From bullets to plants,the life and struggles of Don Mercedes
Yorlis Luna describes the story of Don Mercedes Baltodano, a war veteran whose life is a reflection of strength, creativity and talent of Nicaraguans who work in the social economy. Nicaragua's unique social economy goes hand in hand with the history and life of the people of Nicaragua, the struggle for...
The legacy of Paolo Freire: popular education in Nicaragua
Yorlis Luna describes how the legacy of the Brazilian philosopher and educator lives on in Nicaragua. Paolo Freire, the great philosopher and educational pedagogue, was born 100 years ago on 19 September 1921. He is known as ‘’the Educator of America,’ because his exceptional contribution was rooted in the reality of political...
Agroecology, school gardens, and healthy school meals
Indiana Montoya and Yorlis Luna describe how children, teachers, university students and parents in the rural schools in Los Copeles and San Miguelito have worked together on school gardens that provide healthy ingredients for school meals and bring communities together. “I thought agroecology was only organic farming … but now I...
Climate Justice: the Nicaragua perspective
Thousands of events will be taking place around the UK during the Great Big Green Week 18 - 26 September. Find out how you can get involved locally! Nicaragua is but one example of a developing country with its most marginalised citizens suffering the worst consequences of a climate crisis for...
Masaya: from a city under siege to a city with hope for the future
Patricia Ruiz, who lives in Masaya, reports on her perceptions of government and local council initiatives to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life in a city that suffered so much damage in the failed 2018 coup attempt. With barely two months to go before the general elections on 7...
Mutual support & solidarity, the experience of a community co-ordinator
Massiel Luna Delgado writes about her experiences as a community organiser in a barrio (neighbourhood) of Managua, building mutual support networks based on solidarity. Today's world is complex and messed up. For many, the suffering of the great majority of people becomes just another number. At the same time more and...
Webinar: What difference has 14 years of Sandinista government made?
Thursday 23 September, 6.30 – 8pm BST The election victory of the Sandinista government in November 2006 brought to an end 16 years of neoliberal governments. Since that time maintaining a mixed economy and economic stability while at the same time implementing comprehensive poverty reduction and infrastructure programmes have been key government...
Building homes, building community solidarity – the co-operative way
Winnie Narváez Herrera interviewed Yadira Aguirre and Margine Martínez, members of a housing co-operative in a small rural community in La Dalia in mountainous northern Nicaragua. Like every other country, Nicaragua needs more affordable housing. To address the shortage, in many places community-based solutions are being implemented through shared responsibility between the...
Tribute to Irma Maria Aviles, Gloria Quintanilla Women’s Co-operative
We mourn the passing of Doña Irma who has died at the age of 76. Dona Irma was a member of the Gloria Quintanilla Women’s Co-operative set up with the support of NSC’s partner organisation the Rural Workers Association (ATC) in 2008. In a testimony given to members of a 2019...
From transforming nature to transforming ourselves
On 9 August the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued the starkest report ever warning of the ‘code red for humanity’ of the climate emergency. However the scientists also stated that a catastrophe can be avoided but only if the world acts fast. UN Secretary General António Guterres said: "If...