Institute for Social Development of the Moravian Church in Nicaragua (IDSIM)

Origins

The idea for a social development agency within the Moravian Church in Nicaragua was birthed in the conviction that the church was called by God to minister to the whole person. The Synod of 1968 elected a committee to establish a program that would support increased farming by interested villagers and congregations. Three years later the next Synod agreed that an agronomist should be trained to provide technical assistance to the farmers. This marked the formal beginning of IDSIM, which was then known as CASIM, the Committee for Social Action of the Moravian Church.

Early years

The Rev. Norman Bent was IDSIM's first director. He established numerous contacts with interested persons and agencies abroad. They provided encouragement as well as financial support for the development projects. After the congregations and villagers understood what was possible, the number of projects received at the office was more than could be handled. Additional personnel were added. In the late 1970s, the Board of World Mission sent Kevin Frack, who introduced a method of growing vegetables using natural fertilizers instead of chemicals. He was quite successful and his techniques spread to villages on the Rio Coco where the soil is very fertile.

Expansion

Some of IDSIM's supporting partners later became interested in funding long-term projects in areas that were not reached by other development agencies. IDSIM agreed to work in two remote villages, Umra on the Rio Coco and Makantakan on the Rio Grande. These were to be the two main work sites for several years. IDSIM introduced rice hullers, small personal silos for storing grains, built health centers, helped with scholarships for students attending classes in larger villages and consistently led seminars on child care, diet, latrine construction, and well-digging.

In recent years IDSIM has begun to develop income-producing projects. It now has an arts and craft shop, a water purification project and a store where general merchandise is sold.

Relief and emergency response

IDSIM is especially active in times of natural disaster. Following Hurricane Mitch in late 1998, IDSIM developed reconstruction projects for about a dozen villages on the Rio Coco and Rio Grande. Earlier, IDSIM responded to Hurricane Cesar and attempts to help villages that suffer from seasonal flooding.

Leadership and government

The Rev. Harold Smart is the executive director of IDSIM, which is directed by a board elected by the Synod of the Moravian Church in Nicaragua. IDSIM is directly accountable to the Synod and works in close conjunction with the provincial board of the church. The Rev. Nanivan Wilson is chairman of the IDSIM board. IDSIM has offices in Puerto Cabezas and Bluefields.

Role of the Board of World Mission

Along with other international partners, the Board of World Mission has provided funding, materials and personnel for IDSIM's programs. Most recently BWM has contributed generously to IDSIM's work in village reconstruction and rehabilitation on the Rio Coco.