Mums

take action

Maritza, Lilian and Lucila with their young children. Christian Aid’s support has

made a real difference in their community

By supporting Christian Aid Week,

you are among millions of people who

think poverty is a scandal we do not

It is unlikely that those of us in the

UK and Ireland will experience the

extreme devastation caused by droughts,

floods, landslides and hurricanes

that many Nicaraguans face. But through

Christian Aid Week we can support

MCM and stand in solidarity with those

whose lives are characterised by

upheaval and struggle, contingency

plans and evacuations.

 Your actions,

commitment and contributions will

bring about a better life for people in

poor communities all over the world.

We suffer from drought and landslides

as well as emergencies from everyday

poverty.’

So says Maritza Sevilla, a young mother

who, through Christian Aid partner

Community Movement of Matagalpa

(MCM), has taken on a vital role in her

community in Nicaragua .

Maritza lives in Nuevo Amanecer, an

hour’s drive from Matagalpa. Her

community is in a mountainous region,

with a river winding through it. The

single hillside road wends its way

through a harsh landscape. Deforestation

and drought have devastated what was

once lush, dense forest.

When the river breaks its banks, as it

often does, the community here at Nuevo

Amanecer can find themselves stranded

for weeks, as happened during Hurricane

Mitch in 1998.

In response to this vulnerability MCM,

with help from the local people, built a

community centre where people could

meet and learn how to protect

themselves better from the vagaries of

unpredictable weather. In the absence

of emergency services it’s vital that local

communities take action themselves.

And so the community elected Maritza,

along with Lilian Mercado and Lucila

Castro to the Emergency Committee,

who have been responsible for devising

and implementing the community

contingency plan. The women drew up

maps of Nuevo Amanecer illustrating

the danger zones. These carefully hand painted

maps, with evacuation routes

clearly marked, hang in the busy

community centre.

‘…we feel safe’ says Lilian, whose house

was almost washed away in last year’s

flood. ‘Before we weren’t prepared but

now we’re ready for rains.’

Christian Aid has been supporting

MCM, a grassroots organisation

working with rural and urban poor

people to improve living conditions

in 150 communities, since 1992.

A partnership of more than a decade

has meant that Christian Aid has been

able to give crucial support at some very

difficult times. For example, in 1998

Hurricane Mitch hit the country, killing

3000 people, making even more

homeless, and devastating the economy.

Like Maritza, Lilian and Lucila most

Nicaraguans were unprepared for it.

Then a drought in 2002 dealt a further

cruel blow, halting much of the progress

made in the years after the hurricane.

MCM works hard to make sure

communities have the best chance

of protecting themselves and

rebuilding after floods, landslides,

droughts and hurricanes.