Who runs Carita Feliz?
Who pays? Does the government help?
How much does it cost per child?
How is Carita Feliz different?
How and when did it start?
Are these children homeless? Orphans?
How big is the center and how many people use it?
Is it a school?
Where is Nicaragua? Isn't it dangerous?
Do you have a volunteer program? How can I help?

Who runs Carita Feliz?
The daily operations are led by Evelyn Bermúdez and her team. Meet them.

Who pays? Does the government help?
The center is funded entirely by Peder Kolind from private funds ("my right pocket", in his words). The exception is the sponsored classes which are donated by individuals to provide uniform and school fees for one year for 20-30 children.

How much does it cost per child?
As there is minimal administration (one person), the cost of the center’s activities are relatively small per child. For example, the cost per child per month of education, food, all salaries, taxes, utilities and maintenance is only $3. Most NGOs can only dream of such a per unit cost.

How is Carita Feliz different?
Since there are no religious or political affiliations in the center, the staff are accountable only to the children – there is no other agenda than improving their lives. More on the values of the center.

How and when did it start?
Carita Feliz began as a shed to feed children on a muddy street in Granada in March 2001. Read more

Are these children homeless? Orphans?
The children in the center are neither homeless nor orphans. In fact, they are perfectly normal children, most of which go to school and live with their parents. However, they lack the basic resources to break out of the poverty trap and that is the role of the center. Still curious about who the children are? Photos of the children and facts about how they live.

How big is the center and how many people use it?
In the past 4 years, the center has grown from 100 children to 1,500 members registered in January 2004. On any given day, about 1,000 people use the center.

Is it a school?
No. There are good schools in Granada and so this is an after-school center with a serious side for most children. There are a wide range of subjects taught at Carita Feliz that all focus on strengthening the children's future.

Where is Nicaragua? Isn't it dangerous?
Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America and is not dangerous. Read more

Do you have a volunteer program? How can I help?
All staff in Carita Feliz are paid and we have no volunteers. Whats more, all the people that work in the center are Nicaraguan and live locally. This has helped the local economy and built a sense of community spirit in the neighboring barrios. More about the organization of Carita Feliz and other ways you can help.