“When I do these exercises with my baby, I feel like she gets stronger,” Magdalena told us with a smile, cradling her two-month-old daughter. “Also, I massage her before bed and she becomes so relaxed that she sleeps through the night.”
Magdalena with baby Alani and Vera
Nurse Dulce demonstrates child stimulation exercises
Magdalena is one of about twenty young mothers and pregnant women participating in One Life at a Time, a life-changing program run by Hogar Luceros, a Kenoli partner based in Camoapa, Nicaragua. The program is designed for women living in extreme poverty, many of whom are single mothers. Its mission is simple yet profound: to nurture and support children and mothers during the first 1,000 days of life—from conception to a child’s second birthday—a critical window for lifelong development.
Backed by scientific research, the program emphasizes nutrition, early stimulation, and emotional bonding. Mothers learn about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding in the early months, and how proper nutrition and simple developmental exercises can build a foundation for healthy, thriving children. For mothers like Magdalena, the program has brought more than just knowledge—it’s brought confidence, connection, and peace of mind.
“Without this program,” she said, “I wouldn’t have known how to give my baby these kinds of opportunities. I feel respected here, and I’m learning so much.”
But Hogar Luceros doesn’t stop with babies. The center offers a wide range of support for children and youth in the community: school assistance, homework support, art and computer classes, English lessons, and more. It’s a place where learning, laughter, and possibility grow side by side.
At Hogar Luceros, young mothers gather with their babies, children arrive for their classes, and there’s a sense that everyone who enters this space is seen, valued, and given a chance to flourish.
Hogar Luceros is not just programs —it’s a place of hope, of healing, and of new beginnings. And it’s making a difference, one life at a time.