This month, we held our first training for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) community volunteers at the AMOS campus. We had the joy to host this group of wonderful women and men for 5 days. It was a time for sharing experiences and learning together. Check out some photos from this great week below. On Sunday,…
Read MoreOur First Health Fair in Villa Guadalupe!
For the first time ever, we held a Health Fair in Villa Guadalupe! Since 2019, AMOS serves the vulnerable neighborhood of Villa Guadalupe (where the city dump is located) through one of our clinics. Most families living in this community live in severe poverty and very vulnerable conditions. That is why we were so happy…
Read MoreOne smile at a time!
Thanks to the support of our wonderful donors, AMOS offers low-cost dental health services 3 days a week at the Samaritan Clinic located in Nejapa. This program seeks to help people who do not have the financial resources to care for their dental health. But, besides offering treatments, we also aim to prevent dental problems….
Read MoreFinding A Way For Hope… For Yosai
This holiday season, one of our wishes for you is HOPE. A life lived and led by hope. And that is our wish for every single person in the 25 vulnerable communities we serve in Nicaragua, including Yosai, a one-year-old baby boy living in El Bambu, one of the most remote communities in the South…
Read MoreMore than one way to bring hope…
Jen was alone at home that day. Her husband woke up early to go work on the fields. Even though she was 34-weeks pregnant, she was still having nausea, and decided to lay on bed for a while. But…she woke up to pain in her belly and lower back. Soon it had spread to all…
Read MoreA Health Promoter Training looks like this!
A Health Promoter Training is a week of intense learning, both in theory and practice. During these days the Health Promoters have a space to share about their experiences, doubts, concerns, challenges and to provide and receive feedback. Last week, they had the chance to learn about how to care for wounds and burns, equipment sterilization, children rights protection…
Read MoreVolunteering in Nicaragua: A testimony
Marisol Cortez came to Nicaragua to serve alongside us for 2 months. Below, we share with you some of her thoughts about serving with AMOS in rural and urban Nicaragua. Marisol is 21 years old and a senior majoring in Biochemistry and Medical Studies at Bates College. She is with International Ministries and is pursuing her dream of missionary…
Read MoreLearn about our new pilot program!
This year, AMOS launched its Sexual and Reproductive Health Pilot Program in Matagalpa. One of our main goals is to work with community leaders to reduce teen pregnancy, diseases, and maternal deaths through educational fairs. This Pilot Program came as a response to a need identified by local leaders in the 6 communities we serve in Matagalpa, who asked for help and support to…
Read MoreTraining community health leaders: Pánfila
Pánfila, Health Promoter Candidate from Nacascolo, is one of the many community health leaders currently in training to support the work of current Health Promoters or step up to that role if needed. A few weeks ago, she shared about her and her challenges in this process: “I am 25 years old. I was born…
Read MoreYou help children in rural Nicaragua!
A testimony from Isabel Peralta, Health Promoter from La Consulta “Two children – ages 4 and 5 – arrived sick to the community clinic. They were cousins. They came with one of their dads and an aunt. They live in a nearby community, called El Caimito. They had walked all the way to La Consulta hoping to…
Read MoreSharing Hope with José Gabriel
José Gabriel, an 88-years old patient in Nejapa, had 7 children with his wife. Sadly, she passed away three years ago. He enjoys reading the Bible and other books while sitting in his wheelchair at the entrance of his house. José Gabriel has lived in a sector of Nejapa near the Samaritan Clinic for 43 years. This Clinic…
Read MoreMeet Dr. Pedro Pérez!
Dr. Pedro León Pérez is our new Health Programs Manager. He brings with him 15 years of experience working at the Ministry of Health of Nicaragua -both at the local and national level-, as well as 15 years working in the nonprofit sector for the wellbeing of children. Scroll down to learn more about him. What moved…
Read MoreHope for moms in El Bambú!
El Bambú is a rural, remote community located in the South Caribbean Coast region of Nicaragua. It is two hours away from the nearest health center and about four hours away from the closest hospital. There are no doctors and no drugstore in the community. Last year, there were 2 pregnant moms in El Bambú: Olmani and Doris. José visited them…
Read MoreMercedes: A life change towards health and hope
Two months ago, we visited different homes in Nejapa, so that patients who could not travel to the Samaritan clinic could receive medical attention and emotional support while undergoing treatment for their chronic illnesses. Scroll down to learn about the story of Mercedes, a patient suffering a chronic illness who lives in the area surrounding AMOS’…
Read MoreMeet our new Health Promoter: Luis
Luis Antonio Tercero Gómez is the new Health Promoter of La Pimienta, a rural, remote community in Chinandega. He has lived all his life in his community and he has always been aware of the changes there. That is why he felt motivated to serve the people he has shared his life with. After the previous Health…
Read MoreWilmer needed urgent help…
During the visit of a mission team that came to install a solar panel system in the El Socorro community clinic, a man named Wilmer arrived with a serious hand injury from an accident while cutting a tree. Wilmer, like many people in the community, works as an assistant laborer and was helping to cut…
Read MoreWhy Providing Water Filters is Not Enough
Kertin Midence, our WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Program Coordinator talked to us about the importance of educating families, how training WASH promoters fits in the strategy to reduce disease, and some of the plans for this year. “There will be 4 sets of educational materials. The first one will focus on the goals and…
Read MoreCommunity Empowerment Builds a Bridge to Safety
Sandra was 6-months pregnant with her second child when she felt severe back and abdominal pain. She remembered that the health promoter in her rural community of El Socorro, Isaac Fley, had taught her this was a sign of alarm. She sought urgent help and her husband went looking for Isaac, who told them she…
Read MoreEvery face brings HOPE!
Our team visited the remote, rural community of El Socorro. Our Communications Coordinator, Pedro Cortez, shares his personal reflection below. Discovering the path of community development in the mountains of Nicaragua. “I have always thought that getting to know a person takes more than just a glance. Observing someone requires patience and empathy to discover…
Read More15 Stories of Hope: 15 of 15… Anita’s!
It’s been a great joy to share 15 stories of hope during these past weeks. Thank you for your incredible support to improve the health of families in need in Nicaragua and for walking this journey with us for 15 years. We count on you to continue advancing our mission to prevent and treat diseases in 25 vulnerable communities. This last story of…
Read More15 Stories of Hope: 14 of 15… Belkis’!
This week, we invite you to read this story of hope about a mother who had her prenatal and postpartum check-ups with us. This week’s story of hope is about Belkis, a woman who receives medical care at the Villa Guadalupe Clinic. Belkis is 31 years old and has lived all her life near Villa…
Read More15 Stories of Hope: 13 of 15… Ana Carolina’s!
This week, we invite you to read a story of hope about a family who has learned about responsible parenting while coping with loss and grief. This week’s Story of Hope is about Ana Carolina, a woman who takes part in the Parenting With Love program. Ana Carolina is 29 years old, she is single, and although she…
Read More15 Stories of Hope: 12 of 15… Sara’s!
Can you imagine living without clean drinking water? That’s a reality for many families in rural communities in Nicaragua. That is why AMOS’ WASH program has helped many people gain access to safe water to improve their health and live better lives. This week, we share with you a Story of Hope made possible by…
Read More15 Stories of Hope: 11 of 15… Aura’s!
We want to share with you one of our stories of hope from the community of Tapasle. This story took place in 2020 and it is an example of how your support throughout the years has been invaluable in helping our Health Promoters offer health care to people in need. This week’s story of hope is about…
Read More15 Stories of Hope: 10 of 15… Lilliam’s!
This past month, AMOS led educational activities focused around Breast Cancer Awareness with our support groups. Today we’ll share with you one more example of how your support makes medical exams more accessible to patients in need. This week’s story of hope is about Lilliam, one of our newest patients at the Samaritan Clinic, who is staying…
Read More15 Stories of Hope: 9 of 15… Petronilo’s !
Today we share with you Petronilo’s story of motivation. His work as a Health Promoter impacts the quality of life of the people in his community, and for him, his role as a servant is a priority, no matter his own problems or circumstances. Petronilo’s love for his brothers and sisters inspires us! Thank you…
Read More15 Stories of Hope: 7 of 15… Patricia’s!
This week, we share a testimony from Patricia in 2016. Read below how her life challenges inspired her to care for her community. Patricia lives with her 2 children and her sister in Nejapa, the semi-urban community in Managua where AMOS is based. She has been a Nejapa community health educator – or consejera in Spanish – since…
Read More15 Stories of Hope: 8 of 15… You gave us hope!
Today, we remember how your support lifted us and strengthened us in a time of crisis. In 2018, Nicaragua was affected by civil unrest, but thanks to you, we were able to continue helping families in need access health care and give them much-needed hope. Our hearts warm to remember the outpouring of love and support we got from people like…
Read More15 Stories of Hope: 6 of 15… Ada Luz’s!
This week, we share with you a story from 2018. Ada Luz’s story of hope shows how your support prepares Health Promoters to treat diseases and face health emergencies in their communities. Thanks to your help, Ada Luz can continue to work to prevent child deaths and ensure that the mothers from Apantillo can see their…
Read More15 Stories of Hope: 5 of 15… Jose’s!
Today, we share with you Jose’s story of hope – a story of a man who turned his grief into a motivation to help his community live healthier and have hope. It was a Sunday of August 2019, and Jose was at the community clinic in El Bambu. There were around 20 patients waiting. Because of the rainy…
Read More15 Stories of Hope: 4 of 15… Silvina’s!
We are sharing one of the many stories of hope from Silvina – a story of women supporting women – and just one example of how your support over the past 15 years has brought communities together to save lives. “There are always several pregnant women in my community of Calderón. One day, a pregnant woman…
Read More15 Stories of Hope: #3 of 15… Isaac!
In March 2016, two young children arrived at the community clinic in El Socorro, Matagalpa, with severe skin problems. When Isaac Fley, the AMOS-trained Health Promoter in the community, saw the sores, he recognized that they could be from a disease called leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease spread by the bites of sand flies. There…
Read More15 stories of Hope: #2 of 15… Candida!
Candida lives in the community of El Cedro, 2.5 hours away from the community clinic, and 12 hours away from the health center in El Ayote, the closest town. Her family raises and sells a few hens and pigs. This is the only income in the house. In 2017, Candida was 33 years old and…
Read More15 Stories of Hope: #1 of 15… Santiago!
This year, AMOS is celebrating our 15th anniversary! Thanks to your support over the past 15 years, we have learned so much, overcome numerous challenges, and saved countless lives along the way. As we turn the page to our next chapter, we want you to know how much your support means to us and the more than…
Read MoreHow You Help Diego and Sobeydin
A couple of weeks ago, our team visited the community of Tierra Blanca, in Boaco. And, even though this community is just a couple of hours away from Managua, its population lives in vulnerable conditions. We give thanks to Yadira Sevilla, Health Promoter in Tierra Blanca, and to all the families who welcomed us into…
Read MoreStories from the field: Giving hope to Sandra
Sandra is 21 years old and lives in the community of El Socorro, Matagalpa, where she was born and raised. Currently, Sandra lives with her partner in a house they share with her partner’s parents. There, she is in charge of cooking, washing, and cleaning, while the rest of the household members work for a…
Read MoreYou are supporting Parenting With Love in Nicaragua!
Over the past few years, social and economic factors like the downturn of the economy and food and medicine shortages have created barriers for mothers and children to lead healthy lives. Many families have faced new challenges brought on by this difficult context, and others are simply unfamiliar with practices that can best facilitate physical,…
Read MoreYou Bring Hope to Fila Grande!
A couple of months ago, in the remote community of Fila Grande in Matagalpa, Kenia’s 18-month-old son, Jairo, got sick. Kenia, who also has an older daughter, is a single mom. She lives in poverty, but she feels blessed to have some support from her parents. Kenia was extremely worried about Jairo. But she remembered…
Read MoreParenting With Love: A program that is transforming families!
José is 27 years old and lives in the semi-urban community of Nejapa with his partner, Michelle. Michelle is a young mother who has become a community leader and a guide for other mothers in the community. As a Volunteer Mother of the Parenting with love program, Michelle has not only influenced her neighbors, but…
Read MoreYou Help Us Care For Vulnerable Children!
In the community of Nejapa, where AMOS’s headquarters is located, most families struggle to meet their basic needs, like accessing nutritious food, clean water, and medical care. That’s why your support to the Samaritan Clinic is so important! You help the Samaritan Clinic offer high-quality health services as well as free medications to patients in…
Read MoreMother’s Day Stories: Meet Migdalia and Melissa
Melissa and her grandmother Migdalia, visited the Dental Clinic this week because Melissa was in a lot of pain. Migdalia has been taking care of her grandchildren for years now, and for Melissa, Migdalia is like her mother, the person who cares for her everyday. Melissa is 17 years old. She is in high school,…
Read MoreMother’s Day Stories: Meet Gabriela
Gabriela Cortez is 27 years old, and serves her community as a Volunteer Mother. Gabriela explains: “I have lived in the area of Nejapa all my life. Three years ago, I moved to a sector in Nejapa called Villa Ferrufino. There, I live alone with my husband and children.” Villa Ferrufino is a new sector…
Read MoreYou Help Petronilo Care for Johana!
Johana is 45 years old and lives in the community of Fila Grande, in Matagalpa. AMOS has been working alongside this community for years. In fact, late Dr. Gustavo Parajón (AMOS co-founder) started working with them in an AMOS predecessor organization. A couple of weeks ago, when we visited Johana at her home, she shared with us about…
Read MoreWhy Clean Water Can’t Wait
Together, we have accomplished so much. But there are still thousands of families who desperately need access to clean water. At AMOS, we believe that clean water is a basic human right! Will you make a donation today to give, save, and sustain life through giving the gift of clean water?
Read MoreCelebrate World Water Day with AMOS!
Perhaps you have never given much thought to clean water. You open a faucet to fill your glass or you buy a bottle at your local store. Clean water is always right there – whenever you need it… But in countries like Nicaragua, thousands of impoverished families – including young children, pregnant moms, and vulnerable patients – drink from…
Read MoreClean Water Means the World to Aliseth…
Aliseth lives in the rural community of Rancho Pando with her husband and their four children, ages 2, 5, 8, and 15 years old. “We used to collect water from a nearby well, which is about half a mile away. We would drink our water directly from there, no matter how dirty it was. And,…
Read MoreTimotea Romero: Her Story of Empowerment!
Timotea Romero, Health Promoter in the rural community of San Onofre, has been serving her community for many years now. She first started serving her community alongside PROVADENIC – AMOS predecessor organization founded by late Dr. Gustavo Parajón– and her passion for service has only grow stronger over the years. Watch the video below and…
Read More“Mommy, I am afraid to die… Mommy, I can’t take it anymore.”
Reyna’s heart shrank hearing her daughter in so much pain. She herself was in terrible pain, too. Fever, vomiting, diarrhea with blood, acute stomachache. Reyna looked around as she lay on her bed. Her 6, 10, and 15-year-old daughters all lay there, too, one holding her belly and crying. Her husband was on the ground,…
Read MoreAt AMOS, we believe in the power of restorative practices!
Since the beginning of AMOS, our co-founder, late Dr. Gustavo Parajón, implemented practices to promote peace and respect not only among our staff, but also among the communities we serve. Over the past years, AMOS has been blessed to partner with experts on Restorative Practices, such as Miguel Tello, Latin American representative for the Training and Consulting…
Read MoreThank you for helping Yahaira and her two kids!
Recently, Yahaira visited the Samaritan Clinic in Nejapa because her daughter has cavities. She is the mother of two children, a girl of nine and a boy of four years old. Yahaira has visited the clinic before whenever her kids have been sick. For her, the Samaritan Clinic is the best option because it is close…
Read More“I was their only hope to see their child recover and healthy again…”
You are helping us save lives in rural Nicaragua! Aura Rivera is the Health Promoter in the rural community of Tapasle, Matagalpa (pictured left). Recently, Aura shared with us the story of a child who needed urgent help. “I got an emergency call,” explained Aura. “They were asking me to go visit a three-year-old boy who had diarrhea and…
Read MoreDid you know AMOS is training new Health Promoters?
Starting this year, the Primary Health Care team is training 2 people from each of the 23 communities. This is what you have helped us achieve so far: Training has begun in 21 out of the 23 communities you help us serve. 39 future Health Promoters have already begun their training. Out of these, 22 are women and 17 are…
Read MoreYou Are Planting Seeds of Esperanza for Aida!
Thanks to you, our AMOS scholarship program, Seeds of Esperanza, is bringing so much hope, happiness, and fulfillment to its beneficiaries. Because of your support, the program has grown and is currently providing scholarships to 9 active community leaders! Aida María Martínez is from the community of Banco de Sikia, located in the South Caribbean Coast Region of Nicaragua….
Read MoreYou help us treat children in rural communities!
Seeing their child sick is one of the most difficult experiences parents face. There is very little you can do once your child is in the hands of doctors, or in the case of families in rural Nicaragua you help us serve, in the hands of Health Promoters. Parents hope for the best and pray for God to…
Read MoreThank You for Helping Martha’s Girls Thrive!
Martha used to live in a sector far away from the community clinic in El Calderón, before she moved closer this year. She did not know about all the services offered there by Silvina Lainez, a long-time Health Promoter trained by AMOS. A few months ago, Martha’s daughters, who are 3 and 4 years old,…
Read MoreWhat does it mean being a Health Promoter? – Yadira Sevilla
“My name is Yadira del Carmen Sevilla Gaus, I was born in 1989 and I have a degree in nursing,” shares Yadira Sevilla, Health Promoter in the community of Tierra Blanca, Boaco. Some of you might remember her from previous emails and articles. Yadira was a recipient of the Seeds of Esperanza Scholarship Fund and…
Read MoreLetters from Mom – Sugey’s Story
As parents, we do everything we can to make sure our children can grow up healthy and strong. And when they grow older and begin leading their own lives, we continue to care for them, often putting their needs ahead of our own. Caring so deeply for our children can take a toll on us,…
Read MoreLetters from Mom – Sara’s Story
Poor moms in Nicaragua face incredible challenges in caring for their children. Read a letter from one of them. Dear Friends, My name is Sara. I live in the remote community of Apantillo, amid the mountains of Matagalpa, in Nicaragua. I am the proud mother of 22-month-old and 3-year-old boys. They are my biggest treasures…
Read MoreYou help save lives amid the pandemic!
This past year, we had the opportunity to collect a series of inspiring stories you made possible through your unwavering support. Ismael Sequeira, Health Promoter in the rural community of Banco de Sikia, located in the South Atlantic Region of Nicaragua, has shared with us a powerful testimony regarding the importance of having a stock…
Read MoreSparking Hope in Nicaragua
The following message was extracted from the AMOS Annual Report 2020. You can download the full report here. Letter from the Executive Director Every day in Nicaragua, people struggle to drink clean water, or afford even the most basic food items. Moms agonize with worry, with no means to take their sick children to hospitals…
Read MoreHow Teamwork Brings Hope to Sabalete
The rural, remote community of Sabalete, in the mountains of Matagalpa, has two Health Promoters: Pedro Pablo Guillén, an active and experienced Health Promoter; and José Alberto Obregón, a Health Promoter in training. Pedro Pablo explains the reason behind this: “The community of Sabalete is very large. Currently, there are 231 families, whose houses are…
Read MoreSilvina Laínez: “I was happy to continue serving my community…”
Last December, we had a chance to interview Silvina Laínez, Health Promoter in the community of El Calderón, Chinandega. Silvina is one of the Health Promoters that has served for the longest time. In previous interviews, she has mentioned how young she was when she was elected as Health Promoter by community members, and how…
Read More“You Helped Me Prevent Deaths”
Yadira Sevilla, Health Promoter in the community of Tierra Blanca, Boaco, reported this story in Fall of 2021. At the time, Yadira was pregnant with her first child. This past September, I visited a pregnant mom at her house to check on her. Her name is Antonia and she is 35 years old. She was…
Read MoreNicaragua Hurricane Relief – You Made it Possible!
In November of this year, amid an economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, Nicaraguan families were hit by two Category 4 hurricanes in less than a month. The devastation was unprecedented. The losses were great. But, amid despair, you gave hope. Your generosity reached over 1,200 families in 15 rural communities who were affected by catastrophic hurricanes…
Read MoreUrgent Help Needed For Hurricane Relief
2020 has not been a normal year for Nicaragua. After being hit by two Category 4 hurricanes amid the COVID-19 pandemic and a sociopolitical and economic crisis, Nicaragua needs health and hope now more than ever. We are still assessing the full extent of the devastation done by Hurricanes Eta and Iota. But we know the needs…
Read MoreAMOS Update #4 on the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nicaragua
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect everyone around the globe, we keep praying for the health and safety of your communities and Nicaragua. And we are incredibly grateful for your ongoing support, friendship, and prayers. As of July 21st, Nicaraguan health authorities have officially confirmed 3,439 cases of COVID-19 within our borders and 108…
Read MoreRelief and hope in Francisco’s life
Francisco is 76 years old. He never married and has no children, so he lives with his three brothers and one sister in the Villa Guadalupe neighborhood. Together, they care for one another as they are the only family each of them has. For the past nine months, Francisco has struggled with severe knee pain, worsening…
Read MoreOvercoming the Struggles of Postpartum Loneliness
“I felt alone and sad. I wanted to cry, but I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Then, before I realized it, I was already crying, feeling like no one was there for me,” shared Heidy Hernández, a 37-year-old mother who gave birth to her fourth child seven months ago. Heidy has been a volunteer…
Read MoreThe AMOS Mission Experience at a glance
Read below a testimony from Bruce Van Der Beek, a member from the 52 Weeks of Hope Club who was recently in Nicaragua! I recently completed the 10-day AMOS Mission Experience. A team of delegation volunteers, plus AMOS staff and IM Global Servant Christy Lafferty traveled from Managua to the communities of Banco de Sikia…
Read MoreCare Groups are back in Nejapa!
Urban Health Educators are making a significant impact by leading Care Groups again in Nejapa with patients who suffer chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension. These groups offer an important space for patients to meet regularly, share their experiences, and learn together, to improve their health and quality of life. AMOS staff has trained…
Read MoreThis was a happy surprise for him!
Ignacio de Jesus Torres is 65 years old. He first came to the clinic after his sister recommended it. “She said it was a really good clinic and that it was affordable”, shared Ignacio. Ignacio came to the Samaritan Clinic looking for a general physician, but he was happily surprised to see dental care was…
Read MoreShe’s living her calling
“My name is Isabel Toruño Sequeira and I have been a technician in the Sexual and Reproductive Health Program for the past year. I was attracted to AMOS because of its focus on teaching and the possibility of sharing my knowledge, that is why I left my previous job focused on primary health care. After 8 years…
Read MoreHolding onto Hope for Maura
“There is nothing else to do, we have no hope of her surviving. Please contact the mayor’s office and help us get a coffin to mourn her.” When Ada Luz Montenegro, AMOS-trained Health Promoter in Apantillo, heard this from the parents of 11-year-old Maura, she was astonished but refused to give up hope for the…
Read MoreBaby Benjamin found Hope in our Health Promoter
Benjamin is a sweet and resilient 2-year-old boy from the rural community of El Bambu, in the South Caribbean Coast Region of Nicaragua. Benjamin lives with his parents and three siblings, and like any child his age, he is full of energy and curiosity. However, not long ago, Benjamin fell seriously ill. His worried mother…
Read MoreServing in Nicaragua: a life-changing experience!
Last month we welcomed Shwetha Sudhakar and Mackenzie Cater, who are both in internal medicine-pediatrics residency in Cleveland. During their in Nicaragua, they went up in the mountains in Nicaragua to participate in a Health Fair and delivered water filters. They also cared for patients in our urban clinics in Managua, did home visits to…
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