The AMOR project.

The ‘Fundacion Monsenor Oscar Romero para la Ninez Maltratada en El Salvador' was founded in 1996 by Bron Soan and Coralia Orellana, social workers working with street children in San Salvador. Known as AMOR (which is Spanish for "love") the foundation is registered as a charity in El Salvador (Ref 23115144).

Living on the streets of the capital San Salvador are tens of thousands of destitute children who do not have the caring and comfortable homes that most people in the West enjoy. Some are abandoned by their families, some are neglected and abused at home by parents struggling to cope in conditions of appalling poverty. These children scrape a living by scavenging, begging and in some cases prostitution. They do not have access to basic health care and education, and are often hungry.

The Friends of AMOR is a group of UK supporters who help the work of AMOR by sending money, helping AMOR with its own fund-raising efforts, organising volunteer workers from the UK, and fostering links between AMOR and overseas organisations.

What does AMOR do?
• It runs a day centre in Mejicanos, a run down suburb of San Salvador, where up to 60 children can spend the day. They receive a nourishing meal, with education and play activities. Newcomers are given a basic health check and medical treatment is obtained when necessary. Children are helped to regain entry to regular schooling.
• Outreach work with poor families in the slum districts, helping families to develop caring relationships.
• It runs a 'safe house", with a resident carer, where up to 12 girls, at high risk of sexual or physical abuse at home, can spend the night.

'We are nine in the family - everyone sniffs glue except for me and my brother.. I love my brother because he defends me when they bit me. Often men and teenagers come to the house to drink. They all fight a lot."
"I live in a hut with my gran, brother, stepdad, mum and uncle. They often bit us and I have many scars. My brother and 1 were spending many days and nights on the streets. Now we spend all the time we are not in school at the centre. I like it at the centre because they love me and take care of my brother and me.'

Planned projects aim to give work experience and vocational training to the older children to give them the prospect of eventually escaping from poverty. The plans include a restaurant/craft shop and a car valeting service.

The 'Friends of AMOR' is now a registered charity with the name Aid for Children of El Salvador, (ACES), U.K.reg no 1082386. You can send a donation by cheque (payable to ACES) to Bron Soan (President and acting treasurer), Aid for Children of El Salvador, 8 Common Road, Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 4PU, United Kingdom.

As a registered charity ACES can claim a tax refund on any donations made by UK taxpayers. If you would like ACES to claim the tax back please say so when making your donation (giving your full name and address). You are asked to note that for your donation to be eligible for tax rebate you must pay in income or capital gains tax an amount equal to what can be reclaimed on your donation, currently 28p for every £1 you give.

• £20 buys a nourishing meal for ten children for a week
• £50 enables seven children to stay in school for a year
• £100 maintains the "safe house" for girls at risk of abuse for one month
• £250 pays the salary for one month of a social worker at the day centre for street children