Nicaragua Facts

Hola! That’s how you say “hello” in Spanish, the official language of Nicaragua. This Latin American country is home to beautiful beaches and volcanoes. Learn more Nicaragua facts here.

five Facts About Nicaragua

Here are five fun facts about Nicaragua:

  1. Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America.
  2. Nicaragua is home to the largest lake in Central America, Lake Nicaragua.
  3. Ever heard of volcano surfing? If you visit Nicaragua, you might enjoy this activity, which involves sliding down a volcano on a sandboard.
  4. Nicaragua is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region with intense volcanic and seismic activity.
  5. The country is home to vast rainforests and nature reserves that shelter an array of wildlife, including jaguars, sloths, toucans and howler monkeys.

Where is Nicaragua?

Nicaragua is located in Central America, right between Honduras and Costa Rica. It’s next to the Pacific Ocean, which lies to the west, and the Caribbean Sea to the east.

A Key Challenge of Child Poverty & Our Response

Countries throughout Latin America, including Nicaragua, are home to many impoverished communities. And children living in those communities face the painful, life-altering challenges of poverty.

Lack of Education Keeps Children Trapped in Poverty

Millions of children throughout Latin America can’t access education. Some children must drop out of school to work and provide for their families. Others simply lack the resources to pay tuition. Some children living in remote areas don’t even have physical access to schools and can’t afford to travel.

Sadly, children unable to go to school will likely struggle to provide for themselves and their families later in life, keeping them and their children in poverty.

Our Response: Providing Educational Opportunities for Kids of All Ages

Partnering with local churches, Compassion provides tutoring, school supplies and other educational opportunities to children who attend our program. We also help families cover the cost of tuition for their children.

For older children, we also provide vocational training, teaching them practical skills they can use to provide for themselves and their families.

Children in Remote Areas Can’t Get Essentials

Nicaragua is home to many remote areas. For example, the Rio San Juan region in Nicaragua is one of the most isolated regions in all of Central America.

Children and families living in these areas struggle to access basic resources like medical care, clean water and education simply because they’re so far away.

Our Response: Empowering the Local Church to Care for Kids in Remote Areas

Compassion partners with local churches that have a heart for reaching children in remote areas. Through nearby churches, we offer critical care like medical checkups, clean water and tutoring to children who would otherwise go without them.

The local pastor plays soccer with children at the child development center

The local pastor plays soccer with children at the child development center.

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A young boy holds his schoolbooks and backpack in his hands

A young boy holds his schoolbooks and backpack in his hands.

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A young girl washes her hands with water from the new water tank installed at her child development center

A young girl washes her hands with water from the new water tank installed at her child development center.

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A young boy smiles as he enjoys a nutritious meal

A young boy smiles as he enjoys a nutritious meal.

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A young girl smiles in front of a colorful wall

A young girl smiles in front of a colorful wall.

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A girl stands outside and feeds chickens

A girl stands outside and feeds chickens.

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A group of girls play tambourines and dance together

A group of girls play tambourines and dance together.

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A young boy holds his hands together to pray during a lesson

A young boy holds his hands together to pray during a lesson.

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A mother pushes her baby in a stroller

A mother pushes her baby in a stroller.

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Children laugh and play together at their child development center

Children laugh and play together at their child development center.

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Our Impact in Nicaragua

Compassion has supported children and families throughout Nicaragua for over two decades. During that time, we’ve helped release thousands of children from poverty in Jesus’ name through our child sponsorship program.

71,223

children served (and counting).

256

child development centers.

21

years serving.

Glasses Changed Everything for These Three Children

Andreina, Yubielka and Anderson suffered from problems with their eyesight, harming their health and keeping them from thriving in school. Through the local church, they received eye exams and glasses, changing their lives.

Mareck Chases His Dream of Becoming a Chef

Mareck and other children in the Compassion program are dreaming of brighter futures beyond poverty. And for Mareck, this means becoming a chef so he can serve others in his community.

How You Can Help Vulnerable Children in Nicaragua

You can join Compassion’s fight against child poverty in Nicaragua in three key ways:

  • Pray: Jeremiah 33:3 tells us that if we call on God, he will answer us. When we lift children living in poverty up in prayer, God hears us, and we can trust he's working on their behalf. Join us in praying daily for children living in poverty by becoming a prayer partner.
  • Donate: Children living in poverty face many challenges, from a lack of medical care to dangerous living conditions. You can provide immediate support by donating to fulfill a right-now need.
  • Sponsor a Child: By sponsoring a child, you empower a child development center to meet the critical needs of a child's body, mind and spirit as they journey out of poverty. Through sponsorship, you'll help deliver medical care, hygiene training, education, malnutrition monitoring and so much more to a child in need.