It is one of the poorest countries in Latin America with widespread unemployment and over half of the population living below the World Bank poverty line. Levels of violence are high, particularly violence against girls and women, as well as violent crime among young people.

The YMCA has been present in Nicaragua since 1989. Y Care International has been working in Nicaragua since 1990, in partnership with the National Council of YMCAs of Nicaragua. Our work with the YMCA has included vocational training and employment creation for disadvantaged youth, and building the capacity of youth-serving organisations to effectively address the needs of marginalised young people and their communities.