On an isolated community in the hills of Matagalpa in Nicaragua, the people have tiny plots of land and humble homes.  They are a warm and friendly community working together to help each other through these challenging times.  As you pass by, one garden stands above the others.  It is well ordered and bursting with produce.

The garden belongs to a woman named Maura.  She is a grandmother and although shy, is quietly proud of what she has been able to achieve in her own garden and as an agricultural promoter in her community.  She has built a micro reservoir from the stones, sand, clay and stakes her family collected and installed a concrete tank to catch the rain and save long walks to the river to carry home 20 litres of water at a time.  Maura is growing tomatoes, peppers, papayas, cucumbers and squash using insecticides and compost she made herself at no cost.

She has attended three agricultural workshops run by CEPAD that have turned her family’s life around.  Her family eat well and there is plenty more food for her four children and three grandchildren.  As the first step in a five-year programme, she can already see that CEPAD will give her community new skills to survive the changing climate and through the Covid pandemic.

Give Joy and Justice this Christmas.