The Norwalk/Nagarote Sister City Project (N/NSCP) is a 37-year partnership between the people of Nagarote, Nicaragua, and the Greater Norwalk Area of Connecticut, focusing on sustainable community development and breaking the cycle of poverty for the most disadvantaged children and youth in Nagarote.
Update From Nicaragua
It is with the deepest sadness that we the Board of the Norwalk Sister City Project share the following news with you, our trusted supporters.
On August 19, 2024, the Nicaraguan government issued a notice requiring an additional 1,500 charities to cease operations. The Norwalk Sister City Project was included in that list. This brings the number of charities that have been shut down and their assets seized in the last few years to a total of over 5,000. We are not alone in our predicament.
After 38 years of a close relationship with the people of Nagarote we are saddened by the loss of our friends. Our Board has held a tear-filled zoom call with our employees.
The notice was accompanied by the seizure of all our Nicaraguan bank accounts. We expect also that the government will attempt to seize our farm and our community center, but that has not yet occurred.
There is some hope. Our school continues in operation for the time being with the approval of the Ministry of Education. We expect that we may be able to continue the school as a private for-profit entity, but we are not sure of that. There are a few smaller organizations in Nicaragua that are still operating.
We have been forced to close our model farm, our tree planting project, our tutoring programs, our after-school activities, and our various job-training programs. We have been forbidden to renew the scholarships we have been providing. Hopefully these students will be able to continue their education.
We have been ordered to terminate our employees involved in those programs and we have reluctantly done so, but we are providing the employees severance compensation.
We have hired local counsel to advise us. We have had 38 years of serving the people in Nagarote, Nicaragua and it has been a privilege to see the growth of our project in the community. All the funds we have raised have gone to support the project, with minimal costs in the U.S.
Until we have more information we have suspended our fundraising events. At the present time we are not soliciting additional contributions, but are operating our school and paying our teachers and remaining employees out of our reserve funds. We will accept donations, as we fully intend to find alternative charitable uses for our organization. Any funds donated will be used for charitable purposes either by us or by organizations we will partner with.
We will let you know more information when we have it. We are grateful to all of you, our donors and supporters, over these many years. We are sure that you feel the same pain and sadness that we do as it relates to this gem of a project and its possible sudden ending.
Thank you for your understanding and please keep the community of Nagarote in your prayers.
The Board of the Norwalk Sister City Project
we have a new facebook page
One of the best ways to keep current with our work in Nagarote is our Facebook page. It was recently relaunched and there are lots of new photos of our students, staff, preschool, and farm. Please like or follow the page to receive regular updates in your Facebook feed!
donate to our project:
By clicking each picture, it will take you to Network for Good, where you can choose your donation amount and make a donation via credit card. Please feel free to choose a different donation amount, if you would like. You can also leave a note on our donation page if you would like your donation to go towards a specific aspect of our Project.
Thank you!
latest source of pride
Reforestation Project
We recently built a tree nursery on our farm property. Byron, our farm administrator, and Roger, our farm helper, have been working tirelessly to plant 2,000 seedlings. Once these seedlings have grown, they will be donated and distributed to students, teachers, and farmers in the area to plant on their properties and take care of.
