Nicaragua Now, Issue 12, Spring 2022: Food sovereignty, agroecology, climate justice
“We are the ones who feed the world. We provide 70-80% of the food you eat yet our voices are missing. Only the voices of agribusiness are allowed to speak, what we are witnessing is corporate capture of UN systems. Private finance, not governments are making the decisions”. Land Workers...
Latest Bristol funded pre-school opened in Puerto Morazan
Bristol based Friends of Morazan has funded the construction of 13 pre-schools in their twin town of Puerto Morazan near the border with Honduras. Local volunteers, some of whom have children at the school, helped in the construction. [caption id="attachment_27616" align="alignnone" width="800"] Cutting the ribbon ceremony[/caption] The new building, based in a...
After the hurricanes, rebuilding lives and livelihoods
The remote coastal community of Haulover on the Caribbean Coast was struck by two catastrophic hurricanes in two weeks in November 2020. A year on, British film maker Ahmed Kaballo visited to find out what progress the community had made in rebuilding their lives and livelihoods. Located in the Northern Caribbean...
Nicaragua, a country with a government that supports artisans
Many years ago Luis Chávez Delgadillo had to leave Nicaragua during a period of neoliberal government because there were no prospects of being able to make a living. In Mexico and Guatemala he learned a trade as a leather craftsman. However, six years ago he returned to Nicaragua to discover a...
There is no climate justice without social & economic justice
‘ Fairtrade is both the bridge and the vehicle that helps to transform the wellbeing of the families of small-scale producers. There cannot be climate justice without justice in the market for our products. ‘ Fatima Ismael, Co-operative Union SOPPEXCCA What is SOPPEXCCA and what are its goals? SOPPEXCCA is located...
Learn Spanish with a Latin American flavour
12 online classes held weekly on Mondays starting 28 February If you want to learn Spanish with a Latin American flavour, the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign is the place for you. We have fun and friendly evening classes teaching various levels at reasonable prices. Term dates: 21 FEBRUARY – 30 MAY 2022 Easter and...
Ciudad Dario: much more than a place to pass through
*Winnie Narváez Herrera visits three small businesses that form part of the social economy in the town of Ciudad Dario. For many people, Ciudad Darío in the municipality of Matagalpa is a place they pass through on the Pan American Highway. However, this small town, 80km from Managua with a population of...
Nicaragua’s big secret, the success of the social economy
Jorge Capelan interviewed Leonel Rivera, Managua representative of the Ministry of the Family, Community, Cooperative and Associative Economy (MEFCCA), to find out more about how the government is supporting this key sector. Over a three year period Nicaragua has faced four major crises: an attempted coup, two devastating hurricanes, and the...
Education programmes that support rural development & the social economy
Winnie Narváez Herrera highlights how well integrated education and government programmes grounded in Nicaragua’s social and economic reality support the social economy that employs 80% of the work force. For the past eight years Catalino Herrera Ochoa, whose family are peasant farmers, has worked as a gardener at a primary school...
From building roads to learning the ancient techniques of bamboo handicraft
Construction worker Mauricio Antonio Núñez lost his job in 2018 because he defended the government during the violence associated with the failed coup. Journalist Jorge Capelán visited him in his workshop south of Managua to find out about his new vocation as a bamboo craftsperson thanks to the support of the...