The Orphans of Ometepe

Front view of the orphanage

A small orphanage in Nicaragua will be closing its doors unless people like you and me share just a bit of the plenty we have to keep these children safe and out of harm's way. Formerly supported by an independent mission agency and individual contributors, this orphanage operates on about $3000 US per month housing, feeding, caring for, and educating about 40 children of all ages. Already dwindling donations (due simply to lack of getting the word out…) have been reduced even further by people diverting their donations after Sept. 11. If we allow this orphanage to close, these children will be forced out into the streets and the very real specter of starvation, prostitution, or being sold on the Asian child slave market (yes it really exists) or put into over-crowded, gang-run, state facilities-not a pleasant choice.

View to the lake from the back of the orphanage - clothes are washed by hand and dried on barbed wire - no need for clothespins!

History

Founded about forty years ago, this orphanage is located on Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua. Safe from the turmoil that is usually standard fare on the mainland, this special place is a refuge in every way. In humble surroundings on the lake, the children are loved and cared for as a big family by a dedicated and hard working Christian staff. During the war of the '80's, the Sandanistas closed the orphanage as punishment for hiding boys rather than letting them be drafted. They used the facility as a training camp. Since the peace accord of 1990, it has been re-opened. It is currently managed by Helen Vindas with a supporting staff of three others plus work staff to wash the clothes and cook.

Needs

When it comes to accountablility and efficient use of donations, this orphanage is hard to beat. They provide all the children's needs and operate on about $75-100 per child per month. The facilities are in great need of repair due to deferred maintenance caused by lack of funds. In particular, the bathrooms need some repair. Presently the showers that work consist of a pipe coming out of the wall, and there are no sinks. The well is not good so they depend on truckloads of water plus the lake water. The power supply on the island is intermittent at best which makes it difficult to store larger amounts of food by freezing, for instance. For food, they supplement what they can grow with local beans and rice. Medical and dental care is provided primarily through our International Service Learning teams.

What you can do

1. Keep this orphanage in your prayers daily. We'll be updating this web site with specific needs of the children.
2. Give what you can as a monthly sponsorship. If you're willing to help financially, contact us at info@aboutgsm.org or call 336-667-0465. We'll send you 12 months' worth of envelopes for your monthly tax-deductible gifts. All donations need to be made to Good Samaritan Missions (GSM).
3. Come and help! International Service Learning sends mission teams for construction, medical help, and other ministries several times a year. Just contact us as in #2 above.

Photo gallery

Now enjoy some scenes from one of the most special places on earth:


Busy cooks	Baking bread the ol' fashioned way

Lunch time - beans and rice - mmmmm'	Meet Luis

Imagine hand washing for forty kids and staff!	Local traffic


The nursery	In the boys' dorm