Cantera is a Nicaraguan, humanitarian, not for profit NGO with its own juridic person. The institution serves in the development of the popular sectors within both city and rural areas.
Cantera was founded in 1988. The official account of its foundation and its by-laws have been approved by the government of Nicaragua.
Cantera is a member of the Central American Coordination of Popular Education (Alforja), Council of Adult Education of Latin America (CEAAL) and of the Federation of NGOs of Nicaragua. Also, Cantera participates in various national and regional networks related with the work of the distinct programs that are developed in our Training Center.
Mission
The mission of Cantera is to contribute to the building up of a society that is more just, fair and sustainable while at the same time strengthening the identity and capabilities of the persons with whom we work, not only in their individual setting, but also collectively, from the concept and practice of Popular Education, the perspective of gender, intergenerational relationships, agro-ecology, ethics and spirituality. To accomplish this we promote the following strategies:
An education which is critical, questioning in view of the reality, and assumes responsibility.
Development of local capabilities and community management.
Leadership and organizational strengthening for the innovation and formation of social promotion in work with women, men, youth and children.
Interchange of experiences and knowledge.
Vision
We begin with the understanding of the reality, which is one and yet diverse. Within this reality, the people who are always marginated and whose necessities and interests are mostly unseen, interact in the face of the actual dynamic of development.
We believe in the possibility of human development which is integrated and sustainable and recognizes diversity, in particular, that of gender, age, ethnicity and economic conditions, and that establishes a dynamic and harmonious relationship with nature and permits the utilization of ethics and spirituality within the people and society.
Central Principles
1. Popular Education: An education that is critical, questioning and assumes responsibility within the reality.
2. Gender: Dismantling of the patriarchal culture and identity so that both women and men can form new relationships based on equality and political commitment in order to transform the reality.
3. Spirituality and Ethics: Personal and community transformation so that identity and values may be recovered, bringing a holistic vision of the reality, creating an equilibrium with body and spirit, between the person and nature and between dreams and the reality that we strive to transform.
4. Community Health and Environment: Adoption of new practices of hygiene and sanitation and forms of bringing about an environmental sovereignty and ecological equilibrium.
5. Innovation: Creativity to enable sustainability.
6. Impact/Effect: Capacity for managing and transforming through active participation in organizational processes on the local, municipal and national levels.
General Objectives
1. To contribute to the development of a critical consciousness, the capacity for analysis, the innovation and social commitment in the sectors we accompany so as to transform their reality.
2. To document, systematize and promote, on a local and regional level, methodologies of work that have an impact on integrated development.
3. To strengthen internal organizations, the mechanics of communication and the capacity to impact the search for sustainability and participation in networks and events that promote social change, politically and economically, in the marginated sectors.
