CEPAD Serves Hundreds of Families in Earthquake Aftermath

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April’s earthquakes were the strongest in more than 40 years and devastated the livelihoods of hundreds of families. CEPAD, in partnership with the ACT Alliance, provided 480 food and supplies packets of 90 pounds each and hosted workshops for 400 people experiencing negative emotional impacts from the quakes. The program was based in the small city of Mateare, which experienced some of the strongest impact from the largest of the earthquakes. Read more

People in Cumaica Norte are Thriving Despite Record Drought and High Food Prices

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The price of beans in Nicaragua is triple what it was this time last year. For most of the people we work with at CEPAD, that means they and their children are eating more rice and fewer beans.

The causes include global market pressures that have increased exports and a year of devastatingly low rainfall because of the El Niño climate cycle and overall global climate change. Rainfall in Nicaragua has been up to 88 percent lower than normal. But in Cumaica Norte, a community in the San Jose de los Remates region, farmers are celebrating a beautiful bean harvest thanks to an irrigation system CEPAD installed and trained them to use.

 

Eduardo Orozco Rivas, one of the CEPAD community organizers in Cumaica Norte, couldn’t wait to show recent visitors from Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church his beautiful beans. He explained that they lost a pepper crop to a disease but knew from CEPAD trainings that they could reuse the rich soil to plant another crop on top of the failed peppers.

“With the irrigation and from the fertilizer made by the pepper plants, these beans were born,” he said. “Look at this crop, how beautiful they are! This is a blessing from God.”

Eduardo asked me to thank CEPAD’s partners and supporters for providing the funds that  brought the irrigation system to Cumaica Norte. Each system costs just over $2,000, and with the help of donors we have installed more than 20 of these systems. Thank you from Eduardo and all of us here at CEPAD! Your donation will make it possible for more of our farmers to grow the crops that sustain their families.

For Two Decades, Brentwood and Bluefields Work Together

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The partnership between Brentwood Presbyterian Church and the pastoral committee APASUR in Bluefields has taken many forms in the last 21 years. This summer, both groups are recommitting themselves to the partnership, and the tangible results are already clear.

In June, a group of 36 people of all ages traveled to Bluefields to get to know the pastors of the committee, visit schools and churches, and simply share time together. At CEPAD, we believe partnership is more than a one-way transaction of financial support to a community — it’s a commitment to work together for radical transformation of both the physical realities of the two communities and the spirits of all involved. Read more

From the Profe: Nicaragua Canal Could Be Economic Boon to Nicaragua

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The Nicaraguan Canal is a proposal to connect the Carribean Sea and Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean by way of Nicaragua. Said canal would go by river until Lake Nicaragua and cross through Rivas to reach the Pacific. The idea of the construction of a canal that takes advantage of the course of the Rio San Juan dates back to the colonial period because the river begins in the lake and lets out in the Carribean.

On July 3, 2012, the National Assembly of Nicaragua approved with a wide majority a law authorizing the construction of an interoceanic canal between the Carribean and Pacific, a work that will take 10 years and cost as much as 45 billion dollars. This new canal would lead to an increase of transit of cargo ships, would help promote commerce between Latin American and European countries and between China with the Americas, Brazil and Europe by permitting better transit of cargo in less time. This will increase the commercial and navigational importance of the Pacific Ocean in the new century.

via http://people.hofstra.edu

via http://people.hofstra.edu

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Student’s CEPAD Photo Wins Congressional Prize

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Madeline Lynn, a recent graduate of Ursuline Academy in Dallas, won the grand prize for the 2014 Congressional Art Competition for Representative Pete Session’s district. Her gorgeous image is a composite of photos she took in CEPAD partner community Cañas Blancas last summer during her delegation trip with the Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church youth group.

Madeline’s work will hang in the U.S. Capitol building, and she will attend a reception for winners from around the country this month. Juan, the man in the photo, hosted Madeline in his home when she visited Cañas Blancas. She said she felt inspired by the way he related to his land and animals, which provide his lifeline. Read more

With CEPAD Computer Classes, Better Future Is A Click Away

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Technology has been slow to reach rural areas of Nicaragua. So for five years, CEPAD’s Matagalpa office has provided affordable computer classes to students of all ages.

They can learn skills like word processing, how to use the internet, email, and spreadsheets. There are also advanced classes like computer maintenance. Hundreds of students have taken courses at the center to improve their chances of success in their studies and jobs.

“I couldn’t study computers in high school, and there aren’t any technology jobs in my community El Castillo, so I’m taking the class to be ready for university,” said Hellen Figueroa Escorsi. “ I want to study nursing, and I want to work to be able to help my family.” Read more

CEPAD Helps With Quake Recovery

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By Damaris Albuquerque, Executive Director

Since April 10, Nicaragua has suffered two earthquakes and more than 580 aftershocks. The epicenters are primarily in the Momotombo and Apoyeque volcanoes, near Lake Managua. The towns and cities Nagarote, Mateare, Puerto Momotombo and Managua have been the most affected.The official reports state that two people died of heart attacks, 231 homes totally collapsed and another 2,408 homes were damaged. The government is Read more

Community Leaders Collaborate To Plan Cooperatives

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“It’s because of CEPAD that we have come as far as we have, and it’s because of CEPAD that we’ll be able to continue on our own,” said Yalena Hernandez Serrano after a meeting at the Nehemias Center last week.

Yalena, from the Los Angeles community in Nueva Guinea, was one of 36 representatives from CEPAD’s partner communities who came to a two day workshop last week to learn how to navigate the forms and rules for creating an official association or cooperative. When the official partnership between CEPAD and these communities ends this year, the associations and cooperatives allow communities to Read more

Please pray for Nicaragua in aftermath of 6.2 earthquake

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We are still feeling the aftershocks of a 6.2 magnitude earthquake near Managua last night. We thank God that all CEPAD staff are safe and that there was no damage to our property. The government reports that one person died of a heart attack. About 33 people were injured and 800 homes were damaged. 17 homes collapsed in Nagarote, the city nearest to the center of the earthquake. We are praying for all those affected.


Nicaragua remains on red alert for aftershocks and additional quakes. CEPAD has secure evacuation routes and plans in place for our staff. Executive director Damaris Albuquerque thanks our friends for their kind messages and prayers.

We received messages from many of you, as soon as you heard the news. We are very grateful for your concern, thoughts and prayers. We will keep you updated in case there are further developments.

Microloan Provided Carmen Acuña and Family The Chance for a Better Life in Cañas Blancas

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“Before CEPAD came, I didn’t even have this chair to sit on, “ said Carmen Acuña, patting the arm of her wooden rocker.

Now, Acuña runs a small convenience store and leads a cooperative bank for the women in her community, Cañas Blancas, and the surrounding areas. CEPAD provides credit for women so they can make investments to improve their economic circumstances. Carmen, a grandmother who is diabetic, earned enough from the store last year to get treatment for a serious illness while still helping with her family’s finances.

“No banks will lend to people in this community, CEPAD is the only one,” she said. “I am so thankful CEPAD took a chance on us, it helped keep me alive and so I could keep my family alive.”

CEPAD relies on support from partners to provide the initial funds for the loan programs in the communities. An investment of $3,500 provided the intitial capital so that 14 women in the Carazo region could drastically improve life for their families. Your gift can make that difference for women in other communities.

The loan program helps strengthen women’s opportunities in their families and communities as well, said Carolina Estrada Sandino, another one of the bank’s founders.

“A lot of times, the men don’t see women as competent to do anything but be at home,” Carolina said. “But now, my husband supports me in my business and there is more motivation to work together as a family.”

The program makes an especially big difference for the many women in rural Nicaragua who are single moms. These women often have to seek work outside the city and leave their children with relatives or neighbors. The opportunity to start a small business means women can better support their families and keep resources in the local economy.

Carmen said she thanks God every day for CEPAD and the opportunity to start her store. We at CEPAD are thankful every day for partners like you who make our work possible!