Leer este artículo en Español aquí.

The El Parasio Housing project is complete!

25 rural families in El Parasio now have their own homes. These houses are a clean, safe place to live and include a strong foundation, floor, and roof to keep out the tropical coastal weather and an outdoor cook stove to keep smoke outside.

When a community is part of a Rainbow Network housing project, each family is a part of the construction according to ability. All of the houses are started and completed together, so the community has a big celebration at the end of the project, complete with singing, dancing, and a ceremony where families receive keys and a deed for their new home.

The Nicaraguan newspaper El Nuevo Diario published an article this weekend about the completion of the project.  The original Spanish version can be found here, on the El Nuevo Diario website, or you can read a translated version below.

Enjoy the article, and stay tuned for updates from the most recent trip and the El Parasio housing dedication ceremony!

25 Houses Provided to Farming Families

By: Francisco Mendoza, state news

Published November 12, 2011 in El Nuevo Diario

MATAGALPA, NICARAGUA – After many years of working in coffee plantations, today 25 agricultural families from El Parasio village near San Ramon have home of their own thanks to the Rainbow Network, a Christian organization that has been working on social projects in Nicaragua for 17 years.

Nelson Palacios, the Nicaraguan Director of Rainbow Network, said that each house costs about $4000 to build, but beneficiaries repay $2500 over a period of 20 years.  In other words, families who receive homes repay $10 per month on their home loans.

Rainbow Network Rainbow Network is a non-denominational Christian ministry founded in 1995, has succeeded in changing the lives of thousands of poor families in our country.

Currently, Rainbow Network operates in eight municipalities, or networks: Ciudad Sandino, Mateare, Nagarote, La Paz Centro, El Crucero, San Ramón, El Tuma- La Dalia and Ciudad Darío.  Within these networks, the organization serves 101 rural communities and has completed 28 housing projects.

Funding from Missouri’s Churches

Rainbow Network’s projects are funded mainly by Christian churches in Missouri, U.S.A., and have been successful in bettering the lives of 700 impoverished rural families. Those who receive support from Rainbow would like to thank those in the U.S. for supporting them.

Palacios said that not only does Rainbow provide families with houses, but also gives them land deeds in their names. When families repay their home loans, the money goes back to help other families in need.

Sonia Córdoba Díaz is a single mother of five children who works in the coffee plantations. Her family never owned a home, and used to live in a small shelter made of plastic sheeting.  Today, thanks to Rainbow Network, Sonia and her children have their own home.

Another beneficiary is Mrs. Martha Lorena Morales and her husband Oscar Danilo Mendez, who was left disabled after a work accident on the Santa Emilia Ranch. The couple never had a suitable home, but thanks to this Christian organization they own a decent house.

The owner of the land in El Parasio donated 2.5 acres to the project. María Elsa Ruiz Vallejo, Manager of Rainbow in San Ramon, said that a study was conducted to evaluate the needs of the impoverished rural inhabitants of El Parasio. To date, Rainbow Network has partnered with 92 families of El Parasio who work in the coffee plantations.