El Salvador

El Salvador flag

Hola / Hello from El Salvador

Language: Spanish

Known for its amazing sunsets and diverse ecology, El Salvador has been steadily recovering from its 12-year civil war in the 1980s. Food shortages and a lack of educational opportunities plague its people. Compassion-assisted children experience these realities daily. But at the Compassion center, there is hope.

El Salvador Stats

POPULATION: 6,568,745
50% Roman Catholic
36% Protestant
14% Other or none

70,788
CHILDREN SERVED

270
CHURCHES SERVING

46
YEARS SERVING

A girl sits on a swing at the playground

A girl sits on a swing at the playground.

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A group of children play soccer at their child development center

A group of children play soccer at their child development center.

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Teen boys playing baseball

Teenage boys play baseball together.

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Young adults learn income-generating skills, like baking, at their child development center

Young adults learn income-generating skills, like baking, at their child development center.

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A teenager reads the Bible in his neighborhood

A teenager reads the Bible in his neighborhood.

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A group of kids in yellow uniforms run out of their center

A group of children run out of their child development center together.

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A teen girl working on a computer

A teenage girl uses a computer at her child development center.

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A girl holds a rooster

A young girl holds a rooster in her arms.

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A young boy smiles as he holds a favorite traditional meal

A young boy smiles as he holds a favorite traditional meal.

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A girl holds a planning book outside of her child development center

A girl holds a planning book outside of her child development center.

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5 FACTS ABOUT EL SALVADOR

  1. El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America.
  2. It is known as the "Land of Volcanoes" due to its impressive number of volcanoes.
  3. They adopted the U.S. dollar as their official currency in 2001.
  4. Pupusas, a traditional Salvadoran dish, are a significant part of the country's cuisine.
  5. The country has a rich Mayan heritage and is home to several important archaeological sites.

IMPROVING EDUCATION IN EL SALVADOR

Issue: In rural areas, where the poverty level may be higher than 40%, children as young as 7 sometimes leave school so they can work to support their families. Those who fail to finish secondary school have few options beyond difficult jobs and minimal wages.

Response: At Compassion centers, children are given educational assistance designed to keep them engaged with school. Older children learn entrepreneurial skills such as tailoring, baking, poultry production or fish farming, which provide them with better income-earning opportunities.

Prayer Point: Pray that students will see the value of continuing their education and will pursue self-supporting careers that help them escape the grip of poverty.

Children learning to use computers in their classrooms

Teenagers receive vocational training for skills to help their future..

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Visit the Compassion blog to learn more about our work in El Salvador.

Did You Know?

El Salvado is the smallest country in Central America. In fact, it’s smaller than the state of Massachusetts! But El Salvador’s small size doesn’t take away from the natural beauty found in its beaches, jungles and volcanoes.

Sponsor a Child in El Salvador

Life in El Salvador

El Salvador Fast Facts

Official Name: Republic of El Salvador

Form of Government: Presidential republic

Capital: San Salvador

Population: 6,481,102

Official Language: Spanish

Currency: U.S. dollar

Area: 8,123 square miles (21,041 square kilometers)

Compassion has been working in El Salvador since 1977. These El Salvador facts and statistics provide a good picture of the reality of poverty and how child sponsorship through Compassion is making a difference.

Poverty is a problem in the country of El Salvador but with your support, Compassion is working to change this. The El Salvador facts tell a difficult story, but Compassion is bringing hope in the midst of the difficulties. Our programs are changing the statistics one child at a time.

Don't let the hopelessness of poverty overwhelm you. Sponsor a child in El Salvador or make a donation to help children in El Salvador!