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A dream comes true

Almost exactly 8 years since they first arrived at La Palmerita, over 100 families have received the much anticipated title deeds for their houses and plots of land.  Throughout these long and often difficult years, Nuevas Esperanzas, in partnership with several other oganisations, has managed the building of 112 houses as well as the long and arduous legal process.  Some of the Nuevas Esperanzas team were involved with the community from the first few months after they set up camp on the land towards the end of 2001.  It was an emotional day and the ceremony saw many of the people who have been involved along the way come together to mark the occasion. 

Doña Máxima, one of the recipients of a title deed said, “This is a dream come true.”  Máxima and her children feature in the Nuevas Esperanzas DVD, Storm in a coffee cup.  This short documentary film charts the history of La Palmerita through the eyes of Máxima and her two young sons, Maynor and Daniel, as they travelled back to the coffee farm where they used to live in the nothern highlands of Matagalpa.  Jobless, homeless and in utter desparation, they took to the road on a year long protest march, finally ending up at La Palmerita after pursuading the government to give them small plot of land on which they could establish a livelihood.  The journey had taken its toll, however, and many arrived at La Palmerita exhausted and malnourished.

The Mayor, Enrique Gómez, remembered the first few weeks when the former coffee workers arrived.  He spoke of the need he saw then and how happy he was to see the change, poignantly naming the community ‘La Nueva Palmerita’ (The New Palmerita).  Andrew Longley, Director of Nuevas Esperanzas, also recalled his first visits to La Palmerita as a volunteer seven years ago and spoke of the long road the community has travelled to see the land legalised, the houses built and the title deeds registered.  Progress has often been painfully slow but the commitment of everyone involved has made this celebration possible.

One of the community members, Valentín López, also gave an emotional speech, thanking all those who have helped.  He said that if it were not for these organisations he did not know where they would be.  He has seen such positive changes over these last few years that all the waiting now feels worthwhile.  The young people from the community provided some entertainment with several traditional dances.  It was a big day for everyone and all the women were in their best dresses, keen to enjoy the occasion.  It was an emotional day for many as they reflected on their long ordeal, but there was also great hope and excitement that this important step will now give them a firmer basis on which to build their future.

There are still challenges for this community, though.  Only 112 houses have been built and those waiting for their houses are often reluctant to come and live in temporary shelters at La Palmerita, a step necessary for them to prove their claim on a house.  The houses are a donation and as such come with one condition: that they cannot be sold, rented or mortgaged for a period of ten years.  For some, this is hard as they are not sure how to manage their situation and would like to sell.  For others though, this day really is a dream come true and the future now looks much brighter.

22/10/09