Nicaragua is located in Central America between the countries of Costa Rica and Honduras. It is bordered on one side by the Caribbean Sea, and on the other side by the Pacific Ocean. Nicaragua is a beautiful tropical country, very warm in the lowlands, but a bit cooler in the highlands.

A Spanish colony from Panama settled the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821; Nicaragua became an independent republic in 1838. By 1978, violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption was widespread. In 1979, there was a civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, 1996, and again in 2001 resulted in the defeat of the Sandinistas.

Recently, Daniel Ortega, Sandinista leader, was re-elected to the presidency of Nicaragua. The world waits to see how this will affect the struggling, but emerging nation of Nicaragua.

Nicaragua is one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, with over 50% of its population below the poverty line. Unemployment is massive at 22%, with further considerable underemployment. Nicaragua faces low per capita income and huge external debt. Nicaragua will continue to be dependent on international aid and debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Nicaragua has suffered from destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and the country is extremely susceptible to hurricanes.

Nicaragua is 85% Catholic. The population is 69% mestizo, 17% white, 9% black, and 5% Amerindian. The infant mortality is over 30 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Children of Promise in Nicaragua

Children of Promise provides educational assistance, food, basic health care, and Christian nurture through the local ministry of the Church of God.

For $25 per month per child, you can provide a bright future for a Nicaraguan child who would otherwise not have such an opportunity.

Franchesca lives with her mother in her grandmother's home, which has no water, electricity, or bathroom.

Jonathan lives with his parents and 4 siblings in a one-room home made of stone. It has a tin roof and a dirt floor.

Many of the sponsored children live near this neighborhood.

The children attend Sunday School regularly.