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In early November 2020, Hurricane Eta - a devastating Category 4 hurricane - wreaked havoc across many parts of Central America. Just 13 days later an even more destructive category 5 hurricane, IOTA, is said to be the strongest hurricane to hit the region.

Many of our tribal friends in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica have been affected by the hurricanes causing landslides, floods as well as the destruction of corn and beans crops, and several homes with casualties both children and adults.

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After conversations with Maritza Centeno, from the Matagalpa people, about at least 810 affected families in Nicaragua (especially those from the indigenous community of Salinas de Nahualapa) and getting reports from Nelly Coleman, of extensive damage in the Honduras Miskito region, we resort to take action and activate our platform.

These indigenous communities rely mostly on subsistence farming and more than 70% of the families do not have jobs or any other source of income except for what they get from their land.

Our main goal was to provide nutritional support to as many families as possible, by networking and fundraising to purchase relief supplies and deliver them to those who need them most. For this, we worked directly with indigenous coops and NGOs which are in the areas providing support to the affected families.

We are committed to send to our partner indigenous organizations 100% of the funds raised in the campaign and to provide regular feedback, testimonies and reports on the impact that the donations have on the livelihoods of these communities and updates on other ways people can lend a hand.

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We ran a crowdfunding campaign from December to early March and raised $7002 from 137 supporters!! This is what happened thanks to those funds:

Cooperativa Agropecuaria de Servicios Tonanzintlalli: Nicaraguan women coffee coop in La Laguna de San Ramon, Matagalpa, received a total of $6002 which they used for the following:

  • Purchase staple food items from indigenous farmers: 5000 lbs of beans ($2171), 6000 lbs of corn ($951), 250 bags of 400 gr of coffee ($575).

  • Payment of the transport of the corn and beans to La Laguna where 2500 lbs of beans and 3500 lbs of corn where distributed amongst 45 vulnerable families.

  • Bus to go to Nahualapa region to share various food supplies with 132 members of the indigenous community of Selinas and 350 members of the community of Virgen Morena.

    “ Aquí una delegación de 25 adultos y 9 niños, salimos a las 5 am de nuestra comunidad para celebrar ceremonia de entrega de frijoles, maiz, cafe y bananos a nuestros hermanos indigenas de salinas de Nahualpa… Llevamos 4 guerreros indigenas a cargo de subir y bajar los sacos al techo del auto bus. 2500 libras de frijoles, 2500 lbs de maiz y 250 libras de cafe...mas ofrendas de tamales y bananos...vamos muy felices de encontrarnos con nuestros hermanos Nahoas… Ajoo”
    Maritza Centeno, Tonanzintlalli Coop leader

  • With the second transfer of $2002 the coop is planning to buy more corn and beans, mostly to use as seed to plant their 2021 crops in May which will be harvested in November, and a small amount to go as food for the neediest families in their community La Laguna. They are also looking into getting a few new mattresses for those elders who lost theirs as a consequence of the hurricanes. We will update when we get the final report from Maritza.

MOPAWI: An indigenous NGO working with the Miskitos in the affected areas of Honduras Caribbean coast received $1000 (doubled up with another $1000 contributed by GeoParadise).

  • Mopawi will be sending the final report soon on how the funds sent were allocated with pictures so we can share with you all.

Aside from the funds raised via the Chuffed campaign, GeoParadise contributed the following to this project:

  • $1000 to double up the MOPAWI donation.

  • 4 x full TG passes to be entered in a draw amongst all the supporters of this Disaster Relief project.

  • Funds to cover other necessary campaign costs: Online advertising, promo videos filming/editing fees, bank transfer fees, campaign management, etc

    Thank you all who supported by donating or spreading the word.
    This would have not been possible without your help!

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