NICCA
Nicaragua Center for Community Action
NICCA
P.O. Box 1004
Berkeley, CA 94701
nicca@igc.org
A Sustainable Agriculture Delegation to Nicaragua
March 24 – April 4, 2012
Co sponsored by
Nicaragua Center for Community Action (NICCA) &
Food First/Institute for Food & Development Policy
(for more info, click here)
What is NICCA
Nicaragua Center for Community Action (NICCA) is a grassroots, community-based volunteer organization whose purpose is to do solidarity work in support of the Nicaraguan people's struggle to build in independent and just Nicaragua. We take inspiration from their example, and strive as well to build a more just society in our own country.
What NICCA does:
*Provides information and referrals to individuals and groups wanting to know more about Nicaragua.
*Works in coalition with a variety of other progressive organizations.
*Undertakes political education projects to change U.S. interventionist policy in Central America.
Current Projects
UNAG Matagalpa
Since 1989 NICCA has primarily supported Nicaragua’s National Union of Farmers and Ranchers in the Matagalpa Region (UNAG). UNAG Matagalpa’s Campesino a Campesino program, a part of the world-wide Via Campesino movement. Campesino a Campesino is a comprehensive attempt to further agricultural sustainability and greater bio-diversity by giving technical help to campesinos who then teach each other how to diversify their crops, even on small plots of land. In addition to traditional crops like beans, corn, and the all-important coffee, they are encouraged to plant fruit trees and vegetable and flower gardens, and to raise small animals such as pigs, chickens, and goats. Natural fertilizers and insecticides are produced at home; field burning is discouraged. Crop diversity prevents seasonal hunger and provides surplus food for sale in the market. The program has been extremely successful for those who have the vision and energy to implement it. It has eliminated hunger in many communities where hunger was an almost expected part of the seasonal round.
More information can be found at www.unagmatagalpa.org.ni
Grupo MOES, Esteli
Grupo MOES(Mujeres Organizadas Emprendedoras de Estelí) is a women’s group in the city of Estelí that tries to help the poorest women finds some small means to obtain income for their families. The group has been providing training for unemployed and at risk women by organizing self-help workshops in home hand craft production. It also organizes domestic and sexual violence workshops. NICCA provides funding and material aid to assist their work.
More information can be found at www.grupomoes.es.tl
Coalition Partners
UNAG Matagalpa (Union Nacional de Agricultores y Ganaderos) www.unagmatagalpa.org.ni
The Nicaragua Network www.nicanet.org
Alliance for Global Justice www.afgj.org
Latin America Solidarity Network www.lasolidarity.org
Global Justice Ecology Project www.gjep.org
Bay Area Latin America Solidarity Coalition www.balasc.org
Haiti Action Committee www.haitisolidarity.net