Futuro del Mañana
“Future of Tomorrow”
Tola, Rivas, Nicaragua
Size: 198 acres
Population: 22 families
Founded: 1999
Agros purchased the Rivas-Tola property in December 1997 as its first village in Nicaragua. The purchase of this land was the culmination of a dream by two Agros board members who visited in 1991. After going through the family selection process, the new villagers broke ground in Spring 1999 and renamed the property Futuro del Mañana.
Futuro del Mañana is one and a half hours outside of the capital, Managua, and ten minutes off the Pan American highway. This location provides good proximity to major markets and will help the community grow. It is also just 15 minutes from the world’s tenth largest freshwater lake in a region fertile for crop growing. This property lies in the heart of an area ravaged by civil war and unemployment.
Since 1999, Futuro del Mañana has had the assistance of many volunteer work teams who have helped build houses and install a water tank. In January 2001, one and a half years after the first ground breaking, twenty-two families moved into their new homes with much celebration. Despite some families’ acute need, they chose not to move into their individual homes until all the homes were completed. Villagers are currently in the loan repayment process. They are focusing on installing an irrigation system and diversifying their crops.
Projects planned for 2009 – 2010 fiscal year include:
- Values-based planning
- Environmental conservation initiatives, including reforestation
- Crop diversification to grow papaya, passion fruit, tomatoes, and various vegetables
- Form partnerships with similar outside organizations
- Health-related discussions and workshops, including sexual and reproductive health
- Leadership development
