Los Pequeños Hermanos in Ometepe

A Human Story Behind Unique Properties Now Available

The Origin of the Foundation

Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) — also known as Los Pequeños Hermanos — is an international humanitarian organization founded in 1954 by Father William Wasson.

It began with a simple but powerful moment: instead of punishing a hungry child who had stolen food, Father Wasson chose to care for him. That decision grew into a large organization dedicated to supporting vulnerable and abandoned children across Latin America.

Its mission has always been to provide:

• a stable home
• education and healthcare
• a family-like environment built on dignity and responsibility

🌎 Presence in Nicaragua and Ometepe

NPH began operating in Nicaragua in the early 1990s, during a time of economic hardship and social instability.

On the island of Ometepe, the foundation developed multiple centers and large properties, including:

• A site in San Marcos (northeast of the island, between Altagracia and Moyogalpa)
• Another center between Moyogalpa and San José del Sur

These locations were carefully chosen for their natural resources, accessibility, and agricultural potential.

🌱 A Unique Model: Orphanage + Agricultural Community

4

What made NPH in Ometepe truly unique was its self-sufficient, community-based model.

🏡 A Living Community

Rather than a traditional orphanage, it functioned as a structured community where children:

• lived together in family-style groups
• attended school on-site
• participated in daily responsibilities

🌾 Large-Scale Agricultural Operations

The properties — especially areas like San Carlos / San Marcos — were not small projects.
They were large, active farms with:

• crop plantations
• livestock breeding (pigs, chickens, and more)
• on-site processing facilities, including small-scale slaughterhouses

These operations helped:

• feed the community
• teach practical skills
• create a sense of responsibility and independence

👷 A Major Local Employer

Another important aspect often overlooked:

👉 Many local people worked for the foundation

These sites employed:

• farmers
• caretakers
• educators
• maintenance staff

At its peak, it was not just a children’s home — it was a full ecosystem, with a large number of workers and daily activity.

🔄 Why the Foundation Left Ometepe

Around the 2010s, NPH decided to reorganize its operations in Nicaragua and centralize activities on the mainland, particularly in Santa Teresa (Carazo).

As a result:

• the Ometepe sites were progressively closed
• the properties were later sold or transferred to private ownership

🏝️ Today: A New Opportunity with a Meaningful Past

These properties are not just land or buildings — they are places with history, purpose, and identity.

💡 A Unique Investment Perspective:

• previously developed land with infrastructure potential
• areas proven suitable for agriculture and self-sufficiency
• strong historical and emotional narrative

✨ Closing Thought

“These lands once offered a home, education, and hope to hundreds of children.
Today, they offer a rare opportunity to build something new —
while preserving the legacy of what they once represented.”

📚 Sources

• Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos – Official website: https://nph.org
• Wikipedia – Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuestros_Peque%C3%B1os_Hermanos
• NPH Nicaragua program overview: https://nph.org/es/nicaragua/
• Fundación NPH Nicaragua: https://fundacion-nph.org
• Article on rehabilitation programs in Nicaragua: La Prensa (historical coverage)

‍