Spanning over 2,000 miles of South America’s western coastline with deserts in the north, rainforests in the south, and the snowcapped peaks of the Andes Mountains ranging throughout, Chile is truly a nation of contrasts. Although politically progressive when it comes to human rights, Chile suffers from excessive inflation and an ever-increasing unemployment rate. Due to these economic realities, millions of Chileans are desperately poor.
Chile suffers from excessive inflation and an ever-increasing unemployment rate. Due to these economic realities, millions of Chileans are desperately poor.
Facts about Chile
- The capital of Chile is Santiago
- The currency is the Chilean Peso
- The population is 18 million
- The official language is Spanish
- Chile is the world’s longest country
- There are approximately 90 active volcanoes in Chile
- Easter Island officially belongs to the country of Chile
Facts about poverty in Chile
- Although Chile has a relatively low poverty rate of 14%, the problem lies in high rates of income inequality.
- There are approximately 75,000 Chilean children who do not attend school.
- Healthcare inequalities among the poor are a big issue in Chile meaning poor families often get low-quality services or none at all.
- Due to high rates of domestic violence in Santiago, many children flee their homes to live on the streets, where they struggle to find adequate food and water.
Where we work in Chile
In Chile, we are affiliated with three sites: The Handicapped Children’s Center, the Maipu Center and the Santiago Day School, all of which are located in Santiago.
Read more about our affiliated sites in Chile
New Teachers with Fresh Ideas in Chile
Easing the Burden on Families in Santiago
How you can help children in Chile
You can help a child living in poverty in Chile in a few different ways. One way is through our child sponsorship program. Sponsorship provides an underprivileged child with basic and education-related necessities such as food, clothing, healthcare, school supplies and school tuition payments.
This vital support allows impoverished, vulnerable children to develop to their full potential — physically, emotionally and socially. Sponsors positively impact the lives of the children they sponsor through the knowledge that someone cares about their wellbeing. This gives children in need hope, which is powerful.
Our policy has always been to consider the needs of each sponsored child on an individual basis. We work closely with our volunteer coordinators at our project sites in Chile, who are familiar with the individual circumstances and needs of every child in their care. Sponsorship donations are sent to our sites — orphanages, homes, community centers and schools — at the beginning of each month in the form of subsidy stipends. Our on-site volunteer coordinators use those funds to purchase items for children in our program, to ensure that they have what they need to do their very best and succeed in school.
We work closely with our volunteer coordinators at our project sites in Chile, who are familiar with each individual circumstance and the needs of every child in their care.
You can also help children in Chile by donating to one of our special funds. Our special funds offer a variety of giving options for sponsors who wish to further their support, as well as for donors who wish to make a difference without making a commitment. In the past, thanks to donations to our Hope In Action Fund and our International Feeding Program, we have been able to further support our projects in Chile beyond sponsorship.
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How do I sponsor a child in Chile?
You can sponsor a child in Chile in one of three ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members; email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org; or go online to our sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child in Chile that is available for sponsorship.