronimo, the patron saint of Masaya. Every Sunday from September until November the streets are filled with people of all ages dancing in colourful costumes to the sound of the marimba.
Nearly half the population of Masaya is under 16 years old and though primary and secondary education is mainly provided through the state system, there are charges for stationery and textbooks which most families struggle to afford. Children attend school in shifts either in the morning, the afternoons or the evening as many young people work to supplement the family income. Only the basic subjects are taught, class sizes often exceed 50 students and resources are desperately limited - few schools have science or sport equipment and the libraries are badly stocked. Opportunities for young people to develop their interests outside of school are also restricted by the lack of facilities.
Nicaragua is recognized as the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with one of the highest debts in the world. In spite of this, the Nicaraguan people struggle hard to overcome the problems of poverty and they show great willingness to work together in community groups to bring about practical improvements. Personal involvement at a local level, such as volunteering to promote health or to run children's centres in the different ‘barrios’, provides much needed support and is a benefit to the whole community.
Basic Facts About Nicaragua
• Nicaragua is the same size as England & Wales – but only 4m people live there
• It is the second poorest country in Western hemisphere
• Half the population live on less than $1 per day
• Half the population is under 16 and 800,000 children are not in school