Provide Hope
For A Child
Today.

Mission

Mission

To provide philanthropic support to children who are vulnerable to or suffering from burns and/or cleft lip palate throughout Latin America.

Vision

Vision

Empowering partners to deliver free, world-class
 education and healthcare, preventing and treating burns and cleft lip palate in Latin America.​

Values

Values

Empathy, Resilience, Transparency,
Accountability, Service​.

who we are

APROQUEN, founded in 2002 as a 501 (c) (3) organization and originally inspired by the name Asociación Pro Niños Quemados de Nicaragua (The Association for Burned Children of Nicaragua) began with a focus on burn care in Nicaragua.

While grounded in this initial mission, APROQUEN has since charted its own course, dedicated to providing philanthropic support to children vulnerable to or suffering from burns and/or cleft lip and palate across Latin America.

 

Who We Are

our founder

Our founder, Vivian Pellas, embarked on a transformative journey, turning her own pain into a purpose of aiding suffering children. In 1989, a commercial airliner crashed into the mountains of Honduras, with only 11 survivors, including Vivian and her husband. Despite enduring severe burns and numerous surgeries, Vivian never considered herself a victim; rather, she viewed the event as a fortunate tragedy. “Every day,” she recalls, “I set a goal, determined to redouble my efforts to alleviate the suffering of thousands of children, who, like me, were experiencing the horror of burns.” This steadfast dedication led her to establish Asociación Pro Niños Quemados de Nicaragua in Nicaragua in 1991, providing over 693,000 health services to children at no cost.

 

about APROQUEN

As an independent entity based in the U.S., APROQUEN has built on the foundations laid in Nicaragua, enhancing our reach through funding for medical mission trainings, burn prevention programs, and comprehensive treatment for children suffering from burns and cleft lip and palate throughout Latin America. Vivian’s story continues to inspire hope and demonstrates the transformative power of converting personal pain into a force for positive change. Reflecting on her motivations, Vivian shares, “I began to perceive life differently. My purpose was to spread hope and light, convinced that human beings can achieve positive outcomes and turn negative events into life-enhancing experiences.”

 

About Us
Since opening our doors in 2002

APROQUEN has delivered more than 693,000 comprehensive health  services free of charge including:

Surgeries
0
Rehabilitation Sessions
0
Medical Missions
0

Your gift can help write the next APROQUEN story.

Programs We Support

Children's Medical Treatment

Asociación Pro-Niños Quemados de Nicaragua is Central America’s premier non-profit medical institution, renowned for its holistic, child-centered care. With a team of superior surgeons, pediatric specialists, nurses, and therapists, the hospital provides top-tier treatment for burn injuries and cleft lip & palate, all at no cost to families.

Burn Prevention Programs

Accidental burns are one of the most common causes of death in the Latin American region. As the only documented burn prevention education program in Latin America, we are sharing our wealth of experience in burn prevention with peer organizations in the Central American region. 

Medical Training Programs

Established to replicate Asociación Pro-Niños Quemados de Nicaragua pioneering model across Central and South America, this program educates medical teams on advanced treatments for burns and cleft lip & palate. By sharing knowledge and resources, it aims to enhance healthcare outcomes and reduce the incidence of these conditions.

Our Programs

Meet
Captain Rocky

Meet Captain Rocky

APROQUEN believes in the power of education to raise awareness and reduce burn incidents. A team of specialists accompanied by Captain Rocky, the superhero of burn prevention, visits different schools across Nicaragua to share important information.

Meet
Captain Rocky

APROQUEN believes in the power of education to raise awareness and reduce burn incidents. A team of specialists accompanied by Captain Rocky, the superhero of burn prevention, visits different schools across Nicaragua to share important information.

Partners Around The World

Turn Pain into Purpose by donating to APROQUEN today