Poverty in León does not spare the city's children
The city of León is located in the western part of Nicaragua and is widely known as the country's cultural & intellectual capital. The BasÃlica Catedral de la Asunción located on León's main plaza is famous for being one of the oldest in Latin America. During the Nicaraguan civil war in the 1980s, León and its suburbs saw heavy fighting between the Sandinistas and the troops of former dictator Somoza. The war left the region in a precarious economic situation. Schools were scarce and many families could not afford to send their children there.
SOS Children's Villages constantly renewing its commitment in León
What we do in León
SOS Children's Villages provides a holistic package of services to the population in need. These services include family strengthening programmes, training workshops, counselling and medical assistance, and loving homes for children who have lost parental support.
Strengthen families: The SOS Family Strengthening Programmes aim to prevent family break-ups by strengthening existing family ties. The lack of economic resources often places families under strain and, in some cases, results in families not being able to stay together. In light of this, the provision of day care is a fundamental part of the work we carry out, since it allows parents to leave their children with our professional staff while they generate income. While in day care, children receive meals and pre-school education. Additionally, parents can sign up for parental skills classes and a number of different training workshops. The families who participate in the family strengthening programme form family committees that organise and manage activities in community spaces.
Care in SOS families: Children who have lost parental care can find a loving home in one of the SOS families. The children grow up in a familial environment full of love, respect and security.