New Children
The state organization DINAF asked us on a weekend if the two sisters Cesia, 12 years old and Angie, 9 years old, could spend one night with us. We gladly agreed to them. This one night has already become 2 months ...
At first, they always waited for a call from the DINAF to be picked up by a family member. The days passed by without anybody coming forward and slowly they allowed themselves to settle in. Meanwhile, they are very well integrated, feel very comfortable with us and have not asked about their family anymore.
At the request of the Swiss Embassy, we also welcomed a Swiss-Honduran 10-year-old boy named Henry.
Since the three new arrivals came to us at the same time as the new school term began, they could start the first day of school together with all our other children. That seemed to have had a very positive impact on their integration process.
New school term
After the school preparations in January, the time had come and the first day of school was just around the corner. Everyone was happy to wear the new school uniforms and their school bags which were full to the brim with all the new books.
The children were very excited to learn which class teacher they will have this year and which classmates are around again this year....
Finally, as every year, the class council of each class had to be elected. Since our children have often proven leadership skills it was no surprise, that four of them were elected as class speakers.
Youth project La Entrada
Unsere Stiftung weiss, dass eine gute Ausbildung der Schlüssel zum Unterbruch des Teufelskreis der Armut ist. Deshalb wollen wir auch anderen Jugendlichen die Chance bieten, das Brot des Wissen entgegenzunehmen zu dürfen.
Our foundation knows that good education is the key to breaking the vicious circle of poverty. That is why we also want to offer other young people the chance to receive the bread of knowledge.
La Entrada is located along the road to Santa Rosa de Copán, in a rural area with many poor surrounding villages. Many very gifted students have the possibility to finish primary school but do not have the opportunity to continue their studies.
Therefore, in cooperation with the Catholic Church, we have started a youth project to give 18 young pupils, from very poor families, the chance to continue their studies.
The Catholic Church provides the building available to us. We have rebuilt and repainted the rooms, the kitchen, the living room and the computer room so that they have a home where they can feel at safe and welcome.
Mechanics Institute in Santa Rosa de Copán
In collaboration with the school department of Santa Rosa de Copán, we opened a mechanics institute this year. It is a three-year extra-occupational training. Every morning, from 7.00 to 13.00, the compulsory subjects are scheduled. Twice a week, in the afternoon from 13.00 to 16.00, the students receive their practical training.
It is a nationally recognized vocational training certificate which they obtain after successful completion. Further to that, they are granted with the countrywide well-established Mechanic's Award. With these certificates, they can then attend university or work as professional mechanics.
The dual education system is not very widespread here in Honduras. Most craftsmen lack the appropriate training and have acquired their skills and knowledge according to the motto "Learning by Doing".
We are convinced that the pioneer project, which we started this year with 14 young people, will receive great recognition in the future.
Nurse Training in ACEP
In our Academia de Excelencia Profesional, ACEP for short, 30 new nurses have started their training this year. Together with the 30 nurses, in their second year of training, they come to ACEP every day from 8.00 to 15.50, where they receive the practical and theoretical part of the training.
Our bus picks them up from the city center and brings them back.
The nurse training lasts 3 years and is a countrywide recognized training. Trained nurses are in great demand on the local job market. Their chances of finding a employment after their training are very high.