In autumn 2023, RSFLA mounted an exhibition celebrating the people of San Francisco Libre and the projects supported by Reading. “Portraits of San Francisco Libre, Reading’s twin town in Nicaragua” was an exhibition of photos taken by Russell Maddicks on a recent trip he and his son Francisco had made to Nicaragua. The images documented the people they met, as well as the projects that are supported by Reading’s San Francisco Libre Association (RSFLA)
The visited San Francisco Libre for four days as part of their trip in summer 2023 to Nicaragua. They took a letter and gift from the Mayor of Reading to the Mayor of San Francisco Libre and teaching materials for the school. In San Francisco Libre they met the Mayor, spent time visiting the projects funded by Reading’s San Francisco Libre Association and getting to know many of the families of the town. Their visit was the first visit from anyone from Reading since before the pandemic and they were greeted with wonderful hospitality.
Russell Maddicks said; “It’s amazing that Reading has this international connection with a town so far away and that Reading is making an enormous difference to the lives of many people there. The people of San Francisco Libre are proud of their link to Reading and we hope that this exhibition will give the people of Reading an insight into the lives of the inhabitants of our twin town in Nicaragua.”
Nicaragua, which sits in the middle of central American flanked by Costa Rica and Honduras, is the second poorest country in the western hemisphere with average salaries below $100 a month. Reading’s twin town, San Francisco Libre, is a small agricultural town on the shores of Lake Managua, with views of towering volcanoes, about two hours from Nicaragua’s capital Managua.
Reading’s San Francisco Libre Association was established nearly thirty years ago and, via a local NGO Apreden, supports a number of projects in San Francisco Libre including an educational centre with internet access, music lessons, English classes, a plant nursery, bee-keeping, village-poultry and educational grants. A grant of £120 assists a child through school for a year. Russell and Francisco met a number of recipients of these grants who have gone on to become doctors and engineers thanks to the support of people in Reading.
