Meet the team - Eden and Juan Carlos in Nicaragua

It’s hard to find the perfect words to describe GVI Phoenix Nicaragua’s taxista Eden: rambunctious, outrageously outspoken, machete-wielding? These are just the beginning. Thirty-two years old going on sixteen, Eden arrives each morning to take the volunteers and staff to la Chiriza and la Thompson with energy and flair. Eden was raised in la Trinidad, a neighborhood thirty minutes south of Estelí, and still lives there today with his wife, son, and daughter. He is known for blasting Latin America’s hopelessly romantic love songs, enthusiastically greeting foreigners, and always being on time. We cannot thank Eden enough for his constant help and hilarity, and look forward to many more taxi rides in the future.

Juan Carlos, another of our regular taxistas, has become a constant joy in the lives of the volunteers and staff as he shuttles them to and from la Chiriza and la Thompson. Juan Carlos, 30, grew up in Matagalpa, a town about one hour southeast of Estelí. He remembers spending delicious days on his grandfather’s farm, taking care of the animals and swimming in the nearby river. Full of jokes and ridiculously rapid Spanish, Juan Carlos now lives in la Trinidad, a neighborhood about thirty minutes south of Estelí. Always a hard worker, Juan Carlos works six long days a week to improve the lives of his wife and six year-old daughter. He is very grateful for the dependable work that our partnership has provided, just as we, too, are forever grateful for his cheery and reliable transportation and friendship.

Meet the team - Eden and Juan Carlos in Nicaragua