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A land of natural beauty and artistry

The largest and poorest country in Central America, Nicaragua is a land of lakes and volcanoes, poets, artists and gentle people. The country has faced wars and natural disasters, which have caused suffering and poverty and destroyed much of the infrastructure, but the strength and faith of its heroic people keep alive the hope of a better tomorrow.

Through the Managua project, CFCA’s Hope for a Family program is helping families create a path out of poverty. The program provides the most marginalized families with a support network, teaching them to use their talents and resources, from coffee to craftsmanship, not only to meet basic needs, but to build strong communities.

Artisanship provides income

The Casa Ave Maria subproject serves the families of about 400 Hope for a Family sponsored members in Masaya, the cradle of Nicaraguan folklore and crafts. Many CFCA families earn their living as artisans in carpentry, shoemaking, weaving, sewing, embroidery and making hammocks. Hope for a Family provides seed money for start-up projects, providing a boost so these families can get their small businesses off the ground.

Hope for a Family supports mothers and their dreams

Hope for a Family sponsorship is helping Delia’s three daughters finish their education because her income is not enough to provide for her family and educate her children. From November to January, Delia earns about $72 every two weeks picking coffee nine hours a day. The rest of the year, she washes clothes for income. Because of Hope for a Family, Delia's daily struggle is a little bit lighter and her daughters have an opportunity for a better life than Delia had growing up.

A passion for poetry

Hope for a Family not only helps families move toward greater self-sufficiency, the program fosters a calm and secure environment where children are encouraged to develop their talents. Poetry in Nicaragua is a popular form of artistic expression, and CFCA subprojects actively nurture appreciation for this art form among sponsored members.

Marlon, pictured at right, displays his talent in the following poem.

Hope and love (translated into English)
By Marlon, 15

In all the world
the people
ought to have between them
a deep profound love.

In your heart always
should exist the dream
and the hope of living
a new dawn.

In life in order to create
a better world, all of us
need to have love.

A world where day after day
you breathe the air of
happiness and harmony.

If we practice
good values
this world will grow
as the greatest love grows
as the beautiful flowers blossom.

Sponsor a child in Nicaragua

Read a letter from Ervin Martínez, Managua project coordinator

Sources:

World Factbook