Issue 7
Autumn/Winter 2016/7
Solidarity
through
music &
football
Strengthening
teachers’
union links
Nicaragua, elections
and beyond
Farmers
adapting
to climate
change
Poverty &
an erupting
volcano
Contents
3
Confronting climate change, Liz Light visits farmers in San
Francisco Libre
4
Nick Hoskyns provides insights 6
Steve Lewis describes life on
the margins on the slopes of
7
on why the FSLN won the elections
so convincingly
a volcano
Andrew Papworth finds out
about the impact of climate
change on the food supplies of the
Rama people
8
9
10
Sandinista victory
in Nicaraguan
elections
Involving young people in
music, art and dance Hannah
Curteis reports on the work of Sones
Segovianos
Solidarity through football in
Bristol and Nicaragua Liz Light
reports
UK-Nicaragua solidarity news from Bristol, Leicester, Lewisham,
Sheffield, and London
12
Christine Blower, International
Secretary of the National Union
of Teachers, reports on her visit to
Nicaragua
Published by Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign,
86 Durham Rd, London N7 7DT
www.nicaraguasc.org.uk
020 7561 4836
Editorial and contributors:
Christine Blower, Marcel Cartier, Hannah
Curteis, Gill Holmes, Nick Hoskyns, Steve
Lewis, Liz Light, Andrew Papworth, Amy Porter,
John Wallace, Helen Yuill
Cover photos:
Doctor and poet Jorge Calderon and dancer
Maria Jose Guerrero from Ocotal celebrating
the 25th anniversary of the twinning with
Swindon Mayor Andrew Bennett. Credit:
Swindon Link
Celebrating the FSLN electoral victory in Esteli,
northern Nicaragua. Credit: Steve Lewis
O
n 6 November, FSLN
candidate Daniel Ortega won
Presidential elections with
72% of the vote. Next placed
candidates were Maximo Rodriguez,
Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC)
with 15% of the vote, and Pedro Vallejos
Independent Liberal Party (PLI) with
4.5%. National Assembly election results
followed a similar pattern.
On 8 November, Donald Trump won the
US presidential elections with 47.5% of the
votes and Republicans gained greater control
over both the House of Representatives and
the Senate. This opens up the danger of the
US approving already proposed legislation
that would block loans to Nicaragua from
international lending institutions thereby
destabilising Nicaragua.
Polls conducted in the lead up to the
elections indicated strong support for FSLN
government policies that have brought
about economic, political and social stability
in a country with a history of conflict, war,
and the second highest levels of poverty in
the Americas after Haiti.
According to World Bank figures,
economic growth has been 4-5% and
poverty dropped from 42.5% in 2009 to
29.6% in 2014.
On 7 November, the day after the
elections, the US State Department issued
a statement expressing ‘deep concerns’
about the ‘flawed electoral process in
Nicaragua’. A representative added:
‘We continue to press the Nicaraguan
The Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign
(NSC) and NSCAG work with Nicaraguan
organisations and social movements
fighting for social and economic justice
by promoting and seeking support for
their activities. We carry this out through
speaker tours of the UK by representatives
of our partner organisations facilitating
government to uphold democratic
practices, including press freedom and
respect for universal human rights.’
However, a group of Latin American
electoral experts were in Nicaragua for
five months monitoring all aspects of
the process. This group, headed by Raul
Alconada, former foreign minister of
Argentina, included former ministers,
members of parliament, presidents of
electoral commissions, academics, lawyers,
members of the Latin America Council of
Electoral Experts, and others with extensive
knowledge and experience of elections. On
7 November, Raul Alconada presented the
findings of the Group’s technical report
that validated the efficient organization,
transparency and high level of citizen
participation in the elections.
There is some possibility of the Trump
administration approving legislation that
would block loans to Nicaragua from
international lending institutions. This
would profoundly undermine the Nicaragua
economy and threaten the advances of the
past ten years with the greatest impact on
the most vulnerable.
The human rights Nicaraguans have
voted for are identical to those of everyone
on the planet: peace, stability, dignity, jobs,
and improvements in the wellbeing and
standard of living of their families.
Any form of US destabilisation will only
serve to violate these basic human desires
with dangerous consequences not just for
Nicaragua but for the whole region.
mutual solidarity between UK and
Nicaraguan trade unions organising
events to raise funds and awareness
about Nicaragua and our partners’ work
publishing news, briefings, articles and
online updates providing support for
Wales NSC and 12 towns and communities
in the UK with twinning links in Nicaragua
Design: Tom Lynton
The Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign has taken all
reasonable care to ensure that the information
contained in this edition of Nicaragua Now
is accurate on the stated date of publication.
The views expressed in the articles are those of
the authors and do not necessarily reflect the
position or policy of the Nicaragua Solidarity
Campaign, unless otherwise stated.
2 NICARAGUA NOW 6 AUTUMN/WINTER 2016
Get in
touch,
get
involved
NSC www.nicaraguasc.org.uk NSCAG www.nscag.org
Nicaragua-Solidarity
NSCAG_UK
Wales NSC www.walesnicaragua.wordpress.com
Twin towns and other groups with projects in Nicaragua
www.nicaraguasc.org.uk/solidarity/twin-towns
Farmers adapting to
climate change and
improving crop yields
Liz Light
Liz Light visited San Francisco Libre to find out how
farmers are adapting their agricultural practices.
N
icaragua epitomises the
vulnerability of developing
countries to the major threat we
all face: climate change. While
Nicaragua is responsible for only 0.3% of
global carbon emissions, it is committed to a
comprehensive programme to reduce these
emissions, implementing mitigation and
adaptation measures, and taking a strong
stand internationally to put pressure on the
largest emitters.
‘The technology exists, the capital exists,
the urgency exists, what is lacking is greater
political will on the part of the largest emitters.’ Paul Oquist, Nicaraguan Minister for
Public Policy.
Confronting climate change: the
example of San Francisco Libre
San Francisco Libre with its 12,000
inhabitants runs along the northern
shoreline of Lake Xolotlán (Lake Managua).
The area has been badly affected by climate
change related weather extremes and
massive deforestation.
With the support of a government
agency, the Nicaragua Institute of
Agricultural Technology (INTA) farmers
are changing their practices through an
agricultural adaptation programme.
Sayda Coronado is a member of a women’s farming cooperative. She is also the local
co-ordinator of government programmes
such as zero hunger, food package distribution, and a project to encourage healthy
eating through backyard vegetable gardens.
‘Traditionally this is an area of cattle
farming, basic grains, sorghum, corn,
beans, and vegetables. The Sandinista
Revolution reforms gave land to small scale
farmers and we now have more opportunities as producers, as women and as co-operatives. I’m a member of Bello Amanecer,
one of five women’s agricultural co-ops in
the area.
‘We’ve had three years of drought made
worse by deforestation. The wells and rivers
have been drying up and the lake level has
dropped considerably. So we’ve had to change
our production methods, analyse how to
Sayda Coronado attending
her crop of peppers
relieve poverty and to generate more income.
‘Corn and sorghum production costs
were very high and the intermediaries would
end up with all the profit. We still plant
some of these crops but now diversify our
production. For example, instead of planting
eight acres of corn or sorghum we plant
one of melon, one of squash, and a half of
pepper. We have established a secure market
for selling to a company that supplies the
supermarkets. This is more regulated so we
can sell at a higher price and have seen our
incomes improve.
‘My farm is an INTA Rural School where
young producers come for training in soil
management, pest control, and organic
farming methods. We have learned different methods, such as drip feed irrigation
systems that conserve water; spacing plants
differently; and using compost as fertiliser.
We use wind breaks, and plant hedges and
other barriers to prevent parasites and pests.
Animal manure is used to create organic
fertiliser and compost and to make natural
insecticides. We also build earth barriers
to prevent the soil being washed away and
dig pits or small lagoons to harvest water
during the rainy season. We apply all these
techniques to conserve the soil.’
For information about the Reading –
San Francisco Libre twinning link see
www.sanfranciscolibre.org
For information about the NSC campaign
on Nicaragua and Climate Justice see
www.nicaraguasc.org.uk
NICARAGUA NOW 6 AUTUMN/WINTER 2016 3
Nicaragua votes for
peace, stability, and a
government that cares
In the aftermath of the FSLN’s
electoral victory, Nicaragua Now
interviewed Nicholas Hoskyns
who has lived and worked in
Nicaragua since 1988. He is now
a Nicaraguan citizen working with
co-operatives on their business
development, and managing
director of Etico, an ethical
trading company.
Nicaragua Now What were the factors
that contributed to the FSLN and
Daniel Ortega winning the elections
by such a large margin?
Nicholas Hoskyns The main factor
was that Nicaragua has had a strong, well
organised and proactive FSLN government
for the past decade that has brought tangible
benefits for the majority of people, but not
just the disadvantaged, the whole country
has benefited from stability.
If you look at concrete things, there’s
commitment to free education for all, so
everybody feels that the government values
the fact that their children should be in
school, should be given a chance, and should
be educated.
The same can be said about health.
Again, a lot more needs to be done such as
investment in hospitals, but to the best of
their ability, the government tries to provide
good quality health care to everyone. In
the health centres and hospitals there are
notices saying you will not be charged for
any services.
This belief in a government that cares is
reinforced by the other programmes such as
the ‘Roof Plan’ that ensures that every family at least has a decent roof over their heads.
It involves giving any family who need it ten
corrugated iron sheets which is more than
enough for a small house.
Then you have production bonds for
thousands of small farmers who receive a
bond worth about US$1,000 consisting of a
pig, ten chickens, fencing, and a number of
other things. As a small farmer, you feel like
someone cares and wants to support you.
There’s also a really successful women’s
4 NICARAGUA NOW 6 AUTUMN/WINTER 2016
programme called Zero Usury. The women
organise themselves into small groups and
are given loans at extremely low interest
rates. The idea is to prevent them falling
victim to money lenders who charge 20 per
cent interest per month. This enables women to set up small businesses such as shops
in their homes, bread baking, and other such
activities. So again, there’s this real feeling
that the government cares.
Another example is public spaces that
create a secure, child friendly environment.
All across the country the central squares
are family places where people gather and
there’s not this demand on you to spend
money as it doesn’t cost you anything. The
main square in Leon where I live is well lit
and safe and has become a real family place
in the evenings.
Then of course there is what visitors
notice. Every city now has roads connecting
them that are second to none in Central
America. Now you can get to most places in
the country in two or three hours whereas
15 years ago it would have taken five or six.
NN Why did the opposition
parties perform so badly?
NH The opposition was weak
and divided and did not present
any viable alternative. The right
wing campaigns have always
been based on fear: [a vote for
the Sandinistas will mean] that
rationing and war will return,
that there will be no investment.
This largely worked for many
years, but in this election they
didn’t even bother running a
scare campaign. The truth is
people trust the Sandinista
leadership to do what they say
they’re going to do, and this is
the credibility Daniel Ortega has
built up over all these years.
NN Nicaragua is perceived
in the western mainstream
media as veering towards
dictatorship, and Daniel
Ortega as an autocratic
leader. Does the reality
in the country reflect that
at all?
NH Anti Sandinistas are still a reasonable
percentage of the population who, along
with the US State Department, will never
be happy with an FSLN government. Any
Sandinista successes become a threat to
those who don’t want a successful left wing
government to become a good example for
the region. However, the old arguments
have fallen apart: Nicaragua is now one of
the most peaceful, least corrupt countries in
the region, and a good place to do business.
The new arguments are political.
If you want to interpret strong government and proactive participation of
many people as authoritarian, then that’s
an interpretation you can make. Enemies
of the revolution will argue that Nicaragua
is not a ‘satisfactory democracy’. However,
the elections were incredibly participatory.
The right wing has always participated with
similar desire and passion, and similar
hopes and fears as the Sandinistas. But
these elections were marked by a completely
different feeling because the opposition was
completely demoralised and disorganised.
Steve Lewis
Celebrating the Sandinista
election victory in Estelí
That did affect the turnout which was about
ten percent less than previous elections but
still high at 68 percent. The right wing and
the opposition knew they weren’t going to
win as their anti-FSLN discourse has been
deconstructed.
The poor and disadvantaged are of
course concerned about the connections between the government and business, but in
general people understand that the country
has to develop and you can’t do this without
business and investment.
NN On the pretext of the Nicaraguan
elections being flawed, on 21
September, the US House of
Representatives approved the NICA
Act which would prevent Nicaraguan
access to international loans. What
would the consequences be for
Nicaragua if the Trump administration
approves this legislation?
NH The consequences would be
terrible because it would not only block
international loans from the World
Bank and other international lending
institutions but also anywhere else
that the US has influence. It’s very
worrying that the US is again wielding
this interventionist sword to deny
Nicaragua access to finance after the
country has come through a war and is
achieving reconciliation of a very divided
We know the US
does not appreciate
a successful leftwing government
especially when
they win democratic
elections by a large
majority
nation. We should not forget that the
Nicaraguan contra war was caused by
US interventionism. The NICA Act
was announced before the elections
when the Sandinistas had over 60%
in the polls. To talk about an election
being undemocratic when you know
the majority of the people support the
government doesn’t make any sense.
NN Why was Nicaragua so opposed
to having international observers
monitor the election?
NH Foreign observers have never had a
positive impact on Nicaragua’s elections.
Despite widespread accusations of fraud
including thousands of ballot papers found
in the sewers of Matagalpa, a mission led by
ex US president Jimmy Carter validated the
1996 elections won by right wing candidate
Arnoldo Aleman. This left the country in
absolute turmoil. We know the US does not
appreciate a successful left-wing government
especially when they win democratic
elections by a large majority. Knowing
Nicaraguan history and US involvement
one wonders what the US backed election
observers wanted to come here to do?
Nicaraguans are perfectly capable of running
their own elections just as we do in the UK
and as is the case in the US.
NN What are the hopes and fears for
the future?
NH The biggest concern is that the ugly
head of external interventionism will rise up
again and force Nicaragua back into crisis.
The hope of the majority that voted in these
elections is that the Sandinistas continue to
lead the country to prosperity, continue to
scale up programmes for the disadvantaged
and provide them with opportunities to
prosper.
Further information:
www.nicaraguasc.org.uk
www.nscag.org
www.etico.net
NICARAGUA NOW 6 AUTUMN/WINTER 2016 5
Luck and
development on a
Nicaraguan volcano
Steve Lewis, a consultant
working with NGOs in Esteli,
describes an example of the part
that luck can play in the success
or otherwise of community
development programmes.
Steve Lewis
S
ometimes the bad luck that affects
the rural poor could make you cry.
I recently visited a development programme which assists
rural communities on the slopes of Telica
volcano, in Western Nicaragua. Local NGO
Nuevas Esperanzas has been doing great work
here, helping to improve access to water,
diversify crops and create income generation
activities.
The isolation of the villages became
apparent as we steadily ascended the slopes
of Telica, an occasionally-active volcano. As
we approached the summit I asked myself
why farmers would want to live up here.
Sadly, though, all over Central America the
poorest people live on the most marginal
lands. Here, the poorest peasants make their
homes on the volcano’s steep slopes while
the better-off farmers work fertile land in
the valley below.
Agronomists from Nuevas Esperanzas
spent the day advising families on new crops
and some excellent water systems. Later,
the conversation turned to the new hope for
generating income: tourism. Many visitors
come on day-trips from the town of León.
For now, they bring everything with them,
and the trade gives little benefit to local
people. After planning with the community,
Nuevas Esperanzas began to build a hostel
and café. If visitors ate in the region, and
slept overnight, then significant benefit
would come to the local people.
The site of the hostel was chosen carefully. The volcano does occasionally throw out
rocks – but never this far from the crater.
Speaking to local people, they told us that
never in living memory had rocks landed in
this area. The project, funded by the European Union, was a success and the building
was finished in November, 2015. The EU
sent an auditor, who signed off the project
as finished. What could possibly go wrong?
6 NICARAGUA NOW 6 AUTUMN/WINTER 2016
Agua Fria community, under
the rim of the Telica volcano
The following day, at 9am, bang! Telica
was active, ash spewing out, and then a
crash! Rocks as big as buckets were shot out
by the volcano – towards the hostel and the
community. Over 15 rocks hit the hostel,
smashing the roof and the water tank.
Rocks as big as
buckets destroyed
the tourist hostel
The volcanic activity killed the project
dead. The building sits today, a shell that
can’t be used because the government has
declared it too dangerous. The community members ran for their lives, but later
returned to their homes. If you are poor in
Nicaragua, you have little choice as to where
you live.
So, there ends the tale… or does it?
Some of the community now say that they
were unlucky once, they couldn’t possibly
be unlucky again. ‘Patch up the roof of the
hostel and let’s get going!’ says one. ‘It might
have to be illegal for a year or so at the
beginning because of safety regulations. But
most new businesses in Nicaragua are illegal
at the beginning. Things sort themselves out
later if the business is a success.’
Two options exist: to leave it closed, or
try again? Maybe some local underemployed
young people might cut corners and take
the risk. For now, the tourists keep coming,
the León travel companies cash in and the
community continues to farm the precarious slopes of the Telica volcano.
A longer version of this article, and other posts
about Nicaragua, can be found at
www.stevenicaragua.wordpress.com
Further information about Nuevas Esperanzas
projects:
www.nuevasesperanzas.org
Food security and
climate change on the
Caribbean Coast
Andrew Papworth
Andrew Papworth, a PhD candidate at University College London (UCL),
explains the impact that climate change is having on the food security
of the Rama indigenous people of the Caribbean Coast. Andrew’s
research is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.
N
icaragua – with its turbulent
history and obsession with poetry
– has always fascinated me. When
choosing where to base my PhD
research though, what really caught my
interest were the different ethnic groups and
cultural plurality of the Caribbean Coast.
After conducting a pilot project in 2015, I
returned in January, 2016 this year to collect
data with the Rama indigenous group.
The Rama are one of the six ethnic
groups that live in the region. They are the
smallest ethnic group in the country with
a population of about 1,800. The majority
live on Rama Cay, a small island in the Bay
of Bluefields about 15km to the south of
Bluefields, the region’s capital.
The first stage of my research involved
household surveys to find out about sources
of food. These surveys showed the Rama
communities furthest from Bluefields were
more reliant on natural resources than those
that were more accessible. For example, in
Sumu Kaat – a two-hour bus ride and threehour mule trek from the centre of Bluefields
– the community lives from small-scale
agriculture and game hunting.
I then conducted in-depth interviews
with individuals to expand on the findings
from the surveys and to get a deeper understanding of Rama culture and livelihoods,
and their perception of threats to their food.
I am still engrossed in analysing a mountain of data, so my findings are preliminary.
However, I can say that climate change is
likely to have an impact on the Rama’s food.
For example, oysters, which are one of
their key foods, are very susceptible to water
salinity levels. Every year during the rainy
season, fresh floodwater engulfs and kills
many of the oysters. A 31-year-old male
respondent told me: ‘In December there was
a … big flood [and when] the oyster come
out … plenty of them dead.’
This flooding has become worse in
recent years and will likely continue to do so
because of climate change. Excessive rainfall
can also damage Rama food plantations and
hinder the drying-out of beans and rice,
which reduces their market value or makes
them inedible.
There is a dry season from February to
April, but this period has become longer in
recent years and last year the rains were very
late. An 88-year-old female respondent said,
‘[The] beans, corn [and] the banana get burn
up. Even the breadfruit you see all of them
get dropped down from the trees.’ This year,
the rains didn’t come until 16 May.
There are many other climate and nonclimate threats to the Rama’s food and these
will be analysed as part of my PhD thesis,
which I hope to finish next year. My longterm aim is to continue conducting research,
and I hope to have more opportunities to do
that in Nicaragua.
NICARAGUA NOW 6 AUTUMN/WINTER 2016 7
El Sistema: from a garage in
Caracas to England, Wales,
Scotland… and Nicaragua
S
ones
Segovianos
was founded
in 2012 as a
music school inspired
by the internationallyrenowned Venezuelan
model, ‘El Sistema’ [see
box].
From the very
beginning we aimed
to form a children’s
orchestra and a
children’s choir, something we are proud
to have now achieved. We also specialise in
teaching traditional Nicaraguan instruments
such as the mandolin, guitar, marimba and
accordion.
Sones Segovianos has expanded activities
to include dance and art. Three dance groups
made up of 33 students between 3 and 14
years of age learn traditional Nicaraguan
dances, as well as Latin rhythms and other
international dance styles.
Art classes focus on stimulating
students’ imagination and creativity.
Apart from learning traditional drawing
Steve Lewis
Percussionist
Tamara Ticay
8 NICARAGUA NOW 6 AUTUMN/WINTER 2016
Sones Segovianos orchestra
with director Santiago Perez
and painting techniques, our students
particularly enjoy crafts activities with
recycled materials and collective mural and
collage projects.
As well as carrying out numerous
presentations and exhibitions in Estelí,
our music, dance and arts students have
also taken part in cultural activities in
other towns and cities including Managua,
Matagalpa and León.
Full and partial scholarships for students
who need financial assistance, and places
for children with disabilities, have been
made possible thanks to the support of
the Superemos Foundation, Estelí local
government, Nicaraguan Cultural Institute,
Casa Canadiense, individual donors and
solidarity organisations. A large number of
individual supporters, mainly from the UK,
have donated instruments including cellos,
violins and oboes.
Eleven year old Denise describes what
the dance class means to her: ‘I come here
because I learn lots of things… and through
dance I am losing my shyness. My parents
say I used to spend all my free time in front
of the TV. Now I am more active and more
confident.’
Co-founder and co-director Noel
Hernandez sums up the spirit of Sones
Segovianos: ‘Art is very important, it reflects
what you have inside. Through dance, music
and art you can express what’s important to
you. You can express the affection you have
for your friends and community.
‘The children learn to control their
emotions. They break the barrier of shyness
that holds people back, so art helps their
personal growth.’
Further information:
Sones Segovianos
Sones Segovianos collaborates closely with
the music group Los Angelitos which is
supported by the Sheffield Estelí Society
www.sheffieldestelisociety.org.uk and
Twin Café
www.twincafe.org/projects
El Sistema began as a Venezuelan
state-funded music education
programme founded by educator,
musician and activist José Antonio
Abreu, to enrich the lives of
impoverished young people. He
describes music as an agent of social
mobility in the highest sense because
it ‘transmits the values of solidarity,
harmony and mutual compassion.’
Estelí is just one of many global
locations where music programmes
inspired by El Sistema have been set
up, including the UK. Sistema Scotland,
Sistema England and Wales ‘Making
Music, Changing Lives’ are charities
inspired by the Venezuelan model with
the aim of promoting social change
through music.
Hannah Curteis
Hannah Curteis describes the work of the Sones Segovianos Arts
Centre, working with over 90 children and young people from
Estelí neighbourhoods, facilitating music, dance and art classes.
Soccer without Borders:
much more than a
game of football
Liz Light
Gooooooooal! The girls from the
Soccer Without Borders (SWB)
programme in Granada are not
just scoring on the field but also
becoming leaders of their teams
and in their communities. Liz Light
visited them to find out more.
T
he seventh annual Peace Cup
tournament in Granada saw
twenty teams, a total of 410 girls
from all over Nicaragua, come
together for two days of football but also
of love, friendship and solidarity. For
the participants, the tournament is the
highlight of the year and the only football
league for girls. This year’s turnout was the
highest ever.
The tournament is held on the same
day in various countries around the globe
to celebrate the UN International Day of
Peace on 21 September. SWB, the North
American organisation that organises the
event, has been working in Nicaragua since
2008 with girls aged 7 to 20. The aim is to
use football as a way of promoting positive
change by providing girls from impoverished backgrounds with ways of overcoming obstacles to growth, inclusion and
personal success. They run a year-round
programme in Granada as well as football
camps and clinics around the country.
By creating safe spaces and new opportunities the girls are inspired to continue
their education, avoid risky behaviours,
make healthy choices and break the mould
of traditional women’s roles.
Fifteen-year-old Natalia del Carmen
Vargas, who has been in the SWB pro-
Solidarity through football
The Bristol Link with Nicaragua (BLINC)
has been organising a women’s football
tournament called the Copa Lucrecia
Lindo to coincide with their annual Copa
Sandino. The growth of women’s football in the UK, as well as Nicaragua, over
recent years means that it is now easier
There are four age groups in the tournament and for each group there are trophies for
first and second place. In each category there is also a Peace Award to the team that
demonstrates the values of companionship, respect and fair play. This year the award in
the category for 15 – 20 year olds was the FC Lago Dulce team (pictured) from Granada.
gramme since she was eight, explained
what the experience has meant to her:
‘SWB has taught me about companionship, leadership, many things. Each of the
girls learns to exploit her capabilities, be
prepared for the future, how to be a good
person.
‘I’ve grown a lot by being part of the
project, I’ve grown in spirit and also mentally. I’m one of the girls who’s been in the
programme the longest and am now in the
to recruit teams for the tournament.
Bristol City FC Community Trust is a big
supporter of the event and provides two
teams of women coaches or players. In
May this year twelve casual and community teams took part, some of whom had
travelled from Cardiff and Manchester.
Mexican beer and Latino food were available all day and the supporters enjoyed
Leadership Group. There are two leaders
on each team and it is our job to keep the
team together, motivated and disciplined,
and see that they behave with maturity
and seriousness.’
Further information:
Soccer Without Borders welcomes the
involvement of international volunteers
in their programme.
See
www.soccerwithoutborders.org/
the sunshine, the football, the view and
helped to raise £400 for Soccer without
Borders in Granada, including the Peace
Cup tournament.
Bristol Link with Nicaragua:
www.bristolnicaragua.wordpress.com
bristolnicaragua
@blincistas
NICARAGUA NOW 6 AUTUMN/WINTER 2016 9
UK-Nicaragua
Solidarity
NSC campaign on Nicaragua
and climate justice
Nicaragua epitomises the vulnerability of
developing countries to the major threat we
all face: climate change. While Nicaragua is
responsible for only 0.3% of global carbon
emissions, it is committed to a comprehensive
programme to reduce these emissions,
implementing mitigation and adaptation
measures, and taking a strong stand
internationally to put pressure on the largest
emitters. NSC is a member organisation of
The Climate Coalition, the UK’s largest group
of over a hundred organisations ‘dedicated to
action on climate change and limiting its impact
on the world’s poorest communities.’ We will
be highlighting Nicaragua’s example through
publishing briefings, organising seminars, and
co-ordinating a speaker tour during Fairtrade
Fortnight (27 February – 11 March) on the
theme of climate change and Fairtrade.
Further information:
www.nicaraguasc.org.uk
Considering leaving a
legacy to NSC?
NSC has received a legacy every few years
and at times this has made the difference
to our being able to survive in our
current form.
£2,000 would cover the design
and print of this magazine for a whole
year. £3,500 would enable us to put
on a speaker tour of the UK for two
Nicaraguans. £40,000 would cover a
year’s London staff costs.
If you are 55 or over you might be
able get your will written or updated for
free? NSC cannot afford to be listed on
the Free Wills Month website but that
doesn’t exclude you from using
the service. A solicitor will help you
write a will and you can leave a gift to
NSC or to any charity you like.
Many thanks to all of you who
have thought of us already.
Visit www.freewillsmonth.org.uk or call
0345 686 4309 for a list of participating
solicitors.
10 NICARAGUA NOW 6 AUTUMN/WINTER 2016
Hazel Thompson Obituary
Hazel Thompson moved to
Nicaragua in the 1970s to
work as a nurse in rural Boaco,
and spent most of the rest
of her life there. Evacuated
against her will during the
1979 Sandinista victory, she
soon returned to work with
people with disabilities and was
widely known and much loved
in the disabled community. In
her ‘retirement’ she continued
helping children of poor
families. Hazel’s slight figure
belied an immense energy
and huge enthusiasm and
her direct, plain manner won
her many friends. Knowing
her time was short, she chose
to spend her last days in
Nicaragua where she died on
18 August 2016, aged 85.
Russell Gasser
Lewisham councillors report on
challenges facing local government
in Nicaragua
In July Councillors John Muldoon and
Stella Jeffrey, from the London Borough of
Lewisham, visited Nicaragua to attend an
International Twin Towns Congress and to
visit their twin town of Matagalpa as part
of a bid to revive the link.
Councillor Jeffrey writes: ‘We learned
about the multiplicity of natural and
man-made factors – floods, tropical
storms, mudslides, earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, tsunamis – that can affect the
country. The government is determined
that these emergencies should not become
disasters by helping people to understand
the threats and making sure that even the
youngest, through the school curriculum,
know what to do to mitigate the losses of
life and livelihood.
‘Nicaragua is already experiencing the impact of climate change,
particularly on farmers. If less food is
produced it will lead to greater poverty in a country struggling to raise
living standards. We also witnessed
the problems that local government
has in dealing with human activities
– waste disposal, landfill, water contamination, and regulation of urban
developments.
‘The challenges facing local government
make our problems with massive budget
cuts seem puny.
‘Government speakers outlined their
ambitious plans for replacing firewood by
renewable energy. We were also impressed
by the Healthy Backyard Programme which
has trained 213,000 families to produce
food for their own consumption, and the
fact that 50% of elected public posts are
reserved for women.
‘Lewisham and Matagalpa could not
be more unalike! Matagalpans enjoy lowrise development gradually encroaching
on the surrounding hills: Lewisham can
only expand upwards. I talked to coffee
producers, visited a coffee packaging
plant, and attended a Sandinista
concert/rally which was ten times more
exuberant than any political party event
I’ve been to in the UK!’
Further information:
[email protected]
Sheffield bike ride raises funds
for music and theatre projects
in Estelí
73 riders took part including
Danny Woodin, Chloe Rixon and
Rochelle Clark who completed
the new 10 mile family route. As
well as funds, the event raises
awareness of Nicaragua with the
people of Sheffield.
For over 20 years this annual
sponsored event has been the
Sheffield – Estelí Society’s (SES) main
fundraiser. One of the riders was
Martin Leanard who had volunteered
for three months in the Estelí region as
a member of a UK government funded
programme called International
Citizenship Service (ICS). Martin
took part in the bike ride as part of an
ongoing commitment to promoting
social change through an ‘action at
home’ programme, an experience he
would highly recommend. The next
bike ride will be on 21 May, 2017!
Further information:
www.sheffieldestelisociety.org.uk
Twelve Sheffield students on
twelfth Estelí exchange
Gabriela Heaton writes: ‘In Estelí, the
group spent four weeks teaching English
to students needing to improve their
English speaking skills to pass their
degree. The visit also included a cultural
exchange: music, dance, muralism, poetry
and sport. As in previous years, it was an
amazing experience being able to share
Nicaraguan and English culture while
forming great friendships, learning about
each other, and gaining language skills.’
Further information:
www.studentsforesteli.wordpress.com
Leicester benefits from volunteer’s
experience in Nicaragua
A vital component of the UK government
International Citizenship (ICS) programme
is to encourage young people to become
active citizens through raising awareness of
global or local issues and inspiring others to
take action for positive change.
On returning home from a three month
ICS programme in Nicaragua run by Raleigh
International, Richard Sieff got involved
with the Leicester Masaya Link Group
(LMLG). In Masaya, LMLG supports projects such as waste management, crop diversification, installation of solar panels, wells,
water tanks, and business skills training
for women and young people. In Leicester,
LMLG draws on examples from Nicaragua to
raise awareness of global issues through educational projects, cultural activities, speaker
meetings and other public events.
Richard stated: ‘The support, experience
and friendship the LMLG provided has enabled me to make the most of what began in
Nicaragua with the Raleigh ICS programme.’
Further information:
www.leicestermasayalink.org.uk
Bristol Link with Nicaragua
(BLINC)
News in brief…
In Big Green Week Nicaraguan
ambassador Guisell Morales spoke
on Nicaragua’s Green Revolution to a
packed audience at the University of
Bristol’s Cabot Institute.
BLINC is working with the Hispanic
Department of the University
to arrange a four month student
placement in Bristol’s twin town of
Puerto Morazan.
Richard worked with Leicester
school children, making tippy taps
using local materials. These taps
provide a simple way of handwashing in poor communities
where there is no running water.
BLINC will be organising visits to
schools and public meeting when
Fairtrade coffee producer Maura
Jarquin Blandon is in Bristol for
Fairtrade Fortnight 27 February –
11 March.
Further information:
bristolnicaragua
NICARAGUA NOW 6 AUTUMN/WINTER 2016 11
Strengthening
solidarity links between
teachers’ unions
Christine Blower, former General Secretary and now
International Secretary of the National Union of Teachers,
reports on her visit to Nicaragua in June 2016 to re-establish
solidarity relations with ANDEN, the Nicaraguan Teachers’ Union.
O
Government is very serious about poverty
reduction, school attendance and improving
the quality of education. To this end, it has
introduced universal free education from
pre-school through to university, a universal
free school meals programme, parenting
classes in pre-school, and monthly professional development for all teachers.
The union is able to exert considerable
influence on Government policy through
a system whereby the union negotiates on
salaries and working conditions with the
Government. A number of prominent union
members are also members of the National
Assembly and involved in the country’s
Education Commission.
We visited schools in Managua and Leon
as well as a rural school en route to Leon. All
Liz Light
n this, my first visit to
Nicaragua, I was accompanied
by the NUT’s International
Relations Officer, Samidha
Garg. The visit was a follow-up to a
meeting in London with Jose Antonio
Zepeda, General Secretary of ANDEN, an
affiliate of Education International.
The purpose of our visit was to
re-establish and strengthen relations with
ANDEN and to visit both urban and rural
schools, with a particular focus on the
teaching of English, which was an issue
that had been raised during Jose Antonio’s
visit to the UK in January.
In our initial meetings with ANDEN,
we learned about the union’s work and education policy in Nicaragua. The Sandinista
the school buildings were in need of some
level of repair/refurbishment and all the
schools visited operated double, if not triple,
shifts as there are insufficient places for the
school-age population. In general, Nicaragua
is a country with a young population. The
third shift is usually for older adolescents
and young adults.
A high priority is placed on teaching values and working on community outreach.
The teaching of English concentrates heavily on chalk and talk. There is a problem of
class size with many students in classes of
50 to 60.
The Government and the union are
enthusiastic about improving the quality
of the teaching of English, in particular by
developing more modern methodologies.
We discussed with ANDEN further opportunities for co-operation, particularly around
English-language training, and the NUT is
giving this active consideration.
Further information:
www.nscag.org
Trade union solidarity news
NUT delegation members Christine Blower and Samidha Garg with staff and ANDEN
Executive Committee members at the Santa Rosa school in Managua. The school
receives support from the Tavistock based Santa Rosa Fund www.santarosafund.org.
The banner reads: All children are born to be happy.
12 NICARAGUA NOW 6 AUTUMN/WINTER 2016
The NUT has approved further
financial support for a joint NUT/
NSCAG/Computer Aid International
Project. The additional support
will provide for the repair and
maintenance of PCs already
supplied to IHFOCATT, the training
arm of the National Workers
Front, FNT. The project has seen
the establishment of a computer
laboratory for FNT affiliated
unions to ensure that their
members have the Information and
Communications Technology (ICT)
skills they need to improve their
access to employment, increase
their income, and enhance their
effectiveness as trade unionists.
A UNISON delegation will go
to Nicaragua for a week from 26
November to visit the projects they
support and to have discussions with
counterpart unions in health, public
services and higher education.