® Country Overview 2 The NPH Home 3 Visitor’s Guide: Travel Tips 5 Suggested Packing List 7 NPH El Salvador Contact Information 9 Country Overview Google Guide Sources: The CIA World Factbook, Fodor’s Travel, Lonely Planet.com, UNICEF El Salvador is the smallest A Brief History Central American country, and the only one without As early as 10,000 years ago, known as la Mantanza (the Massacre) a Caribbean coast. El Salvador was inhabited by Paleo- with the death of 30,000 people. After Indian peoples. At the time of the this, the nation became a military-run th Area: 8,124 square miles Spanish arrival in the 16 century, the state that formed a corrupt partnership – slightly smaller than country was dominated by a group with the land-owning elite. called the Pipils. In 1524, Spanish Massachusetts conquistador Pedro de Alvarado arrived, Poverty, unemployment and and by the 1700s the Spaniards had overpopulation were extensive Population: 6,172,011 (July 2017 estimate) overtaken the land and prevailed with throughout the country. The political their agricultural endeavors. In 1811, climate was a fierce power struggle the first revolt against Spain erupted between the left and right, which Spanish, Languages: but failed. However, only 10 years later, spurred many coups, corrupt moves Nahua (among some on September 15, 1821, El Salvador, and increased guerilla activity by the Amerindians) along with the rest of the Central domineering right wing, such as the American colonies, won independence creation of “death squads” where from Spain. thousands of people were kidnapped, murdered and tortured. This About half of all children Despite El Salvador’s victory in widespread civil unrest turned into civil and youth are poor. establishing independence, social and war in the 1980s. Finally on January economic injustice plagued the country 16, 1992, a compromise was signed by well into the 20th century. The most the opposing sides. During the course Climate/Environment important crop is coffee, and by the of this 12-year war, approximately Mostly mountainous in 20th century, 95% of the country’s 75,000 people were killed. the north with a narrow income came from this crop, however coastal belt along the only 2% of the population controlled Although the country continues to face Pacific Ocean and a this wealth. In 1932, a rebellion of the economic disparity, there has been central plateau peasants and indigenous peoples took modest growth in recent years. Still, Tropical climate with place, but was brutally quelled with the social unrest is an issue with the most distinctly wet and dry systematic killing of anyone suspected recent trend in crime being a prevalent seasons by the military, resulting in what is gang problem. Known as “the Land of Volcanoes” - extremely Below: Government headquarters, Stelita/WikiCommons; San Salvador, Xtremesv/WikiCommons susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic activity and hurricanes Environmental issues include soil erosion, deforestation, water pollution and soil contamination Visitor’s Guide: NPH El Salvador • nphusa.org 2 EL SALVADOR The NPH Home As a result of the 12-year civil war and continuing violence and unrest, Father William B. Wasson saw the need to help El Salvador’s many neglected and orphaned children. He founded a Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH, Spanish for “Our Little Brothers and Sisters”) home in 1999. Located in Texistepeque, it is about 30 miles from San Salvador, the nation’s capital. Construction on Casa Sagrada Familia was completed in December 2004. Casa Sagrada Familia 1. Main entrance 2. School 3. Library and computer lab 17 4. Multipurpose room 5. Basketball court 16 6. Medical clinic 7. Offices 8. Dining hall and kitchen 9. Warehouse 14 15 10. Dormitories: babies 13 and day care 11. Dormitories: girls 12. Dormitories: boys 12 13. Soccer field 11 14. Workshops 15. Laundry 16. Waste water treatment plant 17. Farm land 10 9 8 7 5 6 3 4 2 1 200 ft. 100 m Google Visitor’s Guide: NPH El Salvador • nphusa.org 3 Daily Life Typical Day at Casa Sagrada Familia Highlights • The Groupo Musical y Danza performs traditional music and dances locally and in the U.S. 5:00 a.m. Wake up, shower, dress, make bed • The farm produces corn to make tortillas, sorghum for 5:30 a.m. Breakfast the livestock, and radishes, cucumbers and squash. The 6:15 a.m. Chores dairy cows produce 135 bottles of milk daily. 7:15 a.m. School day begins • The school features modern, well-equipped classes, 12 Noon Lunch and offers kindergarten through grade 9.The curriculum 1:30 a.m. School includes math, social science, science, language, spelling, 3:30 p.m. Change clothes and wash school English, computer science and physical education. uniforms • All students begin vocational studies during the 7th 5:00 p.m. Play time and homework grade and may choose from carpentry, tailoring, 6:00 p.m. Shower welding, and baking. 6:30 p.m. Dinner • A cooking workshop for children and youth with 7:30 p.m. Reflection and/or reading led by neurological problems and learning difficulties teaches the caregivers them valuable skills for their future. 8:00 p.m. Good night! • The clinic is open to people in the community three days a week as well as for emergencies. • A daycare center, Centro de Atención Infantil, was Godchildren opened in 2017. It currently serves over 43 children If you sponsor a child at NPH every day: some are from the local community and some El Salvador, arrangements will be are children of people who grew up at NPH. made for him/her to spend time with you during your visit. Please contact Responsibility your regional office if you are Responsibility is one of the most important values that NPH interested in becoming a Godparent. tries to instill in their children. This is why each child is expected to not only be responsible for him or herself, but to contribute to the family. This includes traditional chores such as washing clothes, cleaning, and serving food. Each child also has additional responsibilities after school and during the weekends. Some work in the gardens, while others care for the grounds and clean common areas. Everyone knows how much effort goes into caring for their home and all the people who live there. Before attending high school and university, pequeños are asked to give a year of service to the home. National Director Olegario Campos is an hermano mayor (“older brother”), who was raised at NPH Mexico. Visitor’s Guide: NPH El Salvador • nphusa.org 4 Travel Tips Please read NPH International’s Visitor Policy and Guidelines, Entry Requirements sign the form and return it to A U.S. passport valid until your your trip coordinator. Time Zone departure date and either a Salvadoran visa or a one-entry Central Standard Time While on day trips, we will eat in UTC/GMT -6 hours tourist card are required. The tourist card costs $10 payable in cash and restaurants where we are sure that may be obtained from immigration food will be prepared safely. officials upon arrival in country. All visitors are welcome to bring Vaccinations additional snacks to share. Be sure to Before traveling to El Salvador, bring things that can withstand hot and humid conditions and preferably When traveling abroad, we please consult your physician and are individually wrapped. recommend enrolling in visit www.cdc.gov/travel the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Transportation Water DRINK BOTTLED WATER ONLY. Enrollment Program • For group trips organized by This cannot be stressed enough. (STEP). This free service NPH USA, transportation will be helps the U.S. government provided by NPH. know where citizens are, • Do NOT hitchhike under any Bathroom Etiquette It is not possible to flush toilet paper so they can notify and circumstances. in most Latin American countries due assist them in case of to the poor plumbing systems. Toilet emergency. To enroll, visit Accommodations paper and all sanitary products must http://step.state.gov/step Lodging varies depending on trip package. See specific trip information be thrown in small waste baskets next or consult the coordinator for details. to the toilet. DO NOT flush toilet paper or sanitary products while Food visiting the NPH home. While at NPH facilities, we will eat Bring travel toilet paper, or a small The goal of the trip is to just like the children and staff at packet of facial tissues on day trips. have fun, experience the specific mealtimes: Tissue is not always available in culture of El Salvador and public bathrooms. meet the inspiring • Breakfast: 5:30 a.m. children of NPH. Each • Lunch: 12:00 p.m. traveler has so much to • Dinner: 6:30 p.m. Electricity Electrical outlets are 115 to 125 volt share with this great 60 hertz, so no adapters are needed. family and so much to Food at NPH is NEVER wasted. If you You should expect power outages, learn. We hope that each are unsure you will like what is being which are common in Latin America. visitor grows from their served, ask for only “un poquito” (a interactions with the little), and if you cannot finish, children we support, just please offer it to one of the kids. as your visit helps them to do the same. Visitor’s Guide: NPH El Salvador • nphusa.org 5 Travel Tips (continued) Terms to Know E-mail & Phones See page 9 for Good morning/afternoon/evening! - There is a laptop computer with Internet emergency contact ¡Buenos días/tardes/noches! in the office that you can use from 8 a.m. information.