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1st Church >
Peace&Justice > Projects
Background
Amherst, Massachusetts,
USA, and La Paz Centro, Nicaragua, have had a sister city relationship
since 1987. Its purpose is to encourage cultural and educational
exchanges, to promote better understanding between our two countries
and to give assistance to those in need to both communities. The
sister city relationship is an initiative to promote understanding,
peace and justice.
A Sister City Committee in Amherst was appointed
by the Amherst Town Meeting to further these purposes, and a Sister
City Committee in La Paz Centro was established with the same goals.
None of the committees receives funding from the respective towns.
Money is raised for projects by selling crafts, coffee and donuts
and town meetings, holding bakes sales and tag sales and contributions
from residents. For background is available from the the Amherst
Sister City Committee and the Amherst
Town Meeting.
Work Projects
Work projects have been undertaken as a cross-cultural
exchange to strengthen the Sister City relationship. Each project
was conducted in La Paz Centro by a joint Amherst/La Paz Centro
team. The La Paz Sister City Committee identified a project, and
prepared for a Amherst delegation who visited La Paz for a one week
period. Members of the delegations stayed with La Paz Host families,
and worked side by side on the project. The first project re-furbished
a pre-school; the second project built
a community center. The Amherst delegation
for the first project came from the Pathways Center and the 1st
Congregational Church. The second delegation came from three
churches in Amherst, the 1st
Congregational Church, South
Congregational Church, and Grace
Episcipal Church. |
