Quest for Peace Nicaragua
Quixote Center work in Nicaragua has gone through many phases since launching Quest for Peace in 1984 – read about our history here. Today, the Center supports poverty relief through economic development in Nicaragua by collaborating with local cooperatives. In 2025 we partnered with Peaceworks to provide a small loan to the El Porvenir coffee cooperative in Leon to enable them to harvest and process their crop. This loan replenished a revolving fund that the cooperative reinvests in their operation after selling their coffee.
In August 2025, Quixote Center worked in partnership with PeaceWorks and Green Empowerment to support cocoa producers in Waslala, members of the CacaoNica cooperative, to comply with organic certification requirements and increase their income by 30%. The Autonomous Communities in Electrification and Sanitation - ACES pilot project that culminated in December 2025 reached 40 families benefiting close to 200 people by installing:
40 photovoltaic systems (200kW)
31 ecological latrines
These life-changing systems not only increased the farmers’ productivity but significantly improved the quality of life of every family member, particularly the women and children of the household. With our partners we are planning on expanding this project to reach more cocoa producing families in Waslala in 2026.
Nicaragua has experienced a string of earthquakes that emanated from the fault lines directly under Managua during the last week, ranging from 5.1 to 6.7 on the Richter scale. There have also been aftershocks. The temblors have caused serious concern among seismologists and other experts, and reminded many in Nicaragua of the devastating 1972 earthquake that left 10,000 dead and over 250,000 homeless.
It is difficult to write of a friend in the past tense; to say, “He was a good man”, or “He was a funny guy.” “Was” seems to final. But then death is final and I suppose we need to find ways to accept the passing of friends; putting them in the past is one way we do this. But today, at least for today, I want our friend Jim Burchell to be present.
Nicaragua faces a severe housing shortage, one that has left families without options for safe and dignified housing. Homes of Hope is our initiative with the Institute of John XXIII to address the challenges faced by the country's large working poor population, those with incomes below what is needed to support the family.
This is a translation of an article that appeared in La Prensa over the weekend. It highlights our work with the Institute of John XXIII as we seek solutions to the housing crisis in Nicaragua. Read the original article here (Sp).
The following article originally appeared in El Nuevo Diario, and was translated from Spanish to English by Yancy Rivera.
The housing deficit in Nicaragua has no end. Currently, there is a shortage of 957,000 houses and each year the demand increases by 20,000 units, of which the private and public sector only cover 50%, according to the Chamber of Developers.
Yesterday we posted an article discussing 5 myths still perpetuated in the media's myopic coverage of the Nicaraguan Revolution. Here we share David Wilson's article from Truth Out from earlier this week, that raises many of the same themes, but through the lens of his personal experience as a volunteer with TecNica in 1985 and 1987.
Are you tired of watching CSI and wondering what it would be like to solve a real crime?? HERE IS YOUR CHANCE!
[Original post, September 24, 2013, Updated September 26, 2013 - see below]
**Update** Due to the snow storm that has crippled the Southeastern United States (especially the airports), the delegation has been postponed, new dates TBD. This is an unfortunate turn of events, and we hope to complete the trip as soon as possible. More to come.
February 16-23, 2014
On Saturday August 14 we had a party to celebrate a visit from Edwin Novoa, Director of our long time partner organization, the Institute of John XXIII in Managua, Nicaragua. It was great to see some familiar faces and meet new Quixoteites who share a belief in impossible dreams.
In addition to good food and good people, it was also an opportunity to learn more about the 'Homes of Hope' the Quixote Center donors have supported in Nicaragua for over a decade.
On Monday morning I woke up around five to catch the earliest bus from Leon to Esteli. The ride takes approximately two hours on one of the smaller InterLocal buses, and I was fortunate enough to catch one with a mid day arrival. My bus arrived at the terminal around 12:30. I texted Miguel Marin from FEDICAMP, and he came to pick me up about fifteen minutes later in his compact pickup. In the back was Felix, one of the community organizers/trainers/agronomists working with the communities affiliated with FEDICAMP
