Hope After Loss

Hurricane Julia left significant damage to rural areas across Nicaragua, with many losing their homes, crops, and in some cases, their lives. One of these areas was the Kilambé region in northern Nicaragua.

Juana Bidea, a community leader, was not satisfied with the emergency response from local authorities and reached out to CEPAD for help in coordinating rehabilitation and counseling attention to the communities in her area.

With the help of Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD) and Davidson College Presbyterian Church, we were able to purchase 1.7 acres of land to relocate ten of the affected families. We were also able to provide some materials for home reconstruction and sheets of zinc for the roof.

In coordination with the mayor’s office, community leaders were able to legalize the deeds of the new properties for the beneficiaries. Now, all 10 of the families have their own deeds.

Some of the beneficiaries with their deed paperwork.

“I feel so proud of having my own deed as a woman for my house, where I live with my five children. It’s difficult in the community for women to get the right to their own home, but I was able to achieve it because I fought to be recognized. My house was destroyed by the hurricane, my crops and well buried under a landslide. Now, I have a new house that will be safe for us to live and where I can protect my children,” says Isadora Montenegro.

The group of community leaders were also able to get approval for a preschool that would benefit 40 families in the area.

Above: The finished preschool that has been approved by the Ministry of Education where 30 kids are enrolled.

“Now that we have a school nearby, we no longer have to walk 9km for our kids to go to school. Our children now have a quality education close to home,” shares mother Doralina Hernández.

With all of this new knowledge and experience, the community is adopting a strategy focused on prevention, mitigation, and resilience against natural disasters. The leaders of these communities are able to plan and prepare for whatever emergency arises.

All of the families in the Kilambé region are very thankful for all of the accompaniment they have received during this very difficult situation. Thank YOU for making a difference in these families’ lives!