Project Gettysburg/León had its beginning in the early1980's, when when the Gettysburg College Chapel enabled two individuals to make separate exploratory visits to Nicaragua, followed by the first group, educational trip, also organized through the Chapel,
After seeing the effects of the long history of US intervention in that region, observing first hand the immense poverty of the people and being challenged by the tenets of liberation theology to align with the poor, the group began to tell its story and encourage more "solidarity trips" to Central America, especially Nicaragua. In 1987 community members from Adams County, Pennsylvania and members of the College community formed a Sister City organization, Project Gettysburg/León (PG/L), in order to foster friendship and understanding between the two countries and to provide assistance to neighborhoods in and around Nicaragua's second largest city through people to people exchanges, community development projects, and humanitarian aid.
In its first 20 years PGL partnered with another program, Project Minnesota/León, sharing projects, office, and staff in León. As of 2007 the two organizations function independently, and PG/L maintains an office in León with a full-time program coordinator.
In 1989 Leňn, Nicaragua was officially recognized by the Borough of Gettysburg as its Sister City. We are also officially recognized by the Nicaraguan government as a registered non-profit humanitarian-aid organization working within its borders and subject to its regulations, including an annual audit. PG/L is a non-profit 501c3 corporation registered in the state of Pennsylvania.
MISSION
Project Gettysburg León is a grass roots organization which joins the people of Gettysburg and Adams County, Pennsylvania with the people of León, Nicaragua in a sister city relationship. The goal is to facilitate projects of community development in the department of León, and through this work to educate people in the United States about life in Nicaragua and the realities of international relations, and, through all of this, to promote friendship and understanding between the people of the United States and Nicaragua.
The programs include education about both communities, travel exchanges, involvement in educational, medical, agricultural, nutritional, construction, and community development projects in the department of León. This sister city organization affirms a shared membership in one human family and a commitment to work for peace and justice.
To subscribe to the PGL listserve for announcements regarding future meetings and events or to receive our monthly newsletter, please send a blank email to PGL_list-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
For information on theupcoming auction (NICARAGUA NIGHT 2009) click here.
