LINKS USA
LINKS USA IN THE LAST YEAR, GOD HAS ORCHESTRATED A SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE NATION OF NICARAGUA. A STRONG SYNERGY BETWEEN OUR OFFICE, OUR LINKS FAMILY AND OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERS HAS BROUGHT ABOUT SEVERAL INITIATIVES THAT WILL TAKE US WELL INTO THE NEXT GENERATION. WE COULDN’T BE MORE THRILLED TO BE BRINGING THESE PRACTICAL EXPRESSIONS OF GOOD NEWS TO THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE IN NICARAGUA. IN COOPERATION WITH THE HOPE PROJECT INTERNATIONAL, WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES...
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SEWING HOPE
CASAS DE ESPERANZA
As The Hope Project began working with vulnerable families outside of Matagalpa, they realized there was an opportunity to equip women to increase their potential for earning a livable wage. A sewing school was set up, and women are now learning to sew at a standard suitable for employment at a textile plant. We are now working to implement an additional level of training that will launch high-achieving students into their own sewing business. We will be training in business skills and sending them out with a sewing machine and a micro-loan to start their own small businesses. Our Links Family is already working to develop this program, and we are planning for our first graduates later in 2017.
For many in Nicaragua, a ‘normal’ house is sheets of plastic held up by tree limbs. These homes have dirt floors and are completely exposed to the elements. Additionally, for personal items to be secured, someone always has to be at home. A safe and secure home not only provides dignity for poor families, but also allows them to work outside of the home due to the miracle of locking doors. Casas de Esperanza is an initiative to empower families that are working toward sustainability by providing a dependable home that will protect their family for generations to come.
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In poor communities in Nicaragua, older men are coming in and taking pre-teen aged girls as wives. The horrid living conditions make the girls interested in leaving, and the extra mouth to feed encourages parents to let their children go. This ancient cultural norm has since been made illegal, and The Hope Project is working to end this reality. We are excited to work with them to put an end to this as we believe these young women have a greater destiny.
In addition to these unique initiatives, we are utilising the Links Community Healthcare material, leadership training events, missionary networking and more, to improve the quality of life for people living in these humble conditions. We are planning to take teams in various regions to bring the GOOD NEWS to Nicaragua in 2017.
Training parents and children about the difference education makes is key in a better future. We are working with families to improve living conditions, with local government, to rescue girls that have been illegally taken, working toward foster care solutions (which don’t currently exist), and we are helping facilitate youth retreats to teach young women about their identity and worth as daughters of God. We are also engaging with the leaders of this program and working to provide additional resources to keep families intact as we lead them to a dignified and sustainable existence.
If you would like to learn more about how you can be a part of what is happening in Nicaragua, we would love to get you connected. Please e-mail me if you have any questions or would like to invest financially or relationally into these (or other) initiatives.
Jason Bollinger
CEO, Links International - USA Office jason@linksintlusa.org
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