A twinning link is a way of promoting mutual understanding, friendship, and solidarity between people, towns and communities in different countries.
Although distance separates us we are united in solidarity, compassion, kindness, humanity and a spirit of love thy neighbour.
– Nicaraguan partner organisation of the Bradford Tisma Link
During the 1980s, when the Sandinista government was in power and the Reagan administration waged war against the country, hundreds of thousands of people from around the world visited Nicaragua to show political and practical support for the Sandinista Revolution.
Deeply affected by the experience, many returned home committed to continuing their support for Nicaragua in ways appropriate to their circumstances. Some chose to work locally by setting up twinning links with the towns and communities they had visited.
According to their local context, UK links with Nicaragua take many forms ranging from formal twinnings between local councils, to informal groups raising funds for a particular community or project.
The key to sustaining these links has been core groups of volunteers with the capacity to engage local organisations and people through activities that promote mutual solidarity with Nicaraguan partners.
NSC collaborates with and provides support for these local organisations, but they are autonomous and have their own structures and partner organisations in Nicaragua.
The groups undertake one or more of the following activities:
Raising awareness and funds for health, education and environmental projects
Over the past 30 years, groups have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for projects through sponsored events, raffles, duck races, football tournaments, online auctions, salsa discos, and much more. With Covid-19 restrictions, some groups organise online quizzes to support schools and community centres with Covid-19 related training and equipment.
Facilitating exchanges through delegations to Nicaragua and UK visits by partner organisations
For the last ten years, Bristol Link with Nicaragua have invited Nicaraguan women fair trade coffee producers to Bristol for Fairtrade Fortnight to visit schools, colleges, universities, business and women’s organisations to raise awareness of what difference fair trade makes for women farmers and the impact of climate change.
Supporting initiatives that contribute to a culture of peace
In 2018, during the profound polarisation and violence of the attempted coup, Bristol Link with Nicaragua worked with the local council in their twin town of Puerto Morazan to promote activities to build a culture of reconciliation, peace and dialogue. This includes an annual children’s peace festival, providing funding for the construction of pre-schools, and the painting of a peace mural.
Organising events that celebrate Nicaraguan culture
Since 1988, the Oxford Leon Association and Blackfriars Church have organised a mass that incorporates a performance with a choir and musicians of the Nicaraguan ‘Misa Campesina.’ The mass, first performed clandestinely in Nicaragua in 1975, is based on Nicaraguan folk music and celebrates God as the God of the poor and oppressed involved and supported in political struggle against wealthy elites.