El Salvador traditions reveal a vibrant and unique culture. Learn more about these traditions, such as El Salvador Independence Day, here.

El Salvador — known as the land of volcanoes as well as “the little thumb of America” — is the smallest but most densely populated country in Central America. We’d love to share some more fun facts about El Salvador with you! As you dive into these facts, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of […]

What is it like living in El Salvador? It’s the smallest country in Central America. Located between Guatemala and Honduras, it possesses 21,041 square kilometers (about the size of Massachusetts) and is tropical, with an average temperature of 30° to 35°C (80°to 95°F). The land is mostly mountainous and covered with tropical rainforest, with its […]

Christmas in El Salvador is a magical time. Right after the last September rains and the windy days of October and November, a cool breeze and fresh spring-like days fill the atmosphere, announcing that the dry season (usually called “summer”) is here, and suddenly everything is green, red and full of lights. It is Christmastime.

Easter Week in El Salvador is celebrated differently than the way it is celebrated in the United States. In the United States, Easter often includes the Easter Bunny and egg hunts. In El Salvador as well as many other Central American countries, it is celebrated with a much different atmosphere. Easter feels like summer. The sun […]

Our ministry in El Salvador started in 1977 with the Child Sponsorship Program. In 2009, we implemented both the Child Survival and Leadership Development programs.

“One day, we will see a former participant in Compassion’s sponsorship program lead our nation.” This is the dream that fills the hearts of the Compassion El Salvador staff. What started in 1977 in El Salvador with the implementation of the child sponsorship program, is now taking a step closer toward that dream. A few […]

[…] fills the air with that cool Christmas feeling. For a foreigner, it would almost feel like spring, but for Salvadorans, it feels like Christmas. Christmas Traditions in El Salvador To celebrate Christmas in El Salvador means to mix a variety of traditional Christian beliefs and adopted Western customs. A Salvadoran Christmas still carries a strong […]

You’re invited to a live video chat from El Salvador with the Compassion Bloggers. It’s taking place on Wed., Nov. 11 at 9 p.m. CST at www.livestream.com/compassion. See you there. An add banner for the Compassion bloggers trip to El Salvador

[…] next round of Ask the Field. It’s time for you to ask questions of two of my fabulous coworkers, Ephraim Lindor of Haiti and Roberto Medrano of El Salvador. Ephraim has been working with Compassion Haiti for 22 years. (Talk about perseverance!) He first worked for Compassion as a translator, and he is now the […]

More specifically, do you sponsor a child in one of these three child development centers in El Salvador? ES526, Bethel Student Center ES808, Cachorros de León Student Center ES782, Comisión de Amor Student Center If you do sponsor a child in one of those three centers, let us know. These are the centers that the […]

It is noon on Sunday in El Salvador. The traffic starts to increase slightly as the shadows move to dwell perpendicular under their owners. There are people going in different directions in downtown San Marcos, many of them coming out of the Sunday service at “Tabernaculo Biblico Bautista (Baptist Biblical Tabernacle, or BBT) San Marcos,” […]

[…] about child sponsorship is this: How does it make a difference? People want to know that their concern, their money and their intentions are safe in our hands. This video from El Salvador highlights one of thousands of similar stories that attest to the crucial difference your sponsorship can make in the life of a child!

Apparently, a singing bunny has made its way into our child sponsorship program in El Salvador. The Compassion Bloggers saw it. Sponsor a singing bunny in El Salvador. Watch the singing bunny video and subscribe to Compassion YouTube for more stories. Thanks for the video Patricia.

Many of you have asked about the impact Hurricane Ida had on your children as it moved through El Salvador. As we receive specific details from the El Salvador office about they’ve been affected we will contact you. The good news is that no children were physically hurt. But we understand that you want more […]

[…] you to help fight for children in poverty. We asked Roberto Medrano, communications and trips specialist for Central America and the Caribbean and a member of our El Salvador staff, to answer some of your questions. 1. I just found out that one of my sponsored children has been sponsored four times in the past […]

[…] glued to the field. A commentator narrates the last seconds of the game: “… and there comes Landaverde with a pass from Valdez… Landaverde surpasses the defense quite easily; he aims at the goal… shoots… AND SCORES!!!” El Salvador wins. The people in the stadium shout and celebrate; the national team has won the World Cup.

[…] apart by an earthquake that hit the town of San Lorenzo, in the department of Ahuachapan, about 100 km west of the capital city San Salvador, in El Salvador. Earlier that day, at about 1 in the morning, the town had felt a tremor. Then, at 11 a.m. of the same day, a 4.6 earthquake hit […]

Alejandro and Nixon are cousins who have also been friends most of their lives growing up in El Salvador. They are “first cousins,” a term that, in their culture and language, means a close relationship and is literally translated “cousin-brothers.”

Storytelling is a powerful tool. And it was recently exercised in the minds of 221 children in Compassion through the contest “Tell a Story.” The story of Sara Rivas (both the one written and the one lived) is a small sample of the great treasures hidden in the children who receive support through Compassion in […]

[…] families. Most of them do not have formal jobs. They survive making tortillas or selling vegetables at the local street market. These meetings are an initiative in El Salvador called “school for parents,” and the initiative is being financed through a Complementary Interventions Fund (CIV). CIV is a tool used to provide additional assistance to […]

In early March 2020, I was on a storytelling trip to El Salvador for Compassion. One minute we were loading the van to head to a child development center, the next we were packing our bags to rush to the airport — urgently called home as COVID-19, a seemingly distant threat, suddenly became very real. […]

The community of Montelimar is south of San Salvador, near a town named Olocuilta. The road near Montelimar, which leads to the airport, takes you past a scene that appears desolate. Even though the community has brick houses, electricity and potable water, the desolation of the surroundings and the distance from every other community make […]

Celebrating Christmas at a child development center in El Salvador means giraffes, bumblebees and donkeys! And in the midst of the carols and wrapping paper, God taught me so much about His heart for the poor — and my responsibility to His children.

Skippy wished he could stay in El Salvador, but duty calls. Besides, he’s looking forward to doing some mountain climbing. Where do you think Skippy is this week?

1. How long have you been in your current position with Compassion El Salvador, and what is your job? Two years. I am a supervisor within the Sponsor Donor Services department. 2. What are the main responsibilities of your position? I make sure the sponsors have up-to-date information about the children. Not just the letters, […]

Honduras is a stunning Central American nation that borders Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Pack a bag and let’s travel (virtually) to Honduras — which translates to “great depths.” Here, you’ll discover facts about Honduras, a country that’s home to over 60,000 Compassion assisted children!

The implementation of virtual conferences and online training modules in El Salvador has allowed our staff to move one step forward in how they communicate with one another.

Born in Villa El Salvador, southern Lima, Peru, Rosa Cueto Vega was surrounded by hills, sand and poverty. She experienced hunger and suffering. In the midst of her family’s struggle for survival, she didn’t have the luxury of dreaming for a future.

We first began our ministry in Honduras in 1974 when child development centers were opened in Guatemala and El Salvador. Today the ministry in Honduras is made up of 175 child development centers and approximately 41,000 children are registered.

[…] and make sure your tray table is in the upright position. First, we’re lifting off to Africa. What’s Here: Tanzania: Tanzanian Coconut Rice Uganda: Kashata Coconut Candy El Salvador: Pupusas Bolivia: Quinoa and Black Bean Salad Haiti: Pain de Mais The Philippines: Rose’s Pancit Noodles Bangladesh: Payesh 1. Tanzania: Tanzanian Coconut Rice Tanzania is a […]

[…] our culture too. The diverse foods that adorn the tables of children around the world range from injera in Ethiopia to arepas in Colombia, from pupusas in El Salvador to adobo in the Philippines. What are one child’s favorite foods may be unheard of to another child! So we thought we’d ask some children who […]

[…] are not alone. Increasingly, those trying to cross the U.S. border are families, including children, who are fleeing poverty, crime, extortion and gangs in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. The 1,125 churches Compassion partners with in Central America and Mexico are on the front lines of these stories. They witness the violence, the poverty and […]

[…] lie on the ground during the night, I smile because I get to dream that one day I will become a great doctor,” says Dodson. Keyli from El Salvador Keyli from El Salvador lives in a home made from mud and branches. Inside, her home is divided into rooms using plastic tarps. Her favorite things […]

[…] are you able to translate each week? “Every week I translate about 2,000 letters.” — Caroline Nzau, Kenya What’s your favorite part about your job? Luis Chavarria, El Salvador “My favorite part of the job is when I get to see how grateful and happy the children are to have a caring and loving sponsor.” […]

[…] the last picked made us compassionate for the underdog and empathetic toward those who don’t seem to get all the breaks. On a recent sponsor trip to El Salvador, Jocelyn Erhardt, a sponsor with Compassion Cananda, shared another story of how God used the last one picked to show His mercy. Rabbi is our sponsored […]

[…] full time to partner with Compassion. It felt like we had always been in partnership with Compassion. In September of 2009 you had the chance to visit El Salvador and see our work first hand. Tell us what that trip was like and how it affected your understanding of our ministry. Elissa: Our trip to […]

[…] their children on the second Friday of each month. The group provides letter-writing ideas and/or craft projects to use as a theme when writing. Karla and June, El Salvador 2005 Today’s post is written by June Gauss, the founder of the group. June has been a sponsor since 2002 and an advocate since 2008. She […]

[…] As we look back upon their dreams and reflect on how life has changed, constants remain: the children’s hope, and the support of Compassion’s local partners. Eleazar, El Salvador At the start of this year, fifth-grader Eleazar planned to study hard so he could finish at the top of his class. “We expect him to […]

[…] their local churches. For churches, it is a chance to share the good news of Jesus with participants. Here are some fun traditions for Compassion participants: In El Salvador, churches host Easter camps for youths and children during Holy Week. At camp, children learn about the love of Jesus, and many accept Jesus as their […]

[…] been three months since Double Seed started in the community of Corinto, in Zaragoza, a city located eight miles south of the capital city, San Salvador, in El Salvador. These past months meant sweat and great efforts for the people, but it also meant hope for a future that did not seem so clear a […]

[…] Operation Grocery Delivery Many of Compassion’s church partners around the world are attempting to get supplies including groceries to families, like Adonay and his mom Kirian in El Salvador. When Honduras went into lockdown due to COVID-19, over 200 Compassion-assisted child development centers had to temporarily close. In communities where malnutrition is common, many children […]

[…] as she stands outside of her kiosk. She sells fruits and vegetables with joy even though at home, life is difficult as sole provider and single mom. El Salvador Carmen, a Compassion center director, goes shopping for items for a family recently impacted by flooding in her community. The crisp and colorful pieces are sadly […]

[…] they share what they DO have! The Preaching Kid Cristina shares the gospel on Preaching Kids’ YouTube channel. Cristina was enrolled in the Child Sponsorship Program in El Salvador at age 3, so she received many physical gifts like medical access, good nutrition and new clothes. But at the same time, she was strengthened emotionally […]

[…] from them that it is important to link parents in the education of their children, since they are ultimately the ones who are responsible,” Dennis says. Katherine, El Salvador As it turns out, a pickup truck and a printer might be all it takes to help solve a community’s crisis. When COVID-19 caused schools across […]

Recently I was able to go to El Salvador to witness the ministry’s work firsthand and to meet my sponsored child Mayra, her sister, Marina, and their mom, Veronica. Our story began in July 2009 when I volunteered at my church’s Compassion Sunday event. I fell in love with Mayra’s smile. And when I discovered […]

When I began sponsoring my little boy in El Salvador I had my heart and mind set on helping a child in poverty. Tony with his sponsored child Cesar (right) and Cesar’s brother I saw the photo in the child packet, of this adorable creation of God and immediately wanted to throw on my superhero […]

[…] sister, Sharon, as their own children since they were babies. Their father had abandoned them, and their mother, who was very young, had moved to San Salvador, El Salvador, to work. “Luis was my grandson, but in my heart, he was my son,” Maria says. “He used to call me ‘Mom.’” Maria and Jose faced […]

[…] care to her spring onions, 8-year-old Velove won a gardening contest. Nine-year-old Meisy and her mother, Lusiana, peek around the bean trellis they built outside their home. El Salvador These girls’ flourishing garden grows tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and other vegetables with the help of fertilizer from livestock they received. Colombia These teenagers say hi from […]

[…] teachers and professionals. They cherish all the letters and memories, mentioning that the letters from sponsors helped them overcome obstacles during the formation of their lives. (from El Salvador) EIGHT Whenever children are surprised by the arrival of letters from their sponsors, we can see their faces shine with happiness and we see that this […]

[…] up again to continue my life for the sake of family.” Xiomara and María: Seamstresses Xiomara and her husband with their son Anderson outside their home in El Salvador. “I’m thankful for all the many benefits I’ve been receiving to raise my child properly. I get a monthly basket of staples, my 2-year-old son Anderson […]

[…] a pet dog for a walk,” says Masfika’s grandmother Rehana. The goat gave birth to two kids, which the family can keep or sell for income! Jose, El Salvador Jose’s family in rural El Salvador raises and sells pigs to earn an income — another example of how animals help people in poverty. “I think […]

[…] Jeannette has to walk long distances to and from work each day. But she still does it, day after day, emulating a servant leader. Dr. Fredy in El Salvador Dr. Fredy Orellana is 26 years old and a graduate of Compassion’s program. Working in one of the biggest community health clinics in El Salvador, he […]

[…] it is a new day. Jesus has risen, and with his rising, the world is changed. Sidewalk Chalk Celebration Did you know that in some countries, like El Salvador and Guatemala, a tradition is to create colorful, detailed designs on the streets for Easter? Make your own beautiful sidewalk art for Easter. Write Easter messages […]

[…] he says. Joel is a black belt in taekwondo, the youngest member of the National Delegation Team, and bronze medalist in the 2012 Central American Games of El Salvador. Step 2. Identify your God-given gifts and talents. “My sponsors always encourage me emotionally and economically to dream and use the talents that God has given […]

It is almost 2 o’clock in the afternoon in the city of Santa Ana, El Salvador. Mario walks across the church parking lot and heads toward the back of the main building. Mario is satisfied with his day. He attended school from 7 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., then he ran home and helped his mother deliver […]

[…] for your willing heart! How Compassion Is Responding to the New Coronavirus Outbreak FAQs About Compassion’s Response to the Coronavirus Outbreak COVID-19 Update Disaster Relief Evelyn in El Salvador A girl wears a face mask, standing in front of a table with soap. A boy washes his hands while children wait behind him. Washing Hands […]

[…] win the Nobel Peace Prize…but they are fighting hard for the future, to bring love and peace to their homes and communities. On a recent trip to El Salvador, I met a teenage girl whose tutor introduced her to me as “the future president of El Salvador.” And she believed it. When we give children […]

[…] It is abundant, clean, and available without my even giving it thought. But that’s not the case for our sponsored children. In October 2009, I traveled to El Salvador to meet one of my sponsored children, Bernardo. As part of the trip I spent two days in Santa Maria Ostuma, El Salvador, home of the […]

[…] on the cross for all mankind; not just remembering but knowing that it was the foundation for their salvation. Read about Easter in Ghana. Easter Week in El Salvador is celebrated differently than the way it is celebrated in the United States. There is a much a different atmosphere. Read about Easter in El Salvador. […]

[…] initiative, churches are trading short-term “love ’em and leave ’em” missions for long-term partnerships with each other. When U.S. pastor Joe Wittwer visited Iglesia Elim in Armenia, El Salvador, he saw the massive needs and wanted to help. He had already formed a close bond with Elim’s husband-and-wife pastoral team, Frank and Paty Ardon. Despite […]

[…] | Rwanda | Tanzania | Togo | Uganda Asia: Bangladesh | Indonesia | Philippines | Thailand | Sri Lanka  Central America and the Caribbean:  Dominican Republic | El Salvador | Guatemala | Haiti | Honduras | Mexico | Nicaragua  South America:  Bolivia | Brazil | Colombia | Ecuador | Peru  Good-News Story From Bangladesh When Dipu and […]

[…] at the end of the rainy season in 2009 when our Child Survival Program opened its doors to 50 mothers in the small town of Armenia in El Salvador. As daunting as poverty is here, violence is perhaps worse. Dangerous gangs wage war with each other. There are no hospitals, jails or job opportunities, and […]

[…] Jesus. They teach them to increasingly extend the love of Jesus to those in need.  My daughter, wife and me at a Compassion front-line church partner in El Salvador. While day-to-day spiritual practices are such an important foundation for discipleship and development, experiences that take us out of our routines can have a profound impact […]

[…] It’s something I came up with as my own little way of processing through the big picture. And then one day I was on a trip to El Salvador…. I walked into the home of one of our sponsored children in El Salvador with some of our artists in tow. We sat down with the […]

[…] in a new way. Here are a few takeaways from my experience writing to children in poverty: Children are delighted by the little things. Little Samuelito in El Salvador wrote me a letter about how he celebrates Christmas, and he mentioned his favorite Christmas dish — pan con pollo (bread with chicken) — in almost […]

[…] women, and technical courses aren’t normally affordable for families like mine. 1. An Opportunity From God I come from the municipality named Rosario de La Paz in El Salvador. It’s quiet, breezy and peaceful, but sometimes it can be a bit dangerous too. Gangs are everywhere. It’s inevitable to have occasional incidents. This community is […]

[…] the fun Cuties Delvin, Axel Ulises and Axel have more than just their quizzical expressions in common. The trio are all part of Compassion’s Survival Program in El Salvador. The new baby gift their mothers received after their arrival contained all the practical supplies they needed but struggled to afford. 15. Childlike faith With her […]

[…] money will be spent at the local church level to directly benefit his or her sponsored child. In my case, I can rest assured that Hamilton in El Salvador is being fed, getting help with his school work, learning about health and hygiene, developing his social skills, and is being taught Scripture-based values as a […]

[…] ingredient. She did not know what was going to happen. She trusted God, and she knew He would protect the child. I remember meeting a mother in El Salvador. She lived in an abandoned prison with her 1-year-old baby. They had no running water or electricity. However, she found Jesus through Compassion’s Child Survival Program. When […]

[…] reindeer-drawn sleigh. 5. Kenya In Kenya, Santa usually doesn’t arrive with his reindeer — instead he rolls into town on an SUV, camel or a bike. 4. El Salvador There is no such thing as a “silent night” during Christmas in El Salvador! The streets are filled with families lighting firecrackers. As the night goes […]

[…] gives light to everyone in the house.” — Matthew 5:14–15, NIV Yes, more than ever, the world needs hope today! In my daily work with Compassion’s ministry in El Salvador, one of the greatest blessings I get is knowing that everything we do is aimed at a sector that is perhaps the most marginalized, the most […]

[…] some time in gratitude, thanking God for the meal you enjoyed and the company you enjoyed it with. The Meal Starter: Central America and the Caribbean Pupusas, El Salvador Central America and the Caribbean host cultures full of colors, and beautiful beaches line the region. The people’s delicious and well-known cuisines rely on corn, rice […]

[…] imagined the reach that blessing would have. The Majucla community, where this story takes place, is a poor urban community on the outskirts of San Salvador city, El Salvador. In the words of Pastor Rodolfo whose church runs this center, “This community is a place where people live either because they are poor and cannot […]

[…] even come to our house. All of this affects us emotionally.” Pride Is Set Aside Orlando will never forget his first week working as a scavenger in El Salvador. He searched trash piles for metal, plastics, electronics — anything he could sell to the recyclers. The smell he grew used to, but the judgment was […]

[…] us would just drink water.” Unable to Finish School Born into poverty, Orlando was encouraged to start working at a young age to help his family. In El Salvador, 70% of the working population toils in the informal sector, just as Orlando does. Competition for work is extremely high. Orlando looks through a landfill for […]

[…] was made. In the span of several days, more than 7,000 kids were sponsored. That number is staggering. Every child waiting for a sponsor in Tanzania, Rwanda, El Salvador and Indonesia were sponsored. What a humbling experience to partner together with these world changers! // m a k e h i s t o r […]

[…] in Compassion’s program. In vulnerably sharing their experiences, they hope to break the stigma of and reveal the truth about living in poverty. As mother Consuelo from El Salvador says, poverty “is a situation you can only understand with no judgment if you have lived it in your own flesh.” Over the next five weeks […]

[…] join us in praying for needs related to COVID-19, click here. Photos by David Vasquez. Year of the Bible Sponsor a Child Global Prayers for COVID-19 Girl in El Salvador A girl in a green shirt prays, with her hands to her face. Children Praying in El Salvador A group of four children sit outside, praying.

[…] Johana, while her son holds a photo of Angie. Stacey sponsored Johana until she graduated from the program in 2009, and then began sponsoring Katherine, also from El Salvador.  Stacey and some of Angie’s family also helped form a scholarship fund in Angie’s name. For years they gathered to read through applications and donated to […]

[…] their church, which has several stories above this one. Haiti Built in 1933, this church hosts a livestock program that provides Compassion kids with sustainable income opportunities. El Salvador Pastor Pedro stands in front of his church, which has helped bring clean water to the community. Honduras Sponsored kids wave enthusiastically in front of their […]

[…] over my head can I jump?” Eventually, I got to the point where I was jumping more than 13 inches over my head. In 1988, I represented El Salvador in the Summer Olympics in Seoul South Korea, competing in the decathlon. During the competition, I was in the same group as the world record holder […]

[…] capita between $1,026 to $12,475. (That’s compared to $63,080 in the United States.) And 9 out of 10 were in Latin America, including countries such as Honduras, El Salvador and Colombia. Many of the countries with the most positive emotions have struggled with issues like organized crime, poverty and natural disasters. We’ve grown accustomed to […]

[…] You a Very Merry Christmas (12/25/10) Delivering Hope (12/14/10) Apply For Our 2011 Summer Internship Program (12/09/10) Defining Moments (11/15/10) Your Sponsorship Brings Hope: A Report from El Salvador (11/11/10) Featured Chapel Speaker: Michael W. Smith (10/27/10) Tell Us Your Story! (10/25/10) Parents in Ghana Learn Their Child Has Been Sponsored (10/19/10) Mosquito Bites Can […]

[…] get to see her, actually get to hug her. It was refreshing to see a different lifestyle. The most different lifestyle I had experienced before going to El Salvador was California. Even though California is very different than Washington, most U.S. states have a similar culture. Going to see Gabby taught me something. It taught […]

[…] Find out what children learn about Easter at child development centers. We hope you have enjoyed this peek into Easter in Guatemala. Now read about traditions in El Salvador! Additional photos by Javier Elis. A version of this article was originally published April 21, 2011. Guatemala Facts Experience the Joy of Easter Through a Child’s […]

[…] resources. Now that they have after-school jobs and baby-sitting money, they share the cost of sponsoring a child (whom Hailey and I met on a trip to El Salvador in 2008). Although we want to be generous with our kids, we have them save up and pay a portion of major purchases like camp, cameras […]

[…] Poor Say Definition of Poverty Effects of Poverty on Children In Partnership With the Local Church Sponsor a Child Sponsor a Child Sponsor a Child Girl in El Salvador by Eric Siemens How to Help Kids in Need: A girl wearing a blue dress looks at the camera with a serious look on her face. […]

[…] and church workers in Thailand. Add a maroon stable-table to my lap and I can write words of love and encouragement to two awesome young men in El Salvador. There in one place, I can “send” through financially supporting the work of Compassion, and I can “go” through letters and prayers. Each time we write […]

[…] room. She says that it was God that led her to go to a new neighborhood named Plan del Pino, in Ciudad Delgado, a municipality of San Salvador city. “Everything that happens, if you are a Christian, is to your benefit according to God’s plan.” Because of her special needs, Milagro never went to […]

[…] a wheelchair on a dirt path. Girl with Paint A girl covered in bright paint colors smiles, laying on the ground. Girl in Togo A girl hugs her mom’s legs. Child in Togo A man holds a young child, walking outside. Girl in El Salvador A mom hugs and kisses a baby in a pink shirt.

[…] them (her sponsors) so much, and so do we.” Lorielky is sponsored by Jimmy and Tracey, who live in Alabama. 2. Margarita, mother of 8-year-old Josue in El Salvador “It was an important detail because I can celebrate my son’s birthday. I know that it’s an important moment, and as a mother, it is something […]

[…] our mandate and to do it with love. Use us, Jesus. Give us one mind to reach children in need. In Jesus’ name, amen. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Crissia de Monterrosa serves as a Ministry Services Assistant for Compassion El Salvador. Read all the One in Spirit devotionals.   four smiling children One in Spirit devotional banner

[…] letter translators. They work faithfully to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. Whether at a national office in southeast Asia, at a small church in rural El Salvador, or elsewhere, Compassion has a global team that top to bottom does what they do for a reason: to see lives transformed because of the love […]

[…] minors provide all necessary contacts. Five of Brazil’s largest cities have high rates of commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, almost all in the northeast region: Salvador, Natal, Recife, Fortaleza and Rio de Janeiro. The last three are home to Compassion partner churches. Fortaleza is a tourist center located in northeastern Brazil. A land […]

[…] Chuck Bigger to each country to get stories of sponsored children. In your year and a half working for Compassion, how many countries have you visited? Ten: El Salvador, Indonesia, Greece, Philippines, Colombia, Bangladesh, Ecuador, Uganda, Sri Lanka and Kenya. What did you do before you became such a world traveler? Before, I was an […]

As you might expect during an incredibly challenging year, your favorite stories on the Compassion USA blog were inspirational ones. The most popular blog posts we shared during 2020 were those that showed the resiliency of the human spirit and the ability for God to redeem the most desperate situations. Here they are — your five favorite stories on the blog during 2020. May they inspire you all over again — or for the first time if you missed them before!

[…] into fights with people of other religions? Are we known for our love, or have we forgotten Jesus’ command? In 2011, I took my sponsor trip to El Salvador, and I was able to see what Jesus was talking about in John 13. I was able to see children who lived in neighborhoods with lots […]

[…] forms, and Bob Lenz has given his life to helping young people who struggle most with poverty of the heart. In Bob’s own words: “I was in El Salvador a few years ago to introduce some friends to the work of Compassion. For the last 15 years it’s been a part of my ministry with […]

[…] and extortion. These families often live in communities where criminal groups are active in drug trafficking. Our church partners across Central America are facing similar challenges, from El Salvador to Mexico. Churches in Honduras have begun finding ways to help families stay in their communities. One church in Joconales, Honduras, had dozens of families and […]

[…] “Why is he wearing such nice clothing?” “Why is she not smiling?” “His newest picture doesn’t look like the boy I sponsored. Why?” Picture this: You’re in El Salvador in the middle of summer visiting a newly opened Child Development Center. There is a long line of mothers, fathers and children waiting to be registered […]

This year, we asked your most burning letter-writing questions to those in the know! Here are your best questions and answers of the year.

[…] new clothes — not ones that someone has worn before. At the Compassion center, I got beautiful new clothes to wear on Christmas day.” — Mario, 7, El Salvador 9. Spending Time With Family “I like that everyone comes to visit at Christmas — my uncles, aunts, cousins. We can’t afford to exchange gifts, but […]

[…] of 6 and 10, and it provides a virtual opportunity for them to travel around the world — to four different countries where we work:  Ghana, Bangladesh, El Salvador and Brazil. It helps your kiddos experience a Compassion child development center and the surrounding community, and will give them perspective on what a child’s life in […]

[…] International and something stirred inside me. I ran to a table, where poverty had many faces and names. I grabbed the packet of a young girl from El Salvador and suddenly realized that God had brought me to Nashville for more than a songwriting workshop. I had come with a lot of dreams and aspirations. […]

[…] interesting than me: ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Paul Darilek is Senior Director of Communications at Living Water International. Years ago he was a missionary and bean farmer in El Salvador. Paul was hospitalized twice with water-related health problems before Living Water International helped him train a Salvadoran team to address water needs in their communities, in […]

[…] with his mother, wearing a blue shirt, and his father, wearing a maroon shirt. They are all praying together. The wall behind them is blue. Praying in El Salvador Young boy wearing a red shirt. He is praying with a group of children in the background. He has both hands in the air. Praying in […]

[…] with her, as she barely had enough to eat at home before Compassion helped her family start a farm of broiler chickens. About 10 Compassion centers across El Salvador have helped families like Phamela’s start businesses by loaning them seed money. Phamela’s mother, Delmy, was eligible for a chicken farm startup. Now that the farm […]

[…] like Zoom, Whatsapp and Facebook Live to deliver curriculum and to send program content and ensure beneficiaries are receiving ongoing emotional and spiritual support. Some countries like El Salvador actually have mapped the percentage of parents and youths that have access to email and to Whatsapp, so they may deliver lesson content to them electronically […]

[…] from a country other than the one you live in gives your family a chance to talk about life outside of your boundaries and expands everyone’s horizons. El Salvador: Papusas Thailand: Thai Omelets Uganda: Matooke with Peanut Sauce Sherlock Holmes the Bible The Bible Detectives adventure pack from our friends at Focus on the Family […]

[…] that, he felt like he could do even MORE while being at home and decided to sponsor a child. He’s a brand-new sponsor, supporting a child in El Salvador. Welcome to the Compassion family, Nixon! If you haven’t figured it out by now, you are part of one stellar community of people! Thanks for caring […]

[…] relating to the relationship between the sponsor and the sponsor’s child. In Bolivia they call these staff the “sponsorship responsible.” In Peru they call them “secretary” and in El Salvador “sponsorship coordinator.” Whatever the title, they are all the same position. These staff take the photos and send them to the country office. In the country […]

[…] To realize that there are those suffering in squalor beyond even my own comprehension and to do something about it. My family sponsors a little boy in El Salvador. I pray that our efforts, along with those of Compassion and the local church, will help release little Hamilton from the poverty that seeks to bury […]

[…] in Brazil A group of sponsored children are showing their wrapped Christmas presents. Everyone wears face masks and uses social distancing to avoid COVID-19 spread. Happy in El Salvador Grazielly is holding a Christmas ball that says “Merry Christmas” in Portuguese. SHe is wearing a red Santa hat and green garland around her neck. She […]

[…] | Rwanda | Tanzania | Togo | Uganda Asia: Bangladesh | Indonesia | Philippines | Thailand | Sri Lanka Central America and the Caribbean: Dominican Republic | El Salvador | Guatemala | Haiti | Honduras | Mexico | Nicaragua South America: Bolivia | Brazil | Colombia | Ecuador | Peru Additional writing by Joyce Tumbelston. […]

[…] for five weeks. A friend at the church I attended in Lima was familiar with the center because it is connected to her former church in Villa el Salvador. She introduced me to the center staff. In my time observing Compassion’s ministry, I learned six small, but important, lessons. Poverty is invisible to the rich […]

[…] in my garden until 4 p.m. But I only earn around US $3.48 per day,” he says. Like Frangky, Consuelo and her husband, Orlando, work hard in El Salvador but have little to show for it. “I have always worked, my whole life,” she says simply. “When I was 13 years old, I was already […]

[…] the Coronavirus? Where We Work Share Your Prayer Request Letter-Writing Ideas My Account Girl in Colombia A girl hugs a letter to her chest. Face Masks in El Salvador A woman secures a face mask on a boy. Pensive in Brazil A boy stands at a door, looking out. Reading Letters in Colombia Two boys […]

[…] Qualified Engineers: We could not find engineers in Haiti who knew and understood how to build according to seismic codes, so we had to recruit trainers from El Salvador to oversee the building of each ICP and closely monitor each step of the building process. Design and Budget:The original design the team of engineers produced […]

[…] active transmission of Zika in 24 countries. We have local church partners and Child Development Centers in 10 of those countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras and Mexico. How Is Zika transmitted? The Zika virus is transmitted from the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which also carries dengue and yellow fever. […]

[…] Republic – 2015 Uganda – 2014 Nicaragua – 2013 Peru – 2012 Tanzania – 2012 Ecuador – 2011 Philippines – 2011 Guatemala – 2010 Kenya – 2010 El Salvador – 2009 India* – 2009 Dominican Republic – 2008 Uganda – 2008 Why do Compassion Blogger trips even exist? A great question! Read “A Pilgrimage to […]

[…] Christmas with Compassion! Making a List, Checking It Twice The tutors were positively giddy as they piled out of the van at a local shopping center in El Salvador. Each one clutched a list of children whom they worked with at the center. By each child’s name was a scrawled list of notes gathered after […]

[…] visit my sponsored child?” Here’s one thing you need to consider when you ask yourself that question. It’s courtesy of Whittaker Woman and the blog trip to El Salvador. Keep in mind, the girls speaking aren’t even her sponsored children. Watch The Happiest Day in My Life and subscribe to Compassion YouTube for more stories. […]

[…] while, Hilda and her crew of nearly 20 lead foremen have split their time – three weeks a month in Haiti and one at their homes in El Salvador – for approximately four years. Watch the journey of building the new schools unfold in this video. You can also view Rebuilding in Haiti on YouTube. […]