Recent and past Events

Event	.	Visiting coffee growers from Nicaragua (8+9 Mar 2006)
		*Click to read the review*

Event	.	Annual General Meeting, and PROSPECTS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL AMERICA (Wed 30 Nov 2005)
		Following the year spent in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, Chloe Hill, PhD student at Loughborough University talked about her research into the Meso-American biological corridor. The evening concluded with a reading from the Peasant Poets of Solentiname in memory of Peter Wright.

Event	.	MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY (Mon 7 Nov 2005)
For more Infomation see page 5 from the news letter LMLG News, Dec 2005		An interactive event invited young people (14-16) across the region to critically engage with the key issues of trade, aid and debt. Workshops and debates provided opportunity for shared learning among youth groups and schools already involved in activities around the MPH theme as well as those wanting to find out more.

Event	.	THE WORLD IN YOUR LUNCH BOX (Sat 15 Oct 2005)
		‘Make and taste’ sessions, activities and displays focused on Leicester’s global links to inspire healthy packed lunches using fair-trade ingredients from around the world. Presented in collaboration with Just…. as part of ‘Family Learning Week’ *Click to read the review and to see the pictures*

Event	.	CLUB LA PACHANGA, CHACON Y SU TIMBA (Sat 8 Oct 2005)
		It was an opportunity to hear and dance the night away to the best of Latin American Salsa, which raised £700 for projects in Masaya. Cuban-born artist Osvaldo Chacon had played alongside many of the great salsa artists, including Celia Cruz, Ruben Blades, Oscar de Leon and others. He delighted us with the great Timba sound of his 7-piece ensemble "Chacon y su Timba" - a London-based band with a fantastic reputation! The LMLG provided a display and information about successful projects that have been undertaken as a result of the money raised at Club La Pachanga events. Club la Pachanga

Event	.	RENEWABLE ENERGY IN NICARAGUA (22 Sept 2005)
		Dominic McCann and John Perry talked about work on recent projects that provide solar power for rural communities in two areas of Nicaragua.

Event	.	Leicester & Me (26th June 2005)
		This is the culminating event at Belgrave hall, following a year long festival celebrating Leicester's cultural diversity. Activities for all ages were offered across a number of different themes, from music to food and crafts. The LMLG provided the Nicaraguan contribution and brought a Latin American Flavour to each of the activity areas! *Click to read the review and to see the pictures*

Event	.	"Rich" World "Poor" World (18th June 2005)
		The event aimed to raise awareness of the MAKE POVERTY HISTORY campaign included a lunch to highlight global inequality between rich and poor, followed by a film “The World Stopped Watching” documenting what has become of the people and nation now that Nicaragua is no longer under the media spotlight and a discussion led by Ed Brown Chair of LMLG and a lecturer at Loughborough University. *Click to read the review of how well the event went and see the pictures*

Event	.	‘Learning About Fairtrade Through Your Senses’ (Sat 21 May 2005)
		The LMLG presented workshops and displays in collaboration with the Just Shop (Leicester’s Fairtrade Shop) to celebrate Cultural Diversity Day during Adult Learner’s Week. The event raised awareness about trade justice issues with a focus on Nicaragua. The public were invited to taste cookies made with fairtrade bananas, chocolate and sugar, smell the rich aroma of Nicaraguan Fairtrade coffee, touch the Nicaraguan artefacts (and other fabrics from the Just Shop). A lively display provided photos and visual information and everyone was able to try their hand at a quiz and make a their own book mark with a fairtrade message as a reminder of the event. Central Lending Library and Belgrave Library, Leicester.

Event	.	Central America Conference (10th April 2005)
		The 2005 National Conference on Central America was hosted by the Bristol Link with Nicaragua (BLINC) as part of their 20th anniversary celebrations. The weekend included a film screening on Fri 8th April at the Watershed. Bristol Link with Nicaragua Central America Conference 2005

Event	.	Cultural Connections (Sat 12 March 2005)
		The LMLG presented a dynamic cultural event to celebrate Leicester’s twin towns around the globe. The afternoon included a packed programme of interactive art displays, cultural games and craft activities, music and salsa sessions as well as environmental challenges. This took place during the Fairtrade Fortnight, the event featured a range of snacks from Leicester’s sister cities including refreshing tropical fruit juices and the opportunity for people to make and taste ‘the perfect cup of coffee’. *Click to see pictures*

Event	.	Leicester Masaya Link Group AGM (Mon 13 December 2004)
		Annual Report and election of officers, followed a showing of excerpts from The World Stopped Watching (Canada 2003), a film documenting what has become of the people and their nation now that Nicaragua is no longer under the media spotlight.

Event	.	El Equipo (Sat 4 December 2004)
		A collaborative event with Club la Pachanga in Leamington in support of projects in Masaya. The night consisted of live Cuban music, featuring top musicians from Latin America & Europe. El Equipo brought hot Salsa and Cuban Son with a serious groove that combined modern influences with traditional styles.

Event	.	The Nicaragua Link (21 November 2004)
		Following a recent visit to Nicaragua, the LMLG’s development worker gave an illustrated talk highlighting the prospects and challenges of supporting projects and partnerships in Masaya.

Event	.	Orquesta Caché (30 Oct 2004)
		More than 200 people filled the Town Hall in Leamington and danced the night away with Orquesta Caché, an 8-piece London-based band specialising in hot blooded salsa

Event	.	Sculpted Poems from Here for There (7 Oct 2004)
		Celebrating LMLG’s work with young people, this exhibition and performance explored local identity and global diversity through Leicester’s link with Nicaragua. The dynamic enthusiasm of the young people at the Contact Project combined with the talents of community poet Mark Goodwin and local sculptor Austin Orwin to produce a vibrant presentation.

Event	.	Masaya – Work in Progress (27 September 2004)
		The LMLG’s representative in Masaya reports on the progress and success of the ever-growing list of projects that the LMLG is supporting in rural communities in Masaya.

Event	.	A Roots Night (28 March 2004)
		Featuring Robb Johnson singing in aid of development projects in Masaya, plus, Corazon, a local trio with a Latin tinge.

Event	.	Eco Tourism in Central America (Dec 2003)
		LMLG’s annual general meeting with guest speaker, Martin Mowforth, founder member of the Environmental Network for Central America, talking about responsible tourism projects in Latin America.

Event	.	Desde el Barro al Sur: Migration – Moving From Poverty? (Oct 2003)
		One of Nicaragua’s main exports is its own people, seeking a better life where they can. This showing of ‘Desde el Barro al Sur’, a documentary film that records the images if Nicaragua’s most profound reality, gives flesh, voice and feeling to the thousands of people who uprooted their lives and set off to neighbouring Costa Rica.

Event	.	What Difference Water Makes (Oct 2003)
		Just 6 months after the launch of the ‘Raindrop Project’ the LMLG representative in Masaya returned to talk about its success and the impact it has had on the lives of more than 40 Nicaraguan farming families.

Event	.	Cancun Question Time (Sep 2003)
		Straight from the World Trade Organisation meeting in Mexico, the Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt and Alison Woodhead from Oxfam gave their views on the prospects for a fairer world.

Event	.	An Evening of Music, Food and Trade Talk (Sep 2003)
		A chance to find out what the WTO meeting in Mexico was all about and how current trade rules affect people in Central America.

Event	.	Everybody's Reading - Leicester City Libraries (June 2003)
		We worked with a local youth group (the Contact Project) on a magazine project that made connections between young people in Leicester and young people in Masaya.

Event	.	Fiesta at the Farm (June 2003)
		In 2002 and 2003 we have held a special family fun day and live music event at a city farm, with displays, games and activities featuring issues of sustainability and fair trade.

Event	.	Introducing the Raindrop Project (Apr 2003)
		John Perry, a founder member of the LMLG and former Policy Director at the Chartered Institute of Housing, now living in Masaya, presented the Raindrop Project which he is co-ordinating on behalf of the LMLG.

Event	.	Fairtrade Fortnight (March 2003)
		We collaborated with the Fairtrade Foundation and Oxfam to host a visit by Blanca Rosa Molina, director of a fair-trade coffee producers’ co-operative in Matagalpa in Northern Nicaragua.

Event	.	Central America Week 2002
		We usually hold at least one public talk presented by the Leicester Masaya Link Group on topics such as Nicaragua and what difference the revolution made. These talks are held in March.

Event	.	Fairtrade Fortnight 2002
		The LMLG helped to promote Leicester’s status as a Fairtrade City, raise awareness of Leicester’s link with Masaya and highlight the availability of Fairtrade produce from Nicaragua.

Event	.	World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002
		Throughout 2002 we collaborated with other organisations such as Oxfam, Just – Leicester’s Fairtrade shop, Environ Leicester’s environmental charity and Leicester City Council to promote local understanding about trade issues on the agenda at the WSSD

Event	.	2002 Everybody's Reading - Leicester City Libraries
		For 3 years running, we have contributed to a city-wide literature festival project run by Leicester City Libraries. In June 2002 we welcomed Peter Wright and friends of the LMLG reading his translations of the Peasant Poets of Solentiname.