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Welcome to La Bendicion, El Salvador

 

About La Bendicion Area Development Program, El Salvador

La Bendicion Area Development Project is located in a small town. This area is a peaceful place with paved roadways, mud and bamboo homes, with a population of 15,430 people, mainly dedicated to agriculture and cattle. This area has a city hall, one health clinic, 11 schools and one institute.

For leisure they have one soccer field and one park. They have basic services such as water, electricity, telephone, internet, mail, and police forces.

  

   
El Salvador
 
Progress In La Bendicion
The La Bendicion ADP was started in 2002 and currently serves approximately 3,100 children, along with their families and community.

Recent accomplishments include:
Education
  • Installing computer technology centers, benefiting 400 children with access to modern technology.
Health
  • Educating more than 3,300 children in basic health issues, improving their health.
Food and Agriculture
  • Diversifying crops with over 300 families, improving their food security and increasing their income.
Water and Sanitation
  • Building a water tank and cistern, increasing access to safe water.
Spiritual Nurture
  • Organizing Christian activities, offering spiritual nurture to more than 800 children.
Economic Development
  • Supporting the establishment of small businesses, enabling people to generate income to support their families.
Birthday Celebration
  • Honoring 3,300 children with birthday parties, distributing snacks and toys, helping to improve self-esteem.

El Salvador and its people

Located on the Pacific Coast of Central America between Guatemala and Honduras, El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. Known as the “land of volcanoes,” it experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Natural resources include hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, and arable land.

Approximately 90 percent of the people are mestizo—of mixed Spanish and Native Indian descent. Spanish is the country’s official language.

Salvadorians are industrious people. Even those who are unemployed or live in dire poverty work hard to provide food, clothing, and other essentials for their families. Around 60 percent of people are employed in service occupations while 20 percent of adults are engaged in farming.

Agricultural products include coffee, sugar, rice, beans, cotton, shrimp, beef, and dairy goods.

Challenges in El Salvador

The economy depends on agriculture, relying on coffee for at least one-half of its exports. A rising tide of violent crime has negatively affected the country’s economy. El Salvador has the highest murder rate in the world, as well as a high incidence of child abuse—70 percent of children indicate they have been mistreated in their homes. Medical care for victims, restoration of material damages caused by crime, and protection of property have drained a large portion of federal resources.

At least four out of every 10 people live in poverty, and about half of all children and adolescents are poor. This severely limits their access to adequate nutrition, sanitation, and clean water.

More than 35 percent of the population live below the poverty line, and more than 40 percent live on less than $2 a day. Seventy percent of children aged 16 and 17 do not have access to secondary education.

Through sponsorship, World Vision is partnering with families and communities to help meet immediate needs and promote lasting changes that will strengthen communities and move families toward self-reliance.