The catastrophic contra war was waged in the rural areas of Nicaragua, causing chaos and disrupting the lives of tens of thousands of people, including the entire community of Martin Centeno. The people fled to escape the fighting. But their sense of community was strong and in 1986 the survivors were given land as part of the Nicaraguan government’s agrarian reform program to start over.

From 11 original families, Martin Centeno has grown to 70 families. The community governs itself by committees. Working from a pooled budget, each committee deals with health, potable water, family gardens for food security, church life, legal and governmental issues, youth and women’s advocacy.

ProNica has helped Martin Centeno continue to thrive as a model of collaboration and solidarity for other small rural communities.

What You Can Do

Maintenance, repair and replacement of the infrastructure in Martin Centeno Community is a critical part of their future.