WHY THIS WORK MATTERS
Along the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua—one of the poorest regions in Central America—opportunity is often out of reach. Nicaragua ranks second only to Haiti in levels of poverty. In this region, the average family lives on about $2,000 a year, with 80% of that going just to put food on the table. For most families, higher education is not just difficult to afford—it is nearly impossible.
Only 4% of women in eastern Nicaragua have the means to attend a university. For the vast majority, the dream of becoming a doctor or healthcare provider remains out of reach, no matter how talented or determined they may be.
At the same time, access to healthcare is scarce. In this region, there is only one doctor for every 9,000 people. Visiting doctors from outside the area often arrive with little understanding of the local language, culture, or traditional healing practices—making it even harder to provide effective care to Indigenous communities.
This is why Adelante Mujer was founded.
In 2009, we began partnering with URACCAN University in Bilwi/Puerto Cabezas, home to a nationally certified program that uniquely combines modern medicine with intercultural and traditional medical practices. Together, we share a mission:
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URACCAN provides the education and training.
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Adelante Mujer provides the financial support and encouragement that makes it possible for women to pursue medical degrees and return as skilled, compassionate doctors to serve their communities.
This partnership is about more than degrees. It’s about justice. It’s about equity. It’s about making sure that women—who might otherwise never have the chance—are equipped to lead, to heal, and to offer care that respects both science and tradition.
When you give to Adelante Mujer, you’re not just funding education—you’re investing in the future of healthcare for some of the most underserved communities in the world. You’re helping women rise—and when women rise, they lift entire communities with them.
It is a privilege to walk alongside these women. We invite you to be part of this work. Whether your gift is large or small, every act of support adds up. Together, we can open doors, change lives, and bring healing where it is needed most.
URACCAN University & The School of Intercultural Medicine
Bilwi/Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua
At the heart of Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast stands URACCAN University—the University of the Autonomous Regions of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast. Founded by and for the Indigenous peoples of this region, URACCAN holds the distinction of being the first intercultural community university in Latin America. Its mission is rooted in honoring the culture, traditions, and resilience of the communities it serves.
In 2008, URACCAN recognized a critical gap in healthcare along the Caribbean Coast—one that could not be filled by conventional medical models alone. The solution was bold: to establish a School of Intercultural Medicine that would blend modern medical science with the ancient wisdom and healing practices of the region’s Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. With this vision, URACCAN became the first university in the region to train intercultural physicians—doctors who understand that healing means honoring both science and tradition.
The students who enroll in this program are pioneers. They are not only learning medicine—they are embracing a calling to serve their own people with respect, cultural sensitivity, and deep compassion. They are taught to listen carefully, to honor the natural and traditional healing methods practiced for generations, and to build trust with the communities they will serve.
For too long, outside doctors unfamiliar with these traditions struggled to connect with patients—often unable to bridge the gap between modern treatments and deeply held cultural beliefs. The students of URACCAN’s School of Intercultural Medicine are changing that. They are building bridges where there were once barriers, and bringing healing that is both effective and culturally meaningful.
URACCAN’s commitment to service extends beyond curriculum. The university is deeply dedicated to uplifting women and supporting their leadership in the medical field—recognizing the power of women as healers, caregivers, and changemakers within their communities.
Adelante Mujer is proud to partner with URACCAN University and to walk alongside these courageous and determined young women as they pursue their dream of becoming doctors. For most of these students, this dream would remain out of reach without financial support. Through monthly stipends, mentorship, and encouragement, Adelante Mujer helps make this dream a reality.
Together, Adelante Mujer and URACCAN are not just training doctors. We are investing in a generation of women who will transform healthcare from the inside out—women who will return home as trusted healers, as leaders, and as hope-bearers for their communities.