Child Sponsorship Background from Matagalpa, Nicaragua

SOS Children's Village Matagalpa

The decision to build a new SOS Children's Village was based on two important facts: There is a growing number of children in need in the region and all the other Nicaraguan SOS Children's Villages were filled to capacity at that moment.  The construction of SOS Children's Village and SOS Social Centre Matagalpa started in 1999. 

The works on the large building site (24,000 sqm.) on the outskirts of the town of Matagalpa took until the end of 2000.

The SOS Children's Village consists of 11 family houses, which provide a home for up to 99 children, the house of the village director, a library, an amphitheatre and an administrative building with a multi-purpose hall.  There is also a playground for the children.

Other SOS Projects in Matagalpa

In July 2005, an SOS Youth Home was established.  There, youths prepare for independent living while they are still doing their education or training.

SOS Social Centre Matagalpa started its work near the SOS Children's Village in January 2001.  It includes a day-care centre for babies and little children and organises childminding programmes where one of the mothers from the local community looks after the children of the other families. 

Furthermore, the SOS Social Centre offers training classes for parents (especially for single mothers).  On the one hand, there is professional training which is intended to assure the families' income; on the other hand, there are also personal development courses for the mothers and parents of the children who are looked after in the childminding programmes and in the day-care centre. 

All these measures help to strengthen the families of the local community so that as many children as possible can be brought up in their biological families and will not need any kind of foster care.

Background to Matagalpa

Matagalpa has a population of over 100,000.  It is a city in Nicaragua and the capital of the department of Matagalpa. 

Its economic and social situation is poor as it is still suffering from the devastating consequences of the Nicaraguan civil war.  Agriculture (largely through coffee plantations and cattle breeding) is the most important economic sector but many farm workers cannot make a living from what they earn and the infrastructure is poor with many households lacking electricity and running water. 

Medical supplies are insufficient with many children suffering from malnutrition and deficiency.  Children sometimes miss school as they are asked to work and contribute to the family income.