In June this year Superemos opened a women's shelter as part of its program to help prevent domestic violence in communities in Estelí's urban and rural areas. As well as the shelter, the program runs outreach and educational activities. The program is called by its Spanish acronym ISIS - the Systematic Intervention and Social Integration project.
The ISIS workers coordinate closely with the local women and children's unit of the Nicaraguan police, with the courts, the Ministry of the Family and the Ministry of Health as well as local NGOs working with women in the Estelí area. Since opening, the shelter has helped 12 women and their families. The photographs below give an idea of the facilities and ambience we have tried to create to help local women trying to cope with very difficult times of crisis in their lives.
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remodelled bathroom area with two lavatories and a shower |
 poster giving information about the ISIS project |
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left to right: social worker and lawyer Daysi Flores, |
the collective's administrative council discussing needs of the women receiving support from ISIS |
 the ISIS team discuss progress - social worker Roberto Espino makes a point to his colleagues |
Daysi Flores was a founder of the first women's refuge in Nicaragua |
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Itzal Martinez catches up with some administrative work |
kitchen area in the women's shelter |
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entry to the main dormitory |
the garden area around the women's shelter |
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the women have space to store their clothes and personal effects |
the dormitories have mosquito nets |
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the dormitories are equipped with beds and double bunks |
the main dormitory can accommodate up to six women |
