On 12th September, Rosa and Grace will be cycling 20 miles, from Leeds to Knaresborough!  

(Well, OK, they're not really cycling, they're on the back of Robin and Sarah's bikes.)

Please sponsor them!

Leeds Central America Campaign has a long standing link with the MCN, a community organisation in La Concha, Nicaragua.  Over the last couple of years we have fundraised for two women's groups who have started up micro credit fund projects and set up fantastic small businesses ranging from baking to jewellery-making to dog-breeding!  The MCN works with the poorest families and the difference that the women's earnings is making to the lives of their families and the whole community is amazing.  The first group are now in their third round of loans, and it's gone so well that the two groups are planning to club together to set up a 'secondary cooperative' to help sell some of the goods they are producing to a wider market.

Now another women's group has got together and wants to start a credit fund too, and we've agreed to raise £1000 for them to start up.  Following a big fundraising effort in the summer with our 10k run, we're nearly there but just need a final push!  The financial crisis has meant opportunities for work closing down (eg garment factory work) and food prices rising, so it's more important now than ever for women to be able to generate an income for their families. 

These are inspiring women who do so much with so little, and in a situation where they seem to have been dealt all the wrong cards, manage to stay positive and take control of their own lives and livelihoods, and build some future for their families and communities.   Please help us support them!

Thankyou!