November 28, 2016
Dear Friends,
This year we send our fundraising letter in the aftermath of both the US and Nicaraguan elections. Both here and in Nicaragua the challenges of healthcare, education, job creation, climate change and participatory democracies encourage us to be world citizens more than ever. For over 28 years, the sister city relationship of people-to-people diplomacy has fostered friendship and mutual understanding of the people of Ocotal, Nicaragua and Hartford, CT. We hope that our relationship helps build a more just and sustainable world. Your help each year allows us to continue to maintain and build on that relationship. It is no exaggeration that we could not continue without your support.
For many years, the Hartford/Ocotal Sister City Project has helped the people of Ocotal by supporting FUNAFAM, a Nicaraguan organization established to provide microloans to people with very low incomes, especially women, thereby enabling them to develop small business ventures. FUNAFAM now also administers larger loans to entrepreneurs and runs a store. We send FUNAFAM $400 monthly (about 81 % of our budget), and we depend on you to keep that support going. We are hopeful that a group of board members along with community members will be visiting Ocotal in January 2017. Anyone interested in participating should contact us as soon as possible!
We, in H/OSCP, have begun a discussion on the concept of solidarity and where can we most effectively support the people of Ocotal in their attempts to meet challenges that face them in their growing community. This conversation began with the visit by Katherine Hoyt, co-coordinator of the Alliance for Global Justice and Its Nicaragua Network program, and Victor Campos, deputy director of the Alexander von Humboldt Center in Managua, an environmental organization, when they came to visit Hartford a year ago. Our survey sent out to many of you in early October has been instrumental in nourishing that conversation. We hosted a Pot Luck in October to further discuss this with the H/OSCP community. Your words, thoughts and opinions have been and will continue to be helpful in shaping our work in the years to come. Please stay in touch!
We have continued the highly successful Nicaraguan Reading Group at the Hartford Public Library. This is an important educational component which takes place year round as a monthly activity. This year we had guest speakers, movies, poetry, novels and articles to introduce the Greater Hartford Community to the diversity and cultural riches of Nicaragua.
We also continue to be a presence at the Stowe Center’s Inspiration to Action Networking Fair, where H/OSCP Board members exchanged information with other social activists as well as share with other sister city groups throughout the city with our participation in the Sister City International Hartford Group.
We are always looking for effective ways to raise money. This year we hosted another successful fundraiser at Goodwill at the Grill at the Bishops Corner Whole Foods Market in West Hartford. On Sun., Dec. 4, from 12 to 4 P.M., another fundraiser is planned at Ten Thousand Villages in West Hartford Center, with 15% of all proceeds during those hours donated to H/OSCP. COME JOIN US!
Even with our annual fundraisers, all very successful events, they are not enough. We rely on you for help. We are very grateful for your contributions, which are part of an important lifeline for H/OSCP. Please increase your support if possible, but help in any way you can. No gift is too small. Thank you!
H/OSCP, Inc. is a corporation with 501(c) (3) status and contributions are tax-deductible as permitted by law. Please send checks payable to H/OSCP, Inc. to P.O. Box 270290, West Hartford, CT 06127-0290.
Sincerely,
The Hartford/Ocotal Sister City Project, Inc. Board of Directors
Abigail Adams Janet Bauer Polly Moran
Brigid Allen Lois Bromson Sandra Morgan
Rich Allen Michelle Corbett Dennis Sullivan
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We are a low overhead, non-profit organization supporting a Grameen style microcredit program of loans to the poor. Donate today with a one-time contribution or a donation subscription that will last the whole year – or more! All donations are deductible as permitted by law.
We always accept checks mailed to:
Hartford/Ocotal Sister City Project P.O. Box 270290 West Hartford, CT 06127-0290