Calvin College

CALVIN - Minds in the Making

Faith & International Development Conference

Dr. Moises Moraga Amador Moises Amador

Dr. Moisés Moraga Amador has been the founder of fifteen different organizations among students, professionals, and Christian groups. Of these experiences, the most important and exciting one for him has been establishing Christian Medical Action (AMC). The foundation for this organization began in 1980, when he started meeting with a group of students pursuing careers in health professions. In 1984, they founded AMC, and Dr. Moraga was the first executive director, serving for fourteen years (from 1987 to 2001). AMC has focused its main actions on creating community health programs and carrying out local development work, such as providing access to clean water, building latrines, teaching hygiene, providing immunizations, and managing tuberculosis and malaria. Their work is based out of Nicaragua and serves rural, indigenous communities of the Atlantic Coast region, particularly looking at the health needs of women and children. During Dr. Moraga’s time as executive director, he had the opportunity to establish relationships with at least 25 different international aid agencies from Europe, the USA, and Canada.

From 2002 to the present, Dr. Moraga has been working with Diakonia of Sweden as a Country Representative of Nicaragua. His role involves assisting numerous organizations such as NGOs, regional universities, national associations, grassroots organizations, and women’s organizations with their development projects. He receives project ideas from these organizations and then provides advice to them on how to improve their projects and receive financial support and other resources from Diakonia. Another important part of his role as a Country Representative is working as a liaison to facilitate the relationship between Diakonia and twenty of its national partners. While working with Diakonia, Dr. Moraga has also had the opportunity to receive additional training on many community development topics, including gender equity, citizen participation, local development strategies, HIV and AIDS, and theology.

Dr. Moraga is married with two grown children. He serves as a directive board member for his church and in addition to being a medical doctor has studied public health and planning and development.