Dear friends of Nicaragua,
I am writing to tell you about an exciting project I have been helping the Casa Benjamin Linder and Alliance for Global Justice organize—a virtual course and in-person delegation to learn about the Autonomous Regions of Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast!
The virtual course also includes a film festival covering all the ethnicities of this unique part of Nicaragua in which 31% of the national territory has been deeded to Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. Please see the details below about the 4 sessions of the course which starts THIS THURSDAY, October 19.
Below that you will find information and instructions on applying for our in-person delegation to the two autonomous regions in January 2024. Please help us spread the word! The delegation will include a special in-person meeting of the Zone of Peace in Bluefields. We are also raising money to help young people and Black and Indigenous activists join us for this unique experience. Scholarship applicants who attend the virtual course and apply early will be given priority in the selection process. Thank you for whatever support you are able to give to our scholarship fund!
Please read on for info about 1. donations, 2. the virtual course, and 3. applying to the in-person delegation.
Jill Clark-Gollub, Friends of Latin America and Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition
Interested in supporting but can't join the delegation? Consider making a donation to sponsor our low-income & BIPOC youth delegates!
Delegations are life-changing experiences and critical opportunities to build international solidarity with movements for liberation worldwide. The cost of organizing delegations is expensive -- which poses challenges to making them accessible to our next generation of activists and organizers whose representation should be prioritized. Will you help us break these barriers to participation?
Support the scholarship fund here!
* If you are making a donation to the delegation, please select "Scholarship aid for delegation participants" in the Special Purpose for Donation section. In the next box, please indicate “Caribbean Coast.” Thank you for your solidarity!
Virtual Course & Film Festival
The Rights of Indigenous and Afrodescendant Peoples on Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast
October 19 - November 9, 2023 (4 sessions)
Session 1: International Solidarity
Thursday, October 19 / 7pm Eastern / 5pm Central America / 4pm Pacific
- Erica Caines, Black Alliance for Peace, Baltimore Organizer/Haiti Americas Team
- Soledad Ortiz, Comité de Defensa de la Mujer, Mexico
- Johnny Hodgson, Representative to the National Assembly for the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region of Nicaragua
- Carlos Alemán, President of Regional Autonomous Council of the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region of Nicaragua
Upcoming sessions:
Session 2, Saturday, October 28: 12noon Eastern/10am Central America: History
Session 3, Thursday, November 2: 7pm Eastern/5pm Central America: North Caribbean Region
Session 4, Thursday, November 9: 7pm Eastern/5pm Central America: South Caribbean Region
Join our upcoming delegation to Nicaragua!
Advances and Autonomy: Rights of Indigenous and Afrodescendant Peoples on Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast
January 20 - February 1, 2024
More information and application here!