Nicaragua
Compassion started working in Nicaragua in 2002. Today, there are over 56,000 children registered in our programs through 181 church partners.
Where We Work
Snapshot of Nicaragua
75
years is the average life expectancy
22%
of people over 15 cannot read or write
32%
lack access to improved sanitation
Letter from Compassion Nicaragua Director William José Gutiérrez Rojas
Dear Sponsor, Dear brothers and sisters, it is a privilege for me to write and greet all of you. My name is William José Gutiérrez Rojas. During 14 years, since 2003, I have been the Country Director of Compassion Nicaragua, located in Central America. It has been more than 16 years since the ministry was launched in this country; among challenges, we are helping more than 56,000 children, to release them from poverty in Jesus’ name. They are supported by 181 church partners.
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Letter from Compassion Nicaragua Director William José Gutiérrez Rojas
Dear Sponsor,
Dear brothers and sisters, it is a privilege for me to write and greet all of you. My name is William José Gutiérrez Rojas. During 14 years, since 2003, I have been the Country Director of Compassion Nicaragua, located in Central America. It has been more than 16 years since the ministry was launched in this country; among challenges, we are helping more than 56,000 children, to release them from poverty in Jesus’ name. They are supported by 181 church partners.
Thank you so much for your support, for walking with these children during all this time through sponsorship! Now, our children have the opportunity to grow in a holistic way (spiritual, physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional) by being exposed to the Gospel, spiritual retreats and other activities that teach them about God’s love; regular medical checkups, meals, preventive health care; having access to education, school reinforcement, diverse types of vocational trainings; and the opportunity to interact with other people in a healthy and compassionate manner. Besides all these, the children’s lives are impacted in a positive way with their sponsors’ friendship. Your letters are much appreciated by them because of your encouraging words to get ahead in life, making them aware they are worthy and loved—especially considering many of our children come from dysfunctional homes with frosty relations where there is no interest in their wellbeing.
With Compassion's program, not only our children are impacted, but also their parents, who are taught how to raise, treat and educate their children from their survival age (pregnancy onwards). Parents are made aware to take greater responsibility and are educated in topics such as child protection, nutrition, etc.
Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Americas after Haiti. Around 50 per cent of children and adolescents are living in poverty, and 19 per cent in extreme poverty. The most deprived children are those living in rural areas, whose income is even less than US$2 a day. That is why there is a high rate of Nicaraguan children out of school who are impelled to work to earn some money trying to relieve, a bit, their basic needs. Children in our country struggle with common diseases such as malnutrition, poor quality of drinking water, domestic violence, lack of access to education, poor self-esteem and hopelessness.
I would like to take advantage of this letter to ask for your prayers, please. There is still a long path to walk through, and our effort is to reach more and more children in need in order to enable them to become responsible and fulfilled adults.
Thank you for joining Compassion in its effort to break the chain of poverty in Jesus’ name; and thank you for “arising and crying out in the night, for lifting up thy hands toward Him for the life of young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street” (Lam. 2:19). Your support is greatly valued and appreciated, not only by our children but by our Lord and Saviour.
In Him and for Him,
William Gutiérrez Rojas
Country Director Compassion Nicaragua
Wilmer’s Education
Wilmer’s father worked in farming, but at the beginning of 2016 he left the family and did not return. He gave no warning and left his children devastated. In his absence, Wilmer’s mother, Elvira, began to make and sell tortillas to provide for the family. Every day at 4am, she rose to grind the corn to make the tortillas.
open_in_new Read moreWilmer’s Education
Wilmer’s father worked in farming, but at the beginning of 2016 he left the family and did not return. He gave no warning and left his children devastated. In his absence, Wilmer’s mother, Elvira, began to make and sell tortillas to provide for the family. Every day at 4am, she rose to grind the corn to make the tortillas.
Wilmer became his mother’s right hand, helping her each morning with the corn, cleaning the yard, drawing water from the well to wash clothes, and taking their wooden cart to find drinkable water from the neighbourhood water tank.
With the daily earnings, Wilmer’s mother buys food and corn for the next day. After that, there is not much left to cover school expenses like uniforms, shoes, supplies and other things for five kids. In fact, for a time, Wilmer and his brothers had to drop out of school entirely.
“I don’t know how to read or write, and I wish all of my children had what they needed to go to school, but it is difficult,” says Elvira.
But when Wilmer was registered with Compassion’s program at the local church, Elvira was relieved of much of her burden. The staff have been including her in community literacy classes and helping her provide for her family.
“All of Elvira’s children go to school but with much difficulty,” explains Fernando Garcia, the program director. “She is responsible with her children and is faithful in attending all meetings at the project and at school. We see her efforts to help her children succeed.”
When asked about Wilmer, Fernando smiles fondly. “Wilmer has a servant’s heart. When he comes to the centre, he waters the plants and helps with anything we need without asking him. Wilmer is obedient and attends a church in this neighborhood with his mother and siblings.”
Wilmer is thankful for the program, because it means his love of learning at school can continue. “I feel good at the program, because we read the Bible, pray, sing and learn things about God. I´m also happy because I don´t have to drop school anymore, and I love to study!”
Prayer requests for Nicaragua
- Jose, a boy registered with the program asks for prayer for his mother, Maria. She has been diagnosed with cervical cancer. She has already begun chemotherapy but he asks for a miracle from the Lord in her life.
- Praise God that after months of prayer, the teenagers registered with the NI-139, Centro de Desarrollo Integral Mimados del Reino, have improved notably in their behaviour. Many were struggling with poor school attendance, family issues, and peer pressure. This last month, attendance improved, they are more involved in project activities; they’re showing more respect towards tutors. The church asks to continue joining them in prayer until they see more solid results in the youth.
- Please pray for Ashley and Melani, two registered girls who have both suffered brain injuries and need constant care and treatment. Please pray for their medical treatment and healing; pray also for their parents and families who are caring for them.
- Pray for all our local church partners as they work so hard to serve the children and their families, and the wider communities. Praise God that so many have good standing in their communities and a lot of support and good will. Pray they will continue to build a strong presence in their neighbourhoods, for the good of the children.