Sowing Seeds of Hope (2009)

Nicaragua has suffered more set backs and shocks than almost any country in Latin America, from devastating natural disasters including earthquakes and hurricanes, to political upheaval and the destruction caused by a drawn out civil war. In Latin America, only Haiti has more extreme levels of poverty.

Climate change is affecting eco-systems across the world and, in many places, threatens food security for vulnerable communities. In Nicaragua where rural communities eke out a living producing crops in seasonally dry regions, a temperature increase could spell disaster…

Growing enough to survive on is already difficult here. Families are often forced to leave their villages for part of the year, or permanently. The changing climate is making the seasons less predictable. Storms, cyclones and hurricanes are becoming more severe. Unless communities adapt to the increasing challenges of drought, flooding and unpredictable weather patterns and make their sandy soils as productive as possible crops will fail and the risk of hunger will increase.

SCIAF's Latin American Programme Officer, Chris MacLullich reports from the field where SCIAF is helping poor communities work together to fight for better services and protect themselves against the growing threat of climate change.

CANTERA: Helping Communities in the Dry Tropics of Nicaragua

CANTERA: Planting for the Future

Juan 23: Working Together to Get the Job Done

Juan 23: The Importance of Being Organised

Juan 23 La Esperanza: Bringing Hope to a Women’s Prison