Changing a Nation

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Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America, and its six million residents are among the poorest, mostly due to a long history of political conflict and natural disasters. 

Samaritan’s Purse began working in Nicaragua in 1988 with medical aid, chaplain training and church construction.

In 1995, Operation Christmas Child began sending gift-filled shoe boxes to Nicaragua. Since then, almost one million children have received shoe box gifts.  With the introduction of children’s evangelistic curriculum, “The Greatest Journey” in 2010, the numbers of children coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ soared:  to date, 15,066 Nicaraguan children have made faith commitments and 5,690 have graduated from The Greatest Journey. 

Building Leaders

Five-year old Yuridia was already part of a children’s feeding program supported by Samaritan’s Purse at Iglesia Verbo Sur church in Managua before she received an Operation Christmas Child shoe box gift.

The feeding ministry provides breakfast twice a week, a Bible Club and Sunday school, and several special field trips throughout the year for more than 200 children. For Yuridia, who often doesn’t have enough food or recreational opportunities, this is a highlight of her week.

After receiving her shoe box gift, Yuridia participated in The Greatest Journey discipleship program. “She loves the program,” said Pastor Heyler Rodriquez, of Iglesia Verbo Sur Church. “She has already concluded The Greatest Journey and was an outstanding student.”

As the church continues supporting children and families, Pastor Heyler’s prayer is that Yuridia and other children “will open their hearts to Christ Jesus and that we will be able to help lead them into a relationship with Christ.”

Natural Disaster Relief Projects

In 2011, we helped our Nicaraguan partners respond to flooding and to the effects of a volcanic eruption.

Hundreds of families were forced from their homes by the flooding and the eruption affected 500 families.  Canadians gave generously and we were able to help our partners provide emergency food, blankets, and breathing masks.

Turn on the Tap

Less than 30 per cent of Nicaraguans in rural areas have access to safe water.

Working with Christian partners, more than 5,000 BioSand Water Filters have been constructed and installed since 1999. The BioSand Filter is a Canadian invention that is transforming dangerous, polluted water into safe drinking water for more than a million people around the world.

These filters also create local employment in the communities where they’re constructed and used. Latrine construction, hygiene training and education are also underway to improve water quality and ensure people understand the importance of good hygiene.

Learn more about Turn on the Tap here.

Education

Samaritan’s Purse has been supporting a Christian school on Nicaragua’s east coast, with more than 400 students, for over a decade. More than 350 students have graduated since it opened 20 years ago.  Of these students, 217 came from low income families and received scholarships to cover their fees over the years.

Two graduates have studied medicine and are now serving as doctors in Nicaraguan hospitals. Not only do students graduate with a solid academic foundation, they also have a clear understanding of the Gospel and the support to pursue God’s plan for their lives.

Women’s health and livelihood

As in many other developing countries, a large segment of the poor in Nicaragua are women.

Samaritan’s Purse and a group of evangelical churches are teaching women life skills on child care, domestic violence, and health issues, and also teaching vocational skills that can translate into extra income.

Meanwhile, women in five rural communities on Ometepe, a volcanic island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, are participating in a project supported by Samaritan’s Purse that includes training in jewelry making, sewing and business skills as a means of supplementing family income.

Learn more about our work to improve the lives of impoverished women here.

Mission trip opportunities

There are many opportunities to present the hope found in Jesus Christ through projects that address not only the physical, but the social, emotional, and spiritual need of the Nicaraguan people.

Samaritan Purse organizes short-term volunteer mission trips to Nicaragua several times each year. You can help our partners with construction projects and other ministry opportunities that better enable our partners in reaching out to their communities with the Good news of Jesus Christ. Please call 1.800.663.6500 or go here for details. 

Ways You Can Help
Pray Pray for our work and for our partners who are bringing hope and eternal truth to the people of Nicaragua.		Give Please partner with Samaritan’s Purse to bring important projects to the people of Nicaragua. Donate Here.