Groups Aid Central America Children

Many organizations, both local and international, help Central American children in various ways. Here are some of them:

American Friends of Children--Created by John Wetterer, a former New York bank personnel executive from Massapequa, N.Y., who went to Guatemala City to start a home for about 30 boys. He now has about 250 in the home, popularly known as Mi Casa (My House); 300 in a school for boys unable to attend school otherwise, because of poverty or home conditions, and 75 in another home that was turned over to him.

- Childhope--An international voluntary organization that brings together groups working to help street children and encourages local leaders to take preventive action. Founded in New York by representatives of the Christian Children’s Fund, the World Council of Churches, Covenant House and other organizations, its headquarters is in Guatemala City.

- Enfants Refugies du Monde--A private French organization, it sends volunteer teams to provide education and health care for refugee children and to set up programs to improve living and working conditions. It has worked in eight countries, including Mexico and four Central American countries.

- Guatemala Lions Club--Its main project is the Children’s Community of San Juan Sacatepequez, a hospital for critically malnourished children. In addition to medical attention, the children also receive clothes and other care.

- Oscar Arnulfo Romero Community, El Salvador--Known as COAR, it cares for and educates 209 war orphans with assistance from Caritas and Friends of COAR in Cleveland, Ohio. The children live in family-type units while administrators search for their relatives in refugee camps.

- S.O.S. villages in El Salvador--Part of S.O.S. Kinderdorf International, it has four villages with a total of 275 children in the country. They live in units with a substitute mother and are cared for and educated until they become independent.