Xocholtlapan Area Program

Program Type

Community Development

Planned Life Cycle

2014 - 2029

Location

Nicaragua

Areas of Focus

WASH 

Program Timeline

Status: Active

Progress

2,023people participated in activities aimed at supporting child protection and ending violence against children

Progress

561people had access to safe drinking water

Progress

358people had access to sanitation facilities like toilets at home or school

A white jeep driving through a muddy path, featuring a rainbow and trees in the background.

Program Details

Context
Xocholtlapan is a community comprised of eleven smaller communities, in the province of Matagalpa. The Cálico river serves as the community's main water source, however it's highly polluted and in some areas, scarce. Xocholtlapan is found in a mountainous region, which creates different climate conditions within the community. For example, rainfall varies throughout the region with some parts receiving very little water. Soil erosion is a serious concern, especially in combination with forest degradation and water scarcity, which negatively impacts food and water sources. Crops grown in the region include maize, beans and sorghum. Many families in rural parts of the community live in severe poverty—often earning only $2 per day. Chronic malnutrition affects 27 per cent of children under the age of five....
Challenges
Health
In Xocholtlapan, children face health challenges for a variety of different reasons. Food is sometimes scarce and parents don't always know how or why to incorporate a variety of healthy foods. Farming yields a limited variety of crops, meaning important nutrients are missed in children's diets. Parents buy food that is filling, but not nutritious if they don't have enough money. As a result, many children in the community are malnourished. Health care isn't easily accessible—in the wider region there is one doctor for every 4,500 residents—and parents don't know how to determine when their children need to see a doctor. Children often suffer from diarrhea due to poor sanitation and hygiene practices in the community, and diseases spread easily due to lack of preventative hygiene measures like hand washing. Respiratory illnesses in children are also very common.

Education
From early on, preschoolers often aren't enrolled in daycare, missing valuable early childhood education support. As children develop, parents sometimes struggle to afford the school supplies or uniforms children need to attend school. Children who do attend school regardless are sometimes bullied by their classmates. Schools themselves lack necessary equipment and supplies to provide a quality education for students. Teachers need more training to help them be effective and parents need to know how they can better support their child's education. Given the number of challenges, it's not uncommon for children to drop out of school altogether to work and help provide income for their families.

Child Protection
Child protection is a major cause for concern in the region. Drug and alcohol abuse are common issues that lead to unhealthy home environments. Harsh physical and verbal discipline methods are widely seen as normal, as many adults have suffered similar treatment growing up.

Many children are raised by single, working mothers, who must rely on secondary family members who don't always use healthy parenting techniques for support. Parents often do not apply for birth certificates for their children. This puts children at extreme risk of having their rights violated, as the government has no record of them and can't monitor their well-being, ensure their rights and privileges or entitle them to benefits and services.

Natural disasters are lingering threat. Risks of earthquakes and flooding are ongoing and children are even more vulnerable in chaotic situations when they may become separated from their parents.
...
Plans

Health
World Vision will bring preventative health care to more children by:

  • Running vaccination and deworming clinics to ensure children have the best chance at staying healthy
  • Implementing home and school gardens to teach parents how to grow and cook healthy food for their families and increase the capacity of schools to provide free meals for students
  • Educating families on personal hygiene to prevent the spread of preventable illnesses

Education
World Vision will help children achieve their academic potential by:

  • Improving the quality of education, ensuring that more children are passing their grade level and graduating with age appropriate literacy skills
  • Increasing training for teachers and providing more tools and educational materials in schools
  • Implementing early childhood education initiatives like home visits to show parents how to begin teaching their babies and toddlers
  • Improving the physical spaces of preschools and enrolling more children aged 3 to 5
Child Protection
Working with parents in the community, we will help children feel safe and secure by:
  • Helping parents apply for birth certificates for their children to decrease their vulnerability
  • Educating parents about positive parenting techniques and healthy discipline
  • Teaching children how to spot signs of danger or abuse and providing information on what to do
  • Promoting child rights to involve the participation of children in decision-making
  • Instituting violence prevention and natural disaster preparedness programming in schools
...
An image of children sitting on the ground in a classroom, writing in workbooks.

Results

Unless otherwise stated, data presented on this page reflects the most up-to-date results of World Vision Canada programs reported between October 2022 and September 2023, and any previous fiscal years available. Previously reported data may not match the current presentation as we continuously receive and refine data from our programs. If you have any questions, kindly reach out to us.