Juigalpa

SOS Children’s Villages supports individual children, young people and families so that they can thrive (photo: SOS Children’s Villages Nicaragua).

Juigalpa is the capital city of the Chontales Department located in the Juigalpa municipality. Juigalpa is in the central region of Nicaragua, in the Amerrisque Mountains, and has a population of 61,246. According to the World Bank, in Nicaragua 59% of the urban population lives in slums. Women and children are trafficked for commercial sex exploitation within Nicaragua and surrounding countries.

Since 1981, SOS Children’s Villages has been supporting children, young people and families and advocating for their rights in Juigalpa.

86%
Of trafficking victims have been trafficked for sexual exploitation

Trafficking poses a major threat

Trafficking victims are recruited, transported, transferred, harbored, or hosted for the purpose of exploitation. Families facing financial hardship in Juigalpa receive job offers from traffickers as sex workers, domestic workers, or farm workers in cities and tourist centers in Nicaragua or across the border. Women and children are at risk of exploitation by traffickers due to financial constraints. Children, who have to support the family income, or those who have to fend for themselves are particularly at risk.

15%
Of children in Nicaragua are forced to work

Child labour

In Nicaragua, the minimum age to work is 14 years. In addition, there is no minimum age requirement for light work. Reports indicate that children in rural areas mainly work and therefore often do not attend school. While 69% of boys are employed in agriculture, 53% of girls work in the service sector. The majority of children do not receive wages; they work as unpaid family helpers for up to 40 hours per week. Children from families facing financial hardships are thus more likely to be engage in child labour, as they contribute to the family income through their work.

Your support makes a difference for children in Juigalpa

SOS Children’s Villages works with local partners and communities to offer a wide range of support that is adapted to the local context. We always work in the best interest of the children, young people and families.
200
Families
Can stay together
10
Children and young people
Grow up in our care
9
Young people
Are supported on their way to independence
SOS Children’s Villages works to protect the rights and privacy of children. As you may notice, we here do not show any identifiable photos of children in our care in Juigalpa. This is because we have limited permission from the children and/or their legal guardians (photo: SOS Children’s Villages Juigalpa).

How your support helps in Juigalpa

Strengthening families and communities
When parents face hardships, they can sometimes struggle to give children the care they need. SOS Children’s Villages works with local partners and communities. Each family needs different support so that they can stay together. This support can include workshops on parenting and children’s rights. We also run training so that parents can get the skills they need to get a job or start their own businesses. Likewise, we ensure that children can get medical help and go to school.
Caring for children who cannot live with their families
Some children cannot stay with their families, even with additional support. When this happens, they can find a new home in SOS Children’s Villages. Here the children can build safe and lasting relationships. All the children in our care have access to education and healthcare. Wherever possible, we work closely with the children’s family of origin. If children can return to live with their families, we help them adapt to this change.
Supporting young people to become independent
To help young people become confident and independent, our local team works closely with each young person to develop a plan for their future. We support young people and also help them prepare for the labour market and increase their employment prospects. For example, young people can attend workshops and trainings run by SOS Children’s Villages. They also improve their skills through taking part in different projects with local mentors and businesses.