Bainbridge Ometepe Sister Islands

The Bainbridge Ometepe Sister Islands Association builds bridges of friendship between Bainbridge Island in Washington State and Ometepe, Nicaragua.

For more than 30 years, we have constructed schools and water systems together, learned each others’ languages and customs, and been welcomed into each others’ homes.

Much has changed since 1986, when Kim Esterberg first set foot on Ometepe in search of a sister island and Moyogalpa Mayor Diego Martinez told Kim that what Ometepe needed most was respect. What has not changed is the vision of a long-term, sustainable relationship—a mutually beneficial partnership of equals. This mutuality of respect is what we hold true to as we continue on into our second quarter-century.

We welcome newcomers to our organization. A great first step: become a member.

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You can help support projects on Ometepe by making a donation.

If you have a question, contact us.

Three BOSIA staff members are headed to Bainbridge. Teachers and Claribel all denied visas.

Office manager Dora Gutierrez, scholarship coordinator Santiago Triguero, and psychologist Karla Varela will visit Bainbridge Dec. 12th – 28th. We were astonished and saddened that, despite meeting all the stated criteria for receiving tourist visas, none of the four teachers we invited or Claribel Gutierrez, sign-language interpreter, were granted permission to come. The delegation is much reduced but we are still very excited to welcome our three staff and we welcome your participation. There are many ways to get involved in welcoming our sister islanders.