Where We Work: Managua, Nicaragua

Children of the Arms of Love Children's Home, 2006

Completed

• The Arms of Love Children's Home began receiving children in April 2000 and now encompasses two locations. The first location is a large home in the community of Las Palmas in Managua. This home currently accommodates 15 girls and several resident staff. In the future, this location will become a "transition home" where children who have graduated from high school can continue to live while attending university, obtaining employment, or pursuing further vocational training in order to become financially self-sufficient.
    
• The second location is a 20-acre property in Jinotepe that is being developed to include five homes, each of which will accommodate about 10 children and 3 staff. As of mid-2006, 12 boys were living in the first home, and 8 new children were in the process of being received into the second home. By the fall of 2006, we anticipate that Managua and Jinotepe combined will be caring for a total of 35 children.
   
• The following facilities have already been completed in Jinotepe:
  • The first two children's homes, one for boys, and one for "young" children between 6 and 8 years old.
  • A short-term team center that can accommodate up to 50 people
  • A basketball/soccer court and playground
  • A swimming pool
  • A vocational training center with facilities for auto repair, carpentry, and electrical repair

Under Development

• Over the next two years, we anticipate building three new homes on the Jinotepe campus. When completed, the Jinotepe campus will include a total of five homes: two for boys, two for girls, and one for the youngest children (typically those who have been most recently received). About 50 children will then be able to live on the Jinotepe campus, in addition to another 15 children at our house in Managua, which will eventually become a "transition home" for children who are "graduating" from our program.
   
• Once all of the planned facilities are constructed in Jinotepe, we may also consider adding a baseball field and/or other facilities to complement our programs for the children

Blogs

• Emilio Padilla: Our national director in Nicaragua, Emilio Padilla, and his wife Gladys, have spent most of their lives in Nicaragua and have been directing the Arms of Love ministry for more than five years. Emilio's personal blog posts frequent updates and photos from the Arms of Love ministry, and shares Emilio's personal perspectives on the ministry, its progress, and its impact on his native country of Nicaragua. To view the blog or post comments, click here.