Nicaragua is the largest but most sparsely populated of the Central American nations, Nicaragua borders on Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. It is slightly larger than New York State. Nicaragua is mountainous in the central and west. Two big lakes, Nicaragua and Managua, are connected by the Tipitapa River. The Pacific coast is volcanic with some fertile regions. The swampy Caribbean coast is aptly called the Mosquito Coast."

The country has been described as a unique clash of sights, cultures, and geographies with the frustrations of a poor economy, deteriorating environment and unwieldy political situation. As the second poorest country in the western hemisphere Nicaragua's public infrastructure is critically underdeveloped.

The World Bank reports that over 40% of its population lives in Absolute Poverty. This extreme poverty is overwhelmingly rural with large concentrations in the Central Mountainous region. 



The population is just over 5 million. A serious shortage of medical coverage exists. The less than thirty public hospitals serving the entire country is an interesting testimony to the quality of life that the most vulnerable components of the residents endure. There are less than 3.7 doctors for every 10,000 Nicaraguans.
 



The Nicaraguan Farm Development Program is set up to support projects that evolve out of Rancho Ebenezer, an 85 Acre facility located at Niquinomo, east of Managua. These projects spring off Ebenezer's core animal husbandry program and include: agricultural development, Veterinary Medicine, Health clinics, and village farm development. Plans are to add reforestation and fish farming when funding becomes available. CODEP type management systems utilizing results orientation, structured management, accountability, measurable rates of return etc. are being added. 
 
According to the World Food Program, Nicaragua is considered to be one of the 14 countries in the world with an seriously precarious food supply situation. Some 45% of children in Nicaragua suffer from one kind of nutritional deficiency or another with the poor in the mountainous regions hit the hardest.

The school systems see tens of thousands of children held at home by parents who lack any source of income. Many Nicaraguans have difficulty paying for food, let alone school supplies.

Though rich in beauty and natural wonders, Nicaragua is ill prepared to face its problems of famine, under-education, social marginalization, and human underdevelopment.