Life at the dump

Villa Catalina Community 2004

Home Building 2005

Villa Catalina Community

We led 120 poor families from a life of misery to new hope at Villa Catalina.

The families now reside in cramped tents, known as "champas", while we finish the construction of their new homes.

We need your help to fulfill our promise to these families; to deliver them to safe, new homes, that will withstand the forces of nature.

It has been an amazing journey so far...

In May of 2004, a group of students from the University of Georgia helped move 120 hopeful families from the dismal environs of “El Limonal”, a plastic tent city located beside the Chinandega, Nicaragua city dump.

Why?

We have paraded mission groups through the burning stench of the dump for years. El Limonal is the starkest example of destitute poverty we’ve ever witnessed. We shed many tears there and its image stayed with us long after we returned to our safe homes.

The families placed their innocent trust in us. We loaded their possessions together onto trucks; sheets of tin and pieces of plywood, plastic containers, chicken wire, rice sacks filled with clothes, and for a fortunate few, a wooden bed frame or concrete chamber pot. We made the short trip together from crowded Chinandega to the surrounding countryside. Our destination was Villa Catalina, 52.5 acres of open air.

The Price of Freedom

The 120 families are now confined in tent-like dwellings. They have completed construction of their permanent school and feeding center. The village children attend pre-kindergarten through 6th grade and receive a hot lunch every day. We started a secondary school scholarship program for adolescents in the community, so they can continue their schooling in nearby Chinandega. The families have adjusted to their new surroundings and are embracing the dream of a new home.

Building Safe Homes

We have completed over 120 dwellings. Each home is a modest 500 square feet of living space. Each plot of land will have an outdoor latrine/shower and space for a micro farm to help the families feed themselves. With the cost of steel and other materials rising, a house and latrine/shower costs approximately $3,800. No families will occupy a home until they are all completed, which we hope will finally happen in fall of 2006. Please donate to help us provide a safe living space for every one of the 120 families.

Providing a Clean Water Source

We must provide a convenient clean water system for the families. We installed a 10,000 gallon tank. The next phase of construction will be a distribution system, to send clean water to all parts of the village and farming area. You can help finish and sustain the clean water system by donating.

Offering Avenues to Self-Sufficiency

We are implementing organic fertilizer and animal husbandry projects in the village. Already, the pig farming startup has produced profit for the workers. A similar chicken farming operation houses 2000 laying hens, and produces enough eggs to round out the families' modest diet, with extra to sell at market. The community thrift store is a popular area venue and is almost self-sufficient. Our plan is to empower the villagers to help themselves by producing income through small business ventures. Can you help us by donating the seed money we need to carry out and sustain these projects?

The families of Villa Catalina have placed themselves in God's hands and He has called on us to be their advocates.

Please pray that Villa Catalina will flourish and that every family there will have the opportunity to feed themselves and educate their children.

Please help Villa Catalina reach its promise by lending us your support.

Come to Nicaragua and see for yourself.

Contact us at info@amigosforchrist.org today!

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