Nicaraguan Developments, Spring 2008, Volume 24, No. 1

by José Luis Rocha
Nicaraguan political analyst

When it returned to power after 17 years, the Sandinista Front brought along an important package of social promises. Inspired by the premise that the economic blockade and the war were the only determining factors in the failure of the socio-economic project of the ‘80s, the FSLN is promising a new version of the social policies of the revolutionary period.

During 2008, WCCN commemorated its 24th anniversary of working in solidarity with Nicaragua. A lot of things have changed in Nicaragua and at WCCN during these years. However, something that has remained consistent at WCCN is our commitment to work hard and effectively on an everyday basis to benefit the Nicaraguan people.

In the Summer 1992 edition of WCCN’s newsletter, Sister State Update, an article entitled “WCCN Joins Hands with CEPAD” announced the beginning of a partnership between WCCN and the Nicaraguan Council of Protestant Churches (CEPAD).

WCCN has received news from several sources about intimidation suffered by various organizations that promote and defend women’s rights in Nicaragua.

by Carlos Arenas
Executive Director

Housing is one of the most complex social issues, and an area where it is very difficult to deliver fast and concrete results. That is even more true in a country such as Nicaragua, where housing needs are overwhelming, with a housing deficit estimated at around 400,000 units. To make things worse, there are not enough resources nor institutional memory and expertise in the country to try to overcome this huge problem.

By Susan Frisbie
Marketing and Development Director

In 1986, just two years after its founding, WCCN helped the citizens of Richland Center, Wisconsin, a town about sixty miles northwest of Madison, initiate a sister city relationship with the municipality of Santa Teresa, Nicaragua. Since that time, the Richland Center-Santa Teresa Sister City Project (SCP) has focused its efforts on providing agricultural, medical, educational and environmental aid, primarily in the region of Chacocente, an extremely poor area situated on the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua. Recently, their work has begun to focus on establishing social and economic development programs. These programs have helped not only in improving the quality of life of the Chacocente residents, but have also provided sustainable income-generating skills and know-how that are greatly needed in an area where earning income from collecting turtle eggs and slash-and-burn agricultural techniques have traditionally been the norm.

by Susan Frisbie
Marketing and Development Director

If you live in south central Wisconsin, please save the date for the...

WCCN Annual Meeting

April 24, 2008
6:00 to 8:00 pm

United Way Building
2059 Atwood Ave
Madison, WI

All members are invited!

Check your mailbox in the coming weeks for the announcement and board ballot!