150,000 (reasons to go)
Bordered by Guatemala, Honduras, and the Pacific ocean, the tropical beauty and lush vegetation is striking upon first seeing El Salvador. Home to just under 7 million people, El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America and has the highest population density. Regardless of it's natural beauty, the orphaned children of El Salvador struggle due to a lack of resources.
Visiting Orphans seeks to help "the least of these" in El Salvador; the children who have no family. The government is unable give the children the necessary care that they deserve and many children are stuck in an orphanage with no hope of a family.
Take, Alejandro, an 11 year old Salvadorian boy who was abandoned at birth. He has been in various orphanages his entire life and at the age of 12 is about to be moved to another orphanage. He wants a family, but his case sits in a government backlog. At Visiting Orphans we not only want to provide Alejandro support for his daily needs, we want to be his advocate for a family. All it would take is someone speaking up for him, getting the necessary paper work done, getting a judge to hear his case, etc. etc.
This is the role we believe the Church should take in orphans' lives in El Salvador. Not to just provide support for the daily needs of children living in orphanages, but to advocate for each child's right to a family.
If you or your church are interested in truly investing in the lives of orphans in El Salvador, then we want to have you! Join us on a trip and come see what its like. We promise you will never be the same.
General Trip Itinerary:
Trips to El Salvador generally last about a week.
Day 1: Arrive in El Salvador. Your team will be met by your guide and will bus to your destination.
Day 2 - Day 5: This is the heart of your trip. Your days will be spent playing sports, doing arts and crafts, teaching school, or working on improvement projects for the orphanage. This is when your most fond memories will be made with children you will never forget.
Day 6: Spend a day taking in the sites of San Salvador. Shopping at a local market and visiting the beautiful churches is a must.
Day 7: Return home with a new motivation to improve the lives of the children you met.
Country Facts:
Full Name: Republic of El Salvador
Population: 6.7 million
Language: Spanish
Religion: 75% Roman Catholic, 20% Protestant
Currency: US dollar