Sociedad Amigos de los Niños (SAN) is a private non-profit organization founded in 1966 by Sister Maria Rosa Leggol of the School Sisters of St. Francis.

Our Mission
The Mission of Sociedad Amigos de los Niños, (SAN) is to provide a nurturing environment for the neglected and impoverished children of Honduras. SAN provides shelter, health care, education, training and the opportunity to live in dignity to children and families ravaged by extreme poverty. SAN addresses their basic needs and at the same time creates the opportunities for each child and young person to acquire the necessary skills to enjoy a productive and meaningful life. We assist them in growing, achieving and fulfilling their dreams. Our goal is to provide the tools and instill the desire for these children to become selfsufficient, caring, and responsible adults.

Our Founder
Sister Maria Rosa Leggol was born November 21, 1926 in Puerto Cortes, Honduras. From her own experience as an orphan, Sister Maria Rosa has always been concerned with the needs of the poor and inspired to create better conditions and a more loving environment for the children of Honduras. She became a Franciscan Sister on June 13, 1949 in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA) after which she returned to continue her work in the Hospital “La Policlinic” in Honduras.
In 1964 Sister Maria Rosa rescued her first group of children from living in the city jails with their incarcerated parents. Thus was the beginning of Sociedad Amigos de los Niños and her commitment to creating a safe and special place for the orphaned, neglected and abused children of Honduras. With love, faith, dedication, and hard work, Sister Maria Rosa has rescued and educated over 35,000 children who today are productive citizens of Honduras. Sister Maria Rosa continues working as the General Director of SAN. She is a founder and active member of the Honduran National Telethon, a foundation that builds and maintains a network of rehabilitation centers for the handicapped.

Sister Maria Rosa has been the recipient of many prestigious awards including:

• The Good Samaritan Award - given by the to those individuals or institutions who have given of themselves with devotion to good work, with humanitarian love. By the National Catholic Development Conference in 1977 - New York City (USA)
• Honoris Causa An honorary degree from the University of Saint Francis Xavier of Antigonish, Canada
• National Postage Stamp was issued in her honor by the government of Honduras in recognition of her enormous efforts on behalf of the children.