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Dear Friends,
It has been an inspiring several months for PeaceWorks. Our compassionate community continues to respond with generosity to strengthen our people to people solidarity with Nicaragua. We hope you will take a few minutes to read and reflect on the information contained in this newsletter.
We are excited to share the news that PeaceWorks has hired husband and wife team Austin Haeberle and Wendy Jacques of Maplewood as part-time Communications Consultants to assist PeaceWorks with a variety of communications activities. Their immediate focus will be on enhancing our online presence, creating a new website and expanding our use of electronic media and social networking. Austin and Wendy have several decades of experience working with grassroots groups in Central America and bring a wealth of communications experiences and skills in print, digital and film.
Our Fundraising Committee Co-Chair, Reverend Brooks Smith, has been speaking at area churches and working hard with institutional and individual donors to support the Jim Burchell Presente! Fund initiatives in Nicaragua. We are thrilled to report that we are getting closer to funding the first phase of construction for the new office for Axayacatl, PeaceWorks’ partner organization which promotes women’s rights education and empowerment in Masaya. We have received several dedicated grants, including a generous promise of $10,000 from Wilson Memorial Union Church in Watchung if we can raise an additional $5,000 in matching funds.
This brings us to nearly $20,000 that has been raised or committed already for the Axayacatl construction project. Our goal this month is to raise the remaining $10,000 needed so that construction can commence. Each dollar you donate will unlock another dollar of the $5,000 challenge grant from Wilson Memorial. Please make a tax-deductible donation today using the enclosed envelope or through www.peaceworks.org.
We are grateful and humbled by the outpouring of support from our PeaceWorks community for our special fundraising campaign to support strategic infrastructure initiatives with our core partners in Nicaragua. In less than six months, we have been able to fully fund the Inhijambia dormitory project. The enclosed report and photographs from Inhijambia Executive Director Mirna Sanchez highlights the completion of the dormitory construction, which is already providing safe haven to a dozen vulnerable young girls.
As if that was not enough good news, the El Porvenir Coffee Cooperative, which grows the 43 Families Coffee sold by PeaceWorks, received a substantial donation by a longtime PeaceWorks supporter for the purchase of a used truck. El Porvenir is located in a hard to reach rural area, accessible only by a steep and rocky dirt road and, until now, a tractor has been the only means for the community to transport community members in need of medical attention.
On May 9th, we successfully completed another“Leap of Faith”with our 67th Humanitarian aid shipment to Nicaragua. Of particular note, we were able to ship 4 dental chairs to support a dental clinic in Granada and an ultrasound machine to support pre-natal care in the rural community of Villanueva, as well as several hundred new shovels for Fedicamp. Special thanks to the members of our Shipment Committee who worked so hard to make the May shipment a well-organized and successful event. Please see the enclosed detailed report for more details.
None of this work would be possible without your steadfast support. Thank you once again for helping turn dreams into reality for those who struggle daily for survival against tremendous odds.
In Peace and Solidarity,
Denis Johnston, Board President
Upcoming Events
PeaceWorks Solidarity Roast, July 11th from 3-7pm Chatham-Summit Quaker Meeting House
Dinner Forum, September 12th, 6:30-9pm Chatham-Summit Quaker Meeting House
67th Humanitarian Aid Shipment to Nicaragua, Sat. Oct 10th, 10-4pm United Presbyterian Church
PeaceWorks 