Tomatoya, Nicaragua
Click on Programs to learn more about their work in this community
General Information
| Population* | 3,272 |
| Number of Homes | TBD |
| Avg # of people per home | 4 |
| Number & Percentage of Children |
0-5: TBD 6-14: TBD |
| Electricity | Yes, government-supplied for the since the early 2000s. |
| Location | 11 km north of the city of Jinotega; mountainous elevations between 1,077-1,375 meters above sea level |
| Municipality | Jinotega |
| Department | Jinotega |
| Health Center | Nearest one is about 15 minutes away in the community of Las Lomas |
| Distance from compounds | 1.5 hours |
| Road conditions | The surrounding roads are asphalt and in good condition. The roads in Tomatoya proper are stone. |
* Population does not reflect how many patients will be seen on Medical
Brigades as many people from surrounding communities come seeking
Medical Brigades medical attention.
Top Three Needs Expressed
• Clean water pump system to all community households
• Access to improved sanitary services (latrines)
• Better organization and financial training for 1) the small and medium sellers of
black clay goods and 2) farmers
In Tomatoya, the school supports childen from pre-school to high school. Students attend either morning classes or afternoon classes Monday-Friday. The school is located along the highway towards San Rafael del Norte.
There is a water system that was constructed by AVODEC approximately 2 years ago. However, it seems that it was poorly constructed. The structure is damaged and the water rationing is necessary due to poor management.
The majority of illnesses are reported during season changes. These illnesses are usually respiratory ailments, coughs, or headaches.
The community is agriculturally prosperous given its to the proximity to the Tomatoya River. However, in some cases, seeds are damaged due to extreme winters or floods from the river leading to economic disruptions.
There are very few sources of employment and most community members harvest coffee in the northern part of Jinotega. Some women earn their living making black ceramics.
Currently, the community has support from the governmental organizations such as MAGFOR (Department of Agriculture and Forestry) and MARGENA (Department of the Environment and Natural Resources). Non-governmental organizations working in Tomatoya include INTERVIDAD, Cuculmeca and Global Brigades.
This community is near Jinotega, a populated and easily accessable municipality. Many other communities are located nearby.