The CDCA’s mission is to enable communities to become self-sufficient, sustainable, democratic entities.

Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the Americas and Caribbean. In Nicaragua, we work with communities that live under the burden of poverty to enable them to improve the lives of their people and hopefully shed that burden.

 

The Center for Development in Central America (CDCA) is a project of the Jubilee House Community, Inc., (JHC), which has 501(c)(3) non-profit status in the U.S. and International Mission status in Nicaragua. The CDCA’s goal is to work in partnership with communities and cooperatives to facilitate empowerment. This enables them to find their own solutions to the problems they identify and connects them with resources to solve their problems. The place of the CDCA’s staff is not to tell others what to do, but to first listen to the needs and then respond as we are able, in conjunction with the communities and cooperatives.

Our History

In 1994, the CDCA was invited to work with the poor in Ciudad Sandino, the most densely populated city in Nicaragua. Ciudad Sandino had long been the dumping ground for refugees from natural disasters and violence, and as such, was one of the poorest cities in the country. The CDCA works in four main areas, integrating appropriate technology into each of them.

These areas are:

 

Working WITH the Community

For over 27 years, the CDCA has continued to work with local community leadership, building partnerships, and listening.

The sustainable agriculture and sustainable economic development projects extend across the western side of Nicaragua. The health work focuses primarily on families living within Ciudad Sandino, while also reaching out to include those living in neighboring rural communities. Meanwhile, the educational outreach has extended into the United States, Canada, Europe, Taiwan and New Zealand as well as being open and eager to becoming more global.

 

Connecting

The CDCA works to connect Nicaraguans with others from around the world who have access to all types of resources. Financial resources, professional expertise, time & energy, creative problem-solving, and physical assistance are all needed. Please help.