One of the most exciting new programs of Compas de Nicaragua has been the sustainable living projects in La Paz, Carazo. We have been supporting a farmer’s coop called, “Brothers and Sister in Reconciliation.” We have supported monthly organic agriculture workshops, built 5 bio-gas systems, and given out micro-loans to farmers. We are also helping the coop’s efforts to attain tariff exemption status. Exemption status would allow the coop

supported the members this year with $4000 in micro-lending money for the planting season. The farmers have had to deal with a severe drought in August that affected the rice and corn crops. The farmers have been learning about deforestation and global warming issues through the monthly workshops. Due to the drought, they are more eager than ever to work to reforest the area. Our wish list for next year is to begin construction of a coffee lab and purchase a coffee de-pulping machine and coffee roaster. We also hope to plant 25,000 trees in the watershed and ravine areas of La Paz.

Sustainability Projects in La Paz

A COMPAS DE NICARAGUA NEWSLETTER FALL/WINTER 2009

Friends of the Springtime

“Brothers and Sisters in Reconciliation Cooperative” President, Herzalia Martinez, at her coffee farm in La Paz, Carazo.

to export coffee and other produce to the US without high tariffs. The coop is hoping to send produce via shipping containers and find outlets for sales in the US. This year, the coop was able to send coffee to the US with service trip groups who helped sell over $2,000 in coffee at fair exchange prices. In the future, we hope to be able to send larger quantities in containers and find wholesale retailers interested in purchasing the coffee. We are also creating a tree nursery to help reforest the La Paz area. Other ideas are to create a seed bank for heirloom seeds for traditional crops such as rice, beans, corn, tomatoes, and green peppers. This is in an effort to help get away from harmful genetically modified seeds that many farmers are using now. The coop has grown from 20 to 50 members. Compas

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Each trip participant spent a full day with a separate Woman in Action member. Joyce Cuff was with Esperanza, who because of a congenital problem and an accident which occurred when she was a child, has scar and bone tissue completely covering one eye. Joyce and Esperanza spent the day going to eye clinics to check out possibilities for a corrective operation. A dying wish of her mother a year ago was that Esperanza would have an operation to have her eye fixed. Our group donated the money for the operation and in August, she had successful surgery and she can now open her eye!

We did more service than ever with this crew. We visited La Chureca (Managua Dump) again and the youngest in our group said it was good for her to witness life at its basest level. We constructed more bookshelves for the WIA center, put in the first four gray water drainage systems at WIA houses, cleaned the women out of the gourds they carved, paid for a successful operation on Don Pedro that happened while we were there, took the women dancing, treated the whole neighborhood to ice cream twice, drove the largest contingent ever to the beach (2 busloads). And, oh yeah, we dropped $12,500 on the WIA for their micro-lending program! Not a bad week. Steve Lindemann is already plotting another trip for next summer.

Service Trips

Page 2 Friends of the Springtime

In 2009, Compas received service trip groups from the University of New Hampshire, The Share Institute (Sacramento, CA), the White Mountain School (Littleton, NH), Eckard College (St. Petersburg, FL), Plymouth State University (Plymouth, NH), and Danny’s Team (Durham, NH). In 2010, we hope to receive groups from Bowdoin College, University of Wisconsin, Mount Mansfield High School (Jericho, VT), Goffstown High School (Concord, NH), as well as return visits from UNH, Share, Plymouth State, and Danny’s Team.

If you are interested in participating in a service trip, please contact Michael Boudreau, Compas Executive Director, compas@turbonett.com.ni

Trip participant reaction Bill Cuff; Danny’s Team, August 2009)

The culminating Danny's Team trip was as we hoped it would be - intense, emotional, satisfying. We began in Revolution Square on July 19 and got there in time to hear the end of Daniel Ortega's hour long speech live. He ended with the throngs cheering to: "Sandino vive, Sandino vive, Sandino vive siempre!" and fireworks going off overhead. We planted two memorial trees; one in the backyard of Ana's parents which Ana named Oscar (in honor of her brother, Oscar Narvaez) and one in Dayani's yard in La Primavera which shall be named Jader (in honor of her son, Jader Baldelomar). Paul Baker sung at both ceremonies.

Members of Danny’s Team presenting the WIA Board of Directors with a check for $12,500 for their micro-lending program. L-R, Steve Lindemann, Compas Board Chair, Bill Cuff, Ana Trujillo, Pam McPhee, Socorro Fijardo, Joyce Cuff, Mercedes Calero, Karen Gonzalez.

Friends of the Springtime Page 3

Project Update, prepared by the WIA Board of Directors.

First, we want to thank all of you for supporting us. We are forever grateful to all of our friends who support our projects.

It is a great pleasure to send you this project update. It has been a long year of challenges, triumphs, and sorrow. As many of you know, we lost one of the children in our project, Jader Baldelomar, who succumbed to cancer. Jader is an inspiration for all of us.

Last fall, 4 WIA members traveled to the US to carry out dance performances. It was a very successful tour, but unfortunately it ended in sorrow with the news of the death of Ana Narvaez’s brother, Oscar.

Women in Action Project Update

We continue to receive micro-loans for our small businesses. The loans have been instrumental in helping us maintain our sales and provide for our families. The situation in critical. Here in Nicaragua, everything is expensive, all basic foods are two or three times the cost they were just a year or two ago. We know that the economic situation is hurting everyone, and that is why we are so thankful for your continued support of our work even through these difficult times.

There have been many activities at the center. 10 women continued with adult education classes. The Ministry of Education was going to shut down the program, but Compas helped us pressure them into maintaining the program. The women now have only two more courses to finish before graduating from high school. It has been a long, rough road. You can imagine what the women must do to keep their children fed, maintain their homes and still study?

Thank you again for your friendship, love, and support. We hope that you enjoyed our report.

Until next time, with many thanks,

WIA Board of Directors.

WIA Board of Directors at arts and crafts activity. L-R, Ana Trujillo, President, Socorro Fijardo, Secretary, Mercedes Calero, Treasurer.

Share Institute member, Nathen Menard working on gray water system with friend, Jose Gongola.

Compas de Nicaragua Promoting cultural exchange and improving lives

Stateside office:

164 Washington Street Littleton, NH 03561 603-444-6981

In country office:

C.N. KM 6, de los Lab. Ramos 6 C al lago, 1/2 C abajo Barrio La Primavera, Managua, Nicaragua 505-252-2304

E-mail: compas@turbonett.com.ni

Website: www.compas1.org

Thank you for supporting Compas de Nicaragua.

Together we are making a real difference!