In November 1998 Hurricane Mitch struck the northern part of Nicaragua with terrifying force killing thousands of people in the Honduras/Nicaragua border area. Just a few miles from El Viejo a crater lake in the extinct volcano of Las Casitas burst and the resulting deluge killed many people in the village of Poseltega. In El Viejo 42 families who lived near the river lost everything when their homes were washed away.
Working with the local Council, the Link co-funded 42 new homes for these families on a new site a few miles outside the city.
The Link organised a relief fund and raised over US$20,000 and, in partnership with the local Council in El Viejo, co-funded the replacement of their homes on a new site outside the city. The families, in gratitude for the help from the people of Norwich decided to name their new settlement ‘Norwich’ in recognition of the support they received. The settlement also included a small school. The project included constructing wells and latrines and a small school was also built.
In 2007 the Link funded the construction of an additional classroom at the school to alleviate overcrowding and to replace an unsatisfactory temporary structure built by the parents.
The Norfolk & Norwich El Viejo Friendship Link 