Sí a la Vida rescues homeless kids in Nicaragua and helps them move from the world of the streets to a world of respect -- respect for themselves, for others, and for the environment. We invite you to learn more about Sí a la Vida and how this project works.

Current Updates

• Friendship Bracelets. Please check out our two new webpages about the Friendship Bracelets (pulseras) which are produced by the boys of Si a la Vida as a fundraising activity for the organization:
  Friendship Bracelets
  Friendship Bracelets Photos

• The Pulsera Project. Si a la Vida founder Jonathan Roise has established a working relationship with The Pulsera Project, a non-profit organization that supports young Nicaraguan artists of Los Quinchos and Sí a la Vida children's shelters through sales of their handmade bracelets. That organization has sold about 10,000 pulseras within the last year, most of which were produced by boys from Los Quinchos. The project is now buying from SALV and has revised its home page to reference the handicrafts produced by the SALV boys. More info available at www.pulseraproject.com

• Pulsera Sales. March was a big month for pulsera sales. The nascent support group in Australia organized by Martin Reilly sent us funds raised by selling pulseras in that country. Bob Royce had previously sent the Australians a large shipment of the bracelets.

• Social Justice Recognition. For the second year a Rainier Valley (Seattle, Washington) church’s social justice committee selected SALV as one of the recipient organization "that share our commitment to compassion, justice, and global stewardship, and that operate on low budgets." A nice kudo for the Nicaraguan staff. Funds were earmarked for recreational equipment.

• SALV 16th anniversary. Sí a la Vida celebrated its 16th anniversary in mid-February by inaugurating a social-cultural mural painted by the boys at the Managua house with guidance from an international volunteer. The anniversary announcement thanked all the friends and donors who have supported the project, which is now "looking at the fruits from the tree that has developed from the seeds we planted... which staff, volunteers, and the boys have nurtured by hand with watering, weeding, and fertilizing.... The boys play, study, laugh, sing, break open piñatas and munch on the candies."

• Newsletter Each year the project publishes an annual newsletter. Read the most recent (year-end 2009) online. 2009 Newsletter

• Renovation of dorm room completed. At the Sí a la Vida residence in Managua, called Casa Nuevo Amanecer, the boys moved into their new, second-floor bedroom in mid-October. Read more

• Construction of new residence on Ometepe nears completion. The Sí a la Vida residence on Ometepe Island enables former street kids to truly leave the streets of Managua. Now the dream of building a second residence on the island is becoming a reality, and will house an additional 16 former street kids. Read more

Last updated April 19, 2010