Quezalguaque, a small town in Nicaragua, was designated Brookline’s Sister City in 1987. Thirty-seven years later, our partnership and collaboration continues. Today the Brookline Quezalguaque Sister City Project is involved in many different projects.
Among the initiatives currently supported by the BQSCP are the following:
- Quezalguaque library and mobile library
- Clean water initiative – currently funding solar energy in rural areas & continual training and technical assistance for committees that maintain the water sites
- School hygiene & sanitation initiative – installing new toilets and wash basins at rural schools
- Arts program for children
- Scholarships for young people to attend technical school or university
- Support for various health initiatives led by the local Ministry of Health including efforts to combat dengue & other mosquito borne illnesses, medical equipment, and so on
- Support for a community center that serves disabled children and young adults
In the past, some of other projects funded by Sister City included:
- Health Care: donating a new ambulance to the town, funding renovations to the health center and rural posts and ER and laboratory expansions after supporting the construction of the health center and support for the health center during the COVID 19 pandemic
- Computer Classrooms: providing computers for schools
- Library: renovations after funding the construction of the library in 2004
Funding to support BQSCP projects in Quezalguaque is largely a result of the generosity of the residents of Brookline. In addition, Sister City has received contributions from Brookline Rotary, All Saints Parish, Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish, Friends of the Brookline Libraries, Friends of Brookline Public Health, Sister and Johnny Foundation, Temple Ohabei Shalom, and Fundación Sueños (The Dreams Project). We have also worked with the Boston University School of Public Health to send graduate students to Quezalguaque for collaborative summer health projects.
More than 250 Brookline residents have visited Quezalguaque. If you’re interested in learning more about the BQSCP visit our Recent News, Annual Appeal, and History. If you would like to become involved in our health care, library, clean water, scholarships, or other projects, please contact us at brooklinesistercity@gmail.com and visit us on Facebook.
The Brookline-Quezalguaque Sister City Project is a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permissible by law.