Our Homes: NPH El Salvador

El SalvadorEl Salvador Facts

Area:
8,124 square miles – about the same size as New Jersey

Population:
6,602,370 (2023 est.)

Languages:
Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)

Issues:
A 12-year civil war ended in 1992; very high rate of violence and crime; deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution; hurricanes and earthquakes

NPH El Salvador at a Glance

Opened:
June 29, 1999

Location:
Casa Sagrada Familia (“Holy Family”) is near the border of Guatemala in Texistepeque, about 30 miles from San Salvador

NPH Operates:
Family-style home, school (grades K – 9), medical clinic, farm, vocational workshops

Community Programs include the Centro Bienestar Infantil (CBI) daycare center for children ages 1 to 7, and scholarships for children/youth in the area.

2022 Impact
325 children and adults supported

126 local people employed

63 K – University graduates

Did you know?

  • Dora Serrano, NPH El Salvador’s National Director, is an Hermana Mayor (“Older Sister”), who was raised at the home.
  • Since opening in 1999, the main purpose of the home has changed in response to national legislation around child welfare. Once a home solely for orphaned and abandoned children, NPH El Salvador evolved
    to serve two different populations: children who live inside the home, and community students. These students receive scholarships spanning from early education to university, as well as meals and healthcare. They come from low income families that cannot afford to support their children’s education, which is the case for most Salvadorans.
  • Students in 8th and 9th grades attend vocational workshops in baking and/or sewing.
  • Following the COVID-19 lockdown, an inventive system of protocols and schedules was created to safely welcome students back to school. This resulted in a return to school for 100% of the kids living in the home and 90% of the students from the Community Programs. In addition, a variety of mental-health activities and workshops that promoted resiliency were implemented.
  • The agriculture program yields a variety of vegetables, such as corn, bananas, cashew, papaya, and native plants such as loroco, which is a prominent ingredient in main dishes such as pupusas. The farm provides nourishing food for children and staff, and also serves as a living-classroom.

More Information:

• Holiday Celebrations at NPH El Salvador
• Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Home Map (PDF)
• Visitor’s Guide (PDF)

Full Episode Recordings:

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How to Help:

• Sponsor a child
• Support the NPH El Salvador home with a Mi Casa! Sponsorship
• Donate now

Learn about the other NPH homes:

Bolivia | Dominican Republic | El Salvador | Guatemala | Haiti | Honduras | Mexico | Nicaragua | Peru