HOY Hear Out Yellow

The Rainbow Team

6 very different students.

We came together for a common cause.

Bianka Ballina

My name is Bianka. I was born and raised in a small city of northern Nicaragua, called Esteli. I am both Nicaraguan and Cuban. After finishing high school at home in Esteli, I was fortunate enough to attend Red Cross Nordicc United World College in Flekke, Norway for two years and graduated in 2007.

I have just finished my first year at the University of Florida, in Gainesville. Hopefully I will double major in Economics and Women's Studies, with a minor in Latin American Studies.

Living in Nicaragua, I had heard about the situation of the banana workers and I had seen the encampment in Managua, but that was all. Realizing how ignorant I was about a situation like this, which was happening so near to me, inspired me to get involved; so when Muyambi talked to me about their project I offered my help to the group without hesitating.

I hope this documentary inspires all kinds of people; not only those who knew nothing about these banana workers, but also those who are ina similar situation to the one I experienced before becoming part of this project. Of course our main goal is to help the banana workers that were affected by the use of DBCP, but at the same time we want to reach out to people and help them see that the simple things that are part of our everyday consumption can involve human tragedies similar to this one. Preventing them depends on us becoming more aware as consumers, and our will to change the stages of the production process that create such horrors.

Grace Han

My name is Grace Han and I'm from Portsmouth, Rhode Island, a little town in a little state. But I love it, no doubt. I'm an upcoming sophomore at Bucknell University. I'm not sure what I'd like to major in yet, but I'm sure I'll figure it out sooner or later. I love art, music, the beach and people. I dream about spending my life traveling around the world, getting to know all different kinds of people and helping as much as I can as I go along. I got involved in this project by going to Nicaragua in January of 2008 through the Bucknell Brigade. During that one week in Nicaragua my entire outlook on life was turned around. I realized the capability I had to make change in this world, even if very small, change is change. I was touched by the Nicaraguan people and their attitude and way of life. My only hope is that we make an impression on their lives the way they have made an impression on ours. I hope you follow our journey and try to help as much as you can.

Connie Low

My name is Connie Low and I just recently graduated from Bucknell University. I grew up in Singapore and moved to New Jersey five years ago. At Bucknell, I was very involved. I was the Vice President for Class for 2008, participated in Residential Colleges, became an Orientation Assistant, selected to be a student representative on the Alumni Board among other activities. Most of all, I am grateful for the opportunities that Bucknell has given me to volunteer, especially for Habitat for Humanity and the Bucknell Brigade to Nicaragua. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music and dancing is my passion! In the future, I am very interested in establishing a career in corporate social responsibility. I am also very interested in gaining some international work experience to enhance my cultural awareness.

I was fortunate enough to participate in the January Brigade to Nicaragua with a group of wonderful students, faculty and administration. During this trip, we witnessed first hand the sufferings of the banana workers while they were at their campaign site outside a government building in Managua. They were in pain from the various physical defects to serious health problems. It was very disheartening to see that they are in such conditions. I was definitely very struck from seeing the banana workers. They asked us to help them because we are Americans. We did not know what to do. When the opportunity came up right after we returned to Bucknell from our trip to apply for a grant from the Projects for Peace Davis Foundation, I joined my dedicated Brigadistas to seize this once in a lifetime chance to make a difference. We were so excited to receive this grant! I decided to be one of the five students to go to Nicaragua again because I knew that this would be the first time I take such a big step to put my drive to help into action.

This project is very important to me because it actually allows us to make a difference. Our main goal is to spread awareness of the situation of the banana workers and we hope that through this documentary we will motivate more people to help. I also hope that by encouraging the banana workers to tell their stories, they will gain hope in their lives and the lives of their children.

Dick Muyambi

My name is Muyambi, a 19 year old Ugandan. I am one of the 15 or so children of my father and one of the 7 children of my mother. I came to the USA August 2007 to pursue a degree in Civil engineering at Bucknell University (although likely to double major in Economics). I attended an international school called Red Cross United World College (RCNUWC) located in Norway for my high school and that’s how I ended up in the USA. Thank God.

My passion is to make a difference wherever and whenever I can, little by little led me to being a part of the Projects for peace to come to Nicaragua. But most of all, I wanted to use my God given opportunities to give other people what they truly deserve or at least try. So many people talk the talk, but very few walk the walk, and i want to be one of those few people.

Brittany Szabo

My name is Brittany Szabo and I graduated in May 2008 from Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and Spanish. Born and raised in Connecticut, I have been fortunate enough to travel throughout Europe and Central and South America, and want to continue to travel and broaden my global perspective. I am pursuing a career in international law and am seeking employment at a nonprofit or nongovernmental organization, especially in human rights, and eventually want to work for the United Nations.

I feel a deep connection with Nicaragua and am thrilled to be a part of such a great project. Suffering and poverty around the world can only be eradictaed through awareness and the understanding that we are together in this fight. After joining the Bucknell Brigade in March, I realized the value of serving others and truly admired the hope and passion of the Nicaraguan people. I understand that, while everyone should be equal, not everyone has the same opportunities and am dedicating my life to making sure everyone is given basic human rights and survival needs.

I love to travel, read, learn new languages, do yoga, dance, try exotic foods, and love sushi, soy milk, tomatos, the beach, airports, children, and summer time. My favorite book is One Hundred Years of Solitude. I live by the quote, “It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting. Never stop dreaming.”

Lauren Weinstein

My name is Lauren Weinstein. I am 20 years old and a rising junior at Bucknell University where I study Environmental Science, Sociology, and Art. I live in the two most amazing places in the world- Culver Lake, NJ and MOD 14 at Bucknell. I first fell in love with Nicaragua through my activity in Bucknell’s service learning programs: I was a member of the Bucknell Brigade’s trip to Nicaragua in March of 2008, and then the Katrina Relief Trip to New Orleans in May 2008. Since March, I've been commited to staying involved with helping the Brigade's efforts in Nicaragua. Leaving Nicaragua the first time, I was certain I would return, i just didn't know it would be so soon. I am so incredibly grateful to be back in such a beautiful country, working to understand and communicate the story of such courageous people; the banana workers of Nicaragua. I feel so fortunate to have been given this opportunity to both meet the Banana Workers, and also work with Britt, Grace, Connie, Muyambi, and Bianka.

The more that I learn, the more I´m informed that so many things are wrong in this world, but I also know that many people are making positive changes in the lives of those who need it. I know that I too want to help when and where I can. While its not always easy to know where to start or how, I have faith that whatever small differences are made create bigger steps in the right direction. I can only hope that others will be inspired as so many already have been- together we can do something serious. Personally, projects for peace has been a wonderful catalyst in helping me to follow my passion for helping others and actively make benevolant change in the world.

"What you do for yourself dies with you but what you do for others is immortal. Touch as many lives as you can- its the ultimate purpose." -George Henderson

On a lighter note, I love soy milk too. I love a game I play with my friends from home that involves cups, I love making things, really bright colors, and things that are braided. I love trying to make sense of things, I love my radio show, I love crazy, I love sarcasm, I love recycling. I like to paint, I like tree pose and waterskiing. Also, catchphrase was the best game ever invented. I´m happiest when I laugh- if you make me laugh, I´ll love you forever.