Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest Central American country by area with Honduras bordering on the North and Costa Rica on the South. It has an estimated population of just over 6.2 million covering a total area of just over 130,000 km2.
The country is broken into 15 “departments” or “districts” and 2 autonomous regions with the top four most populace departments being Managua (location of the capital), Matagalpa, Chinandega, and Leon.
It ranks among the poorest countries in Latin America. The World Food Program estimates that, as of 2021, almost a quarter of the population lives in poverty.
At present HOLA employs Ministry of Health (MINSA) approved OBGYNs to work at MINSA clinics in Chacraseca and La Leona. Leon is the closest major city to all of these locations, with travel times ranging from 30 minutes to an hour.
HOLA volunteer teams have participated in and run spay/neuter and wellness clinics in the coastal community of Villa Del Carmen, Villa Guadalupe on the outskirts of Managua, and the city of Granada.
Our veterinary teams have also performed extensive work in the rural community of Miramar, located to the north of Leon.
Peru
Peru, the third-largest country in Latin America, is defined by remarkable geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity. Home to more than 34 million people across 26 administrative regions, the country is shaped by three distinct natural landscapes: the Pacific Coast, the Andean Highlands (La Sierra), and the Amazon Rainforest (La Selva). While this diversity contributes to Peru’s rich cultural identity, it also creates significant disparities in access to healthcare, particularly in rural and indigenous communities.
In April 2026, HOLA teams traveled throughout Peru to evaluate opportunities for future expansion. The delegation visited Lima and the community of Pueblo de Cristo in the district of San Juan de Lurigancho before continuing into the Andes to Huacahuasi, an indigenous community located more than 12,000 feet above sea level. The team also visited Zaña, near Chiclayo in northwestern Peru, to assess opportunities for broader community engagement and healthcare collaboration.
HOLA aims to expand operations into Peru in the coming months through a model tailored to the unique needs of each region. Pueblo de Cristo, situated on the outskirts of Lima between the city and the surrounding desert, presents a strong opportunity for veterinary outreach initiatives. In Huacahuasi, the planned placement of a general physician and OB-GYN would help address critical gaps in access to specialized medical care in one of the country’s most remote highland communities. Meanwhile, Zaña offers an ideal setting for HOLA to continue developing immersive educational and volunteer experiences in partnership with local physicians, veterinarians, and community leaders.