I have a world of wonderful m memories from the time I spent working with CEPAD, but when asked about why I continue to support CEPAD financially, one event stands out for me.

In a small community near Matagalpa, we were gathered for an event to mark the closing of CEPAD’s work for 5 years with a circuit of seven nearby communities. After a lot of formal talk, finally one of the local leaders got up to speak.

“Other organizations have come to our communities and given us more than CEPAD,” she began, “But no other organization has helped us learn how to do more for ourselves than CEPAD.”

That process, learning “how to do more for ourselves” does not happen quickly, with a few visits. It happens over a time of meeting people where they are, developing leaders, and building trust. That is why CEPAD has a five-year program with communities, not a quick fix.

I’ve seen several organizations in Nicaragua that come to “give” things to the poor communities. But true long-term development doesn’t come through gifts – it comes through training, trust, and work.

I want to give to an organization that helps people “to learn how to do more for ourselves.” That is CEPAD.