Segundo Flores & Jessie Briceno, originally from Nicaragua in Central America, are now living in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon. They arrived here in 2022 having to leave their native country due to severe restrictions on freedom of expression and association, as well as political discrimination. Segundo was administrator with the NGO Fe Y Alegria, an international movement of popular education and social promotion based on the values of justice, participation, fraternity, respect for diversity and solidarity, focused on impoverished and excluded populations, in order to contribute to the transformation of society. His role was helping families with limited economic resources to get free education. Jessie supported children who had undergone traumatic ordeals and women who had experienced violence. Both Segundo and Jessie suffered persecution, siege, and threats of imprisonment for speaking out. Since living in Ireland, they feel very safe and secure, and appreciate the Irish way of life. They found their first year difficult due to the language barrier but have since learned English well enough to communicate easily and feel they have been accepted and become part of the local community.
They first volunteered for the St. Patrick’s Day parade earlier this year, in order to help learn the language and to integrate with the community. They had a wonderful time seeing the children smiling and both felt appreciated for the work they were doing. Jessie has a great passion for cooking which led to them participating in the multicultural food festival in Ballaghaderreen. This opened doors for Jessie to begin studying in September 2023 to become an International Chef at An Chistin, a state-of-the-art training and community kitchen which offers a range of courses and services to the food and hospitality sector in Castlerea. This was only made possible with Roscommon Volunteer Centre organising transport to and from the centre for the duration of the course.
Both Segundo and Jessie have worked hard to mix with the community volunteering to organise the Sanctuary Runners, Ballaghaderreen which gather groups of all nationalities, living situations and backgrounds to run in solidarity, friendship, and respect together. They have met people from Ireland as well as Ukraine, Congo, South Africa and El Salvador. It is through these events that they have learned to understand the Irish way of life. When Segundo heard about busking, he could not wait to get out on the street and promote Nicaragua culture through traditional songs and was overwhelmed at the response when numerous pedestrians stopped to listen to him perform on the street. It has inspired him to look for an opportunity where he can pass on his skills in music and wishes to set up a recording studio in the town. For now, it is an idea, but Segundo believes with the assistance of organisations such as Music Generation and An Foróige he may be able to establish something where he is able to give back more to the community, he now calls his home.
Both have undergone a sense of gratitude and warmth from the smiles they receive on a regular basis from volunteering, which they consider a unique opportunity and helps retain their imagination, especially when working with children such as at the Strokestown Park House event last May. They appreciate the help that everyone has given to them in Ballaghaderreen, which they consider a peaceful, quiet, and safe space and very welcoming. They would like to finish by thanking the Roscommon Volunteer Centre who have been there to help them throughout their journey and hope it will continue.
