Portraits of San Francisco Libre, Reading’s twin town in Nicaragua

A new photo exhibition celebrating the people of Reading’s twin town in Nicaragua, San Francisco Libre, will be on show at the Holybrook Gallery in Reading Central Library from Tuesday 17 October to Saturday 18 November.

 “Portraits of San Francisco Libre, Reading’s twin town in Nicaragua” is an exhibition of photos taken by Russell Maddicks on a recent trip he and his son Francisco made to Nicaragua. The images document the people they met, as well as the projects that are supported by Reading’s San Francisco Libre Association (RSFLA), a volunteer-run organization in Reading. RSFLA supports a range of projects to improve the lives of people in San Francisco Libre via a local environmental and educational NGO.

Russell Maddicks and 11-year-old Francisco, who attends St Joseph’s School in Reading, visited San Francisco Libre for four days as part of their trip this summer to Nicaragua. They took a letter and gift from the Mayor of Reading to the Mayor of San Francisco Libre and teaching materials for the school. In San Francisco Libre they met the Mayor, spent time visiting the projects funded by Reading’s San Francisco Libre Association and getting to know many of the families of the town. Their visit was the first visit from anyone from Reading since before the pandemic and they were greeted with wonderful hospitality.

Russell Maddicks said; “It’s amazing that Reading has this international connection with a town so far away and that Reading is making an enormous difference to the lives of many people there. The people of San Francisco Libre are proud of their link to Reading and we hope that this exhibition will give the people of Reading an insight into the lives of the inhabitants of our twin town in Nicaragua.”

Nicaragua, which sits in the middle of central American flanked by Costa Rica and Honduras, is the second poorest country in the western hemisphere with average salaries below $100 a month. Reading’s twin town, San Francisco Libre, is a small agricultural town on the shores of Lake Managua, with views of towering volcanoes, about two hours from Nicaragua’s capital Managua.

Reading’s San Francisco Libre Association was established nearly thirty years ago and, via a local NGO Apreden, supports a number of projects in San Francisco Libre including an educational centre with internet access, music lessons, English classes, a plant nursery, bee-keeping, village-poultry and educational grants. A grant of £120 assists a child through school for a year. Russell and Francisco met a number of recipients of these grants who have gone on to become doctors and engineers thanks to the support of people in Reading.

The exhibition “Portraits of San Francisco Libre, Reading’s twin town in Nicaragua” is free to visit and is open during Central Library opening hours  - Monday 10am-5pm, Tuesday 10am-7pm, Wednesday closed, Thursday 10am-7pm, Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 10am-3pm, Sunday closed.

Russell and Francisco will also be giving a talk about their trip to San Francisco Libre at 7.30pm on Thursday 2 November at RISC, 35 London Street, RG1 4PS as part of the Reading International Festival.