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La Chureca school program The Vocational Institute “Crecer” is a project that works through the Organization Christ for the Poor, with offices in Puerto Rico and Miami, FL. The Institute is focused to the training of young adolescents (men and women) of La Chureca and close neighborhoods. The main focus is to teach Carpentry, Plumbing, Electricity and Art from recyclable items of the garbage dumpsite of Managua. The Institute will be located in the common areas of St. Ann’s Church in Acahualinca, Managua, Nicaragua. |
Substance Abuse Program Drug addiction or pharmacological dependence is the compulsive use of controlled or illegal substances despite there negative or dangerous effects. On the other hand, drug abuse is also the use of drugs (legal and illegal) in an excessive manor, which is inconsistent with there medicinal value. |
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Health Education Programs The subject of abstinence as a method of prevention for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases has been one of much debate. Yet, for all of the discussion about its pros and cons, the fact still remains that selling the concept of abstinence as a method of prevention, at least in most of the countries of the western hemisphere, has not been successful. |
HIV and ABSTINANCE Studies show that the majority of those who are HIV-positive are likely to have major deficiencies of a slew of vitamins and minerals at different stages of the disease. A study at the University of Miami of 112 men who were HIV-positive, for example, found that 67 percent had at least one nutrient deficiency, while 36 percent had more than one. Thirty percent were deficient in vitamin B6, 30 percent in zinc, 20 percent in vitamin E, 16 percent in vitamin A and 11 percent in vitamin B12. Christ for the Poor provides nutritional education and vitamin supplements HIV infected residents of La Chureca. |
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In His Own Words- Daniel's StoryMy name is Daniel Santos Garcia Picado and I am 25 years old. I live in Managua, Nicaragua. I was born and raised in very poor and humble family. My mother raised me and my five siblings while working as a domestic servant. My brothers and I helped subsidized my Mama’s earnings by making and selling tortillas of the streets of DE Acahualinca a barrio de Managua. My father abandoned us since the time we were small children. He never supported us. At the age of twelve, I began working at the garbage dump called the La Chureca picking up discarded aluminum, iron, paper and anything else that could be sold to recycling outlets. |
Message from our FounderChrist for the Poor was born of God’s spirit. This spirit moved the hearts and minds of those whose concern it is to do their part in improving the future of humanity. As much as our world is a place of incomparable beauty, in many places, it is also one in which there exists war, hunger, sickness, and where many feel distanced and isolated from their fellowman. “Christ for the Poor” came into being because of a need to help thousands of those who are destitute. The example we have chosen to follow is that of our Lord, Christ Jesus. We want to help the deprived ones build a better future. Christ for the Poor’s goal is to bring hope and dreams back into the lives of these people. Christ for the Poor will do this by educating them through vocational programs and other learning plans suited to their circumstances. Our role model is Christ Jesus; our teacher and his words, our mandate. |
La Chureca
Over 175 families live in the Managua city dump, known as La Chureca. Many more come daily to comb through the piles of trash to find enough to sell to pay for food and other life necessities. There are severe respiratory and other health problems from breathing in the fumes from the smoking and burning piles of trash. Malnutrition is widespread and evident in the children’s swelled bellies and blond hair that lacks nutrients to maintain its natural dark color. STD's and prostitution are also a problem, and girls of all ages sell their bodies for money or other commodities. Many children and adults are addicted to sniffing shoe-glue, which helps suppress hunger and allows them to escape the reality of the life they are confined to in the dump. There are limited opportunities for these families for employment or residence outside the dump. They also often lack the motivation to take advantage of the opportunities that do exist, having become complacent with now dependent on their existence in the dump. The United Nations estimates that between 35 – 45 % of the Central American population live in gross poverty and extreme want. Dumpsites and hillsides are crawling with tens of thousands of squatters who put up dwellings of plastic and cardboard trying to eke out some measure of life. These primitive camps without electricity, sewers, or clean water exist along expressway roads and in the midst of cities.
Christ for the Poor - Our Mission
Christ for the Poor is a (pending)non-profit organization which helps educate the members of the communities that we serve, and to contributes to the development and growth of such communities. Our focus is to increase awareness of the need for education through active teaching. Additionally, we will provide vocational training as a way to empower the residents of La Chureca. Our Programs are not limited to La Churecan community but have growth to represent all disenfranchised community members in Nicaragua and Guatemala .
