You are Training Tomorrow’s Leaders

Ebelín is a mother and community leader in the village of La Providencia. Before your support for her training, she was shy and mostly stayed in her home with her family. She is now helping her community by improving the roads and transforming empty land into gardens. They have recently solicited solar panels for homes in their community. Thank you for making these transformations possible.

Ebelín is a mother of two sons who lives in the community of La Providencia tucked into the rolling green hills of Nueva Guinea, a 5-6 hour drive from Managua. She has received training to be a Community Leader from CEPAD, and her husband is a farmer who is also part of CEPAD’s program.

Before CEPAD came to work with the people of La Providencia, Ebelín was very timid and mostly tended to her home. Now she feels more empowered and, along with other leaders in her community, has advocated for better roads, more electrification in the community (specifically for streetlights), has helped transform empty land into gardens, and designated land for a community cemetery.

Ebelín shares her transformation in the following way:

“Before CEPAD, I didn’t leave the house very much. I just cared for my children and didn’t have very many friends, because I was timid. Through CEPAD’s trainings, I’ve learned so much – how to work with others in my community to overcome any problems we face – and have made many new friends.”

Ebelín and her husband are also proud farmers, using their once-empty backyard and transforming it into a flourishing garden. Where there was nothing, they now grow lemons, oranges, corn, pineapple, coconuts, and avocados – which provides much-needed nutrients for their family.

Though Ebelín and other community leaders have accomplished so much, she still has hopes for the future, even after CEPAD leaves their community. They are beginning to advocate and find funding for 50 more latrines for their community. There are some community latrines, but not enough for everyone. Ebelín is very confident that she and other community leaders will continue to overcome any challenges they face because they have received proper training from CEPAD.

Lastly, Ebelín wants you to know how much your contribution has changed her life.

“Please continue supporting CEPAD. You can be sure we’ve taken advantage of every opportunity made available to us. Know that you are also always welcome to visit and se and taste our new produce.”

Thank you for partnering with CEPAD to transform the community of La Providencia and empower people like Ebelín to advocate for herself and her community to break the cycles of poverty and hunger.