we have been a bit quiet since the misa campesina, as we had no major event to shout about, but we’re still meeting every once in a while to discuss meaningful things to do to help the people of Leon in Nicaragua. The next meeting will actually be tomorrow, Tue 25th, at the town hall, starting 7pm.
Oh, and it also happens to be the AGM. So do come numerously.
The concert featuring young musicians from Oxford’s twinning links is coming up on Saturday, 7pm at the town hall, tickets here. José (violin) and César (cello) are representing our link with Nicaragua.
The young musicians have rehearsed all week and it already sounded amazing when I listened in. Here are some snaps from Monday’s rehearsal:
We discussed at the last meeting that it is increasingly difficult to follow and understand what’s really going on politically in Nicaragua, so I’m now going to list some sources here that may help. I’m linking directly to the search page for “nicaragua”:
Colombian newspaper El Tiempo (Spanish)
Latin American Post (each article available in English and in Spanish)
well, that’s all I have so far, suggestions welcome!
meeting at the Town Hall (and on zoom) on Tue 19.3. at 7pm. Lots of exciting plans for this year to discuss including the visit of two young musicians from Nicaragua who are due to perform with others from the other twin cities in a concert this summer.
A friendly reminder that the next meeting of OLAT is on Tuesday 19 September 2023, 7 pm at Oxford Town Hall and also on Zoom.
Please note that we have updated the Agenda. The last item on the Agenda is “Where do we go from here? What should be the future for the Leon Association?” We hope to have a full discussion on this, so it is important that as many people as possible attend, either in person or on Zoom.
We will also be looking at how the Sponsored Swim went on Friday 13 July – despite awful weather! And our future plans for OLAT.
Do join us either in person at the Town Hall or via Zoom, it will be good to see you!.
Thank you for your continued support.
All singers and musicians are invited to join in this year’s Misa Campesina on Sunday 4.6. at 11:15 am . We are now able to confirm the rehearsal times.
Two rehearsals will take place at the Quaker Meeting House in St. Giles:
Saturday 27.5.
Saturday 3.6.
each from 10 am till noon.
During the seasonal lights festival on Friday 18.11. there will be a mulled wine stall on Bonn Square where you can meet people from all the international links including the Oxford Leon Association. We’ll be there from 4:30 to 9 am.
I’m afraid we’re not listed on the official page of the lights festival, but I’m putting the link to facilitate planning the evening …
The next meeting of the Oxford León Association is on Tuesday 6 September at 7.00 at Oxford Town Hall. You will also be able to join us online via Zoom, email Jen for details.
There is a lot going on with Twinning in the autumn. There is an opportunity for all the links to tell Oxford all about Twinning at an event at the Sheldonian Theatre on Saturday 1 October, 10 am to 4 pm. We need OLAT to be represented.
Then on Wednesday 5 October there is Oxford’s UN Older People’s Day at the Town Hall, with a stall from OLAT.
OCC are also asking for people to contribute to a video about the impact that Twinning has had on their lives: “We are looking for people that have taken part in a visit to Oxford, or one Oxford’s twin cities and the impact it has had on their lives – has it changed their career choices, has it opened up further opportunities, have they learned a new language or skill or made new friends?” Please contact me if you would like to take part – it would be good to hear from people whose experience goes back to the old days of OLAT!
We were very pleased to be back with the Sponsored Swim on 15 July – some money is still coming in, we will let you know how much was donated soon. We are hoping to hold the Misa Campesina in October/November at Blackfriars.
Thank you for your continued support over these continuing difficult times.
Dear Oxford León Association Members and Supporters and Swimmers and Helpers and all interested in raising urgently needed funds for water and social projects for children and families in poor communities in and around León,
Our Fund Raising Swim is on Friday 15 July 2022, 4pm – 7 pm at our usual pool – Hinksey Heated Outdoor Pool, Lake Street, Oxford OX1 4RP. We are very grateful to Fusion and the staff at Hinksey Pool for their continued hospitality.
This is our most important fund raising event of the year, for our twin city of León, so do please come along to swim and support the fund raising, and get any friends involved and have some fun! We really need you! Nicaragua needs our support and solidarity more than ever.
Please see the poster below. You can register online at:
https://tinyurl.com/Leonswim2022
The Oxford León Association is holding a fun
Quiz on Friday 25 March 8 pm
at West Oxford Community Centre, Botley Road, Oxford OX2 0BT.
The aim is to have fun with a Latin American flavour and raise funds for friends in need in our twin city of León – for Nuevas Esperanzas, which supports remote communities, supplies small farmers with water, agro-ecology and community projects and Nicaragua Education, Culture and Arts Trust (NECAT) which helps disadvantaged children with their education and provides community support to their families in a deprived area of the city.
Tickets are £10 per person, in teams of up to 6 people. You can buy tickets here:
Or, you can pay on the door – £10 pp – cash only please.
The Quiz Maestra will be our own Jan Marshall, who is writing the Quiz, and our MC will be the avuncular Mr John Tanner! DJ Christian will play Latin American music, there may even be the chance to display your Salsa, Tango or Samba moves! There will be a licensed cash bar serving wine, beer, soft drinks and Nicaraguan rum!
There will be a prize for the winning team of the Quiz! We will also have a raffle with three desirable prizes!
If you are unable to come to the Quiz but would like to make a contribution, and every contribution is valued, you will able to donate at JustGiving:
Oxford Leon Association – JustGiving
Oxford León Association 