Nicaragua

After 10 years of civil war, numerous natural disasters and acute economic crises Nicaragua is considered to be the second poorest country of Latin America. About 75% of the population live below the poverty line. The “Katholische Frauenbewegung Österreichs” (Austrian Catholic Women’s Movement – NGO) supports projects for women by facilitating access to small loans, landholding and literacy programs.

Angelika Kampfer’s documentaion must be seen against the background of the following facts:

only 13% of the women have access to landholding although in more than 50% of the families the women are the sole breadwinners; there are on average four children plus the grandparents that have to be nourished as well;
25% of those older than 15 years are illiterate;
20% of the girls between 15 and 19 already have children of their own;
girls and women are exposed to abuse, rape, incest, life on the street and the disintegration of family structures, all of which pave the road to prostitution.

Dr. Renate Obud, manager of the Villach City Gallery