In September 2007, Hurricane Felix, a category 5 storm with 165 mph winds slammed into the eastern coast of Nicaragua.  The Quest for Peace and our Nicaraguan partner, the Institute of John the XXIII mobilized.  Within a month, the Quest has sent $80,000 in emergency recovery funds.

Homes of Safety, Happiness and Dignity

A report from Waspam

The project Homes of Safety, Happiness and Dignity is working with Miskito communities on Nicaragua's northern Atlantic Coast to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Felix and to restore the life, hope and future of these families.  

Since October, the Institute John XXIII has been coordinating with a local team that is working in Waspam to help communities recover from the fear and pain left in the aftermath of the storm, providing seeds and tools to guarantee basic subsistence and now in the construction of homes so that once again, communities can recommit to living on their lands.  Five communities are working arduously, in a struggle against time to advance construction before the next rainy season, which in this area can begin as early as April.

Communities are salvaging lumber from trees felled by Hurricane Felix.  The new homes will be built of wood according to local custom.  The felled lumber is plentiful but requires heroic effort to prepare the wood by hand and carry it on human shoulders to the communities.

The communities are beehives of activity; some cut lumber in the mountains, others carry it to the communities, others prepare construction sites and those with more skills are building the houses.  The construction effort has become a school.  There are two skilled builders who rotate through the communities, teaching, supervising and encouraging.  We are beginning to see the results.  The first five houses are almost finished, the people are smiling, they believe in the project and know that all of the hard work is worth the effort.  The goal is o build 198 homes before the end of the year.

 

Because of the remote location, costs are high (transport, fuel and food costs are 30% more expensive than in other parts of the country) and as a result, few organizations "risk" supporting construction efforts in the zone.  Currently, this is the only construction project in Waspam and many other communities are waiting for support and a portable sawmill is needed to speed up the process.

To walk with the poor and marginated is always and adventure, but we believe in "the power of the weak" and we trust that we will reach our goal.