We believe that life is sustainable in communities, and we have a commitment to community involvement in each of our projects. Rather than working with individuals, we work on projects that will benefit the larger community as a whole.

All of our projects arise out of needs identified by the community, work toward solutions that come from the communities themselves, and are carried out with active community participation. Our organization does not tell others what to do, but rather listens to needs and then responds as we are able, always in coordination with local leadership and communities.

The CDCA works to connect Nicaraguan communities with folks around the world who have access to all types of resources: financial resources, professional expertise, time & energy, creative problem-solving, and in-person help are all needed!

The entirety of the CDCA’s work is in the area of sustainable community development. The areas of focus for that development have been identified by the Nicaraguan communities where we work, and have been adapted over the past 30 years as the communities have grown and their needs have changed. These areas are: Health Care, Education, Sustainable Economic Development and Sustainable Agriculture.

Additionally, CDCA has always emphasized the need to remain flexible to changing needs of communities, and this includes being able and willing to respond quickly to emergencies. We understand how important it is to be able to pivot to meet needs during and following emergencies and natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. We also understand that our response in such a situation cannot be limited to handing out immediate relief, but also must provide support during reconstruction and the rebuilding of lives.