Freddy lives with his grandfather and his mother. He is responsible for carrying water, making beds and running errands. His grandfather is employed as a seller in the market and his mother is sometimes employed as a farmer. There are 4 children in the family.
Soccer, playing with cars and playing with marbles are Freddy's favorite activities. In primary school his performance is average and he also regularly attends church activities, Bible class and camp.
Your love and support will help Freddy to receive the assistance he needs to develop his potential. Please pray for him.
Freddy lives on the plains of La Leona, home to approximately 400 residents. Typical houses are constructed of dirt floors, brick walls and corrugated iron roofs.
The regional diet consists of maize, beans, bread, rice and potatoes. Common health problems in this area include respiratory illnesses, diarrhea and malnutrition. Most adults in La Leona are unemployed but some work as day laborers and earn the equivalent of $44 per month. This community needs schools, vocational training centers, alcohol abuse prevention programs and employment opportunities.
Your sponsorship allows the staff of Niños de Jesus Student Center to provide Freddy with Christian education, medical checkups, health and hygiene education, nutritious meals, special celebrations, field trips, self-esteem education, tutoring and academic reinforcement. The center staff will also provide monthly meetings, evangelism and health education for the parents or guardians of Freddy.
With the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east, Nicaragua is the second largest country in Central America, after Mexico. The country has three different geographic regions: the Pacific lowlands, the north-central mountains and the Caribbean lowlands, also called the Mosquito Coast or Mosquitía. The climate is tropical in the lowlands and cooler in the highlands. The Mosquito Coast is an outlet for many of the large rivers originating in the central mountains. It is a sparsely populated rainforest area. Seventeen percent of the country has been given national park status.
The Nicaraguan population, mostly of indigenous and European ancestry, is more urban than rural. Spanish is the official language but on the Caribbean coast, Creole English and indigenous languages are also spoken. Poetry is one of Nicaragua's most loved arts. Even though most Nicaraguans are Catholic, during the 20th century Protestant denominations increased their membership, particularly in the western half of the country.
In 1524, Hernandez de Cordoba founded the first permanent Spanish settlements in the region. Nicaragua gained independence from Spain in 1821, briefly becoming a part of the Mexican Empire. In 1838, Nicaragua became an independent republic. The country began free-market reforms in 1991, after 12 years of economic free fall under the Sandinista regime. Despite some initial setbacks, Nicaragua has made dramatic progress. Nicaragua is primarily an agricultural country but construction, mining, fisheries, exports and general commerce have added to its stability and the well-being of its people.
In November 1998, Hurricane Mitch ravaged Nicaragua. Heavy rains followed and triggered a mudslide at Volcán Casita that buried several villages. Over 3,000 Nicaraguans died as a result of the hurricane. Several nations cancelled Nicaragua's debt in late 1999 as a result of the tragedy and the country is rebuilding slowly.
Map of Nicaragua
Child's Location: Southeast of Leon
