Tourism Strong: Hurricane Relief for Nicaragua

With two devastating hurricanes impacting Nicaragua less than three weeks apart, the country is reeling from the effects of catastrophic flooding, high winds and mudslides. According to sources in Nicaragua, as of November 17 over 53,000 families have been displaced from their homes and there is an immediate need for food, shelter, clothing and medical supplies, both along the Caribbean Coast and inland, in central farming communities and towns like Rivas that are being impacted by floods. 

Working together, Jicaro Island Lodge  and Careli Tours Nicaragua  are raising funds to purchase and deliver needed supplies to families  impacted by Hurricanes Eta and Iota. Funds from this campaign will be sent to Jicaro and used to locally purchase supplies - food packages, tarps, zinc roofing material, clothing, medicine and first aid kits -  which will be distributed to people in need. Distribution will be to communities on the Caribbean Coast, Rivas and to central farm communities around Lake Nicaragua who have lost the entirety of this year's expected harvest due to flooding. 

Aid in Nicaragua is complicated. The most impactful aid and organizing in Nicaragua often takes place at the grassroots level, spearheaded by churches and community leadership vs. reliance on government programs or NGOs, which frequently are not able to operate in Nicaragua.  Howard Coulson, General Manager of Jicaro Island Lodge - has a long history as a community organizer and leader in Granada and the surrounding Isletas .  Over the past decade he has spearheaded community development projects ranging from education (with the Padre Nello School ) to a medical clinic, to installing solar panels to provide electricity and a source for clean, filtered drinking water for more than 600 people.  When Covid-19 hit earlier this year, Howard and his team at Jicaro quickly mobilized to teach best hygiene & social practices to prevent community spread. 

Careli Tours Nicaragua has been the country's leading DMC for 22 years. Headquartered in Managua, they have staff throughout the country and expertise in logistics and transportation. 

100% of the funds raised from this campaign will be wired to Jicaro Island Lodge in Nicaragua and the teams at Careli & Jicaro will use them to procure the needed items from local markets and vendors, furthering the positive impact on the local economy vs. relying on aid items purchased and shipped from overseas.  They will then organize and distribute the items to communities in need, ensuring that 100% of funds raised are 1.)  quickly and efficiently distributed at the local level to those who need help most urgently (Rivas Area & Caribbean Coast) and 2.)  items are purchased in country from local vendors. 

Funds will be sent to Jicaro Island Lodge soon as the goal is met or by November 30, 2020 . Updates will be provided regularly.

Whether you've traveled to Nicaragua and have been touched by the country's beauty and people or simply wish to provide assistance where it is most needed, your support and donation is greatly appreciated. 

Jicaro Island Lodge is a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World  and operated by The Cayuga Collection of Sustainable Luxury Hotels.   This campaign is being managed by Kirsten Gardner of Clark Kotula Representation, a specialized hospitality representation & marketing firm based in the United States that works with Jicaro.