A child’s smile is the purest form of happiness. I love to feel the essence of their spirit and their untainted view of the world. Children’s laughter is contagious and they share the universal language of love through this connection.

One of our greatest goals has been to help children keep their hope alive by believing and expecting a brighter future. A challenging task when they don’t have life’s basic necessities and live in a cycle of poverty. We could give up, or we could remember Richard M. Knittle Jr.’s quote, ” putting a smile on a child’s face can change, maybe not the whole world but at least their world.” With grateful hearts to all of the Esperanza supporters, we’ve been able to give opportunity, not charity, one child at a time.

We have taught the children to dream and set goals. This is a foreign concept when they watch their parents struggle day to day, and it requires planning and motivation on their part. We have witnessed this in children as young as preschool, and other times it isn’t developed until young adulthood. Equipping an individual’s specific needs whether it’s books or tools, and providing tutors and mentors has made a difference. Staying consistently in their lives, through all their ups and downs is part of our commitment. The joy we experience is watching when life long skills are developed, modeled in their families and shared within their community. They truly are making their world a better place!

Choosing the name Esperanza (hope in Spanish) for our nonprofit was intentional and deeply meaningful. We want to continue to inspire action, reinforce connection with others, and help people cope with adversity while building resiliency.

This holiday season, and throughout the coming year, we are wishing you peace, love, joy and hope.

I just returned from Honduras a few days ago and once again am processing my time there. I always arrive with great energy and enthusiasm to be back “home” in the village I have been a part of for nearly 25 years. Witnessing poverty no longer shocks me but living with the people who experience this daily will always unsettle me.

It is now the rainy season and I quickly learn the village has been without running water for over three weeks. The system was blocked with mud and debris, and therefore the spigots of “potable” water were dry, and there was no running water to the houses. People walked to the muddy river to access water to wash themselves, their dishes, and flush the toilets.

The first night, we lose electricity, a common occurrence which I’ve been accustomed to. Perhaps it makes it a bit easier so that all your senses are not overloaded at once. Instead of seeing the trash that litters the surrounding homes, you just smell the burning of paper and plastic. You don’t see what types of insects and animals are closing in but you might feel them.

Daylight returns and I’m reminded of life in a third world country. Children fill their stomachs with cheap bags of chips, inadequate housing often made of adobe or other materials, and grueling manual labor that we have replaced with machines. There are endless needs in this barrio, and later that week, we have street lights installed for safety and security. We also address a huge hole in the road that has running water below before a child falls into a foot of water, and another tragedy occurs.

It truly is a daily struggle for everyone that surrounds me. What is there to eat? Where can I find work? How to cope with the next crisis? It is a luxury to be able to plan ahead, to dream of a better life. And then I return to my inner turmoil. How do I help? Who do I help? What will have a lasting impact? We have tried many things over the years, some offering a temporary fix and others outright failing.

And we have also experienced the exhilaration of success including drilling a well and bringing clean water, providing life saving medical treatment, and supporting students as they pursue their education and change their life trajectories.

Although I’m thrilled to be back home, I realize that it isn’t a part of my heart that I leave behind, it is actually my soul. It’s time to share their stories and raise awareness (and yes funding, the biggest challenge for me) so that they may experience the basic life necessities, and more!

Thank you to each and every one of you who supports me in so many ways.

Congratulations to Yeni Ordonez who graduated last year from El Instituto de Belleza Estetica y Cosmetologia. Yeni is now certified in all areas of cosmetology, and working at a salon in Flores.This has not been an easy path and has required great dedication and perseverance.

In rural Honduras 13% of students have no access to education. Although primary school is compulsory, only half of the population completes sixth grade. In the majority of the departments of Honduras, 90% of the students need to repeat a grade. Less than one third of the students attend secondary school.

Yeni’s family is no different. Her mother completed 2nd grade and her father finished 6th grade. None of her siblings have attended secondary school. They value education and would have loved to continue studying but it simply came down to economics. It was too costly to buy uniforms and books, and they were needed to earn money and do the chores at home.

Yeni is a single mom and working hard to provide all that she can for her son. She’s thankful for the support she received from Esperanza and feels fortunate to be employed in her field. The unemployment rate in Honduras is staggering, and 70% earn less than $1,200/year.

Yeni has the education, developed her skills and is gaining more experience. Wishing her all the best as she continues pursuing her passion. Esperanza has many other individuals hoping for a similar opportunity to attend school, pursue job training or start a small business.

Immigration is a hot topic these days, and I often find myself trying to explain to others why Hondurans might attempt to make the treacherous journey to the U.S. Certainly there are a number of reasons including persistent poverty, high unemployment, and catastrophic climate changes but I’m going to focus on violence.

Growing up in poverty, leads to violence, and permeates all areas of life. There is domestic violence, interpersonal violence and structural violence. All cause a tremendous amount of fear and trauma but gang violence is truly a matter of life and death. If they want you to join, you have three choices: join, leave or be killed.

In areas with high gang activity almost half of the students drop out. The walk to school is too dangerous crossing through one territory into another. Gang members are present in schools selling drugs, extorting money, and recruiting new members (as young as six). We have had students held up at knife point on the streets, and shot on the bus.

They terrorize, rape, kidnap, blackmail and murder. Their money is made on drug sales, human trafficking and arms deals. Impunity and corruption are vast throughout Honduras. Gangs impose a “war tax” on households, businesses and transportation workers. If you don’t comply in paying your monthly fee, you or a family member will be killed.

I was introduced to these two men on the streets of Comayagua. I don’t know their names or “occupations” and I certainly wouldn’t say if I did. When people in Honduras ask why I am there, I make it clear it is to help the children. I’m not sure if that earns any respect but I can honestly say that I’ve never felt in danger or had any trouble.

When the fear of fleeing is less than the fear of staying, the journey to the States begins. And the danger and violence will continue through Guatemala and Mexico. It’s called desperation and the will to live, and provide food for your children. Plain and simple. What would you do?

I’d like to start 2025 with an inspiring story of resiliency, determination and hope about one of Esperanza’s students, Josue Martinez. I first met Josue almost 15 years ago, when he was a patient of Shriners Children’s Boston. When Josue was eight years old he was in a house fire, and burned over 75 percent of his body. Since then he has undergone nearly 70 operations.

His story was recently highlighted on Shriners Children’s Hospital’s website:

https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/news-and-media/patient-stories/2024/12/josue-burn-care-story

Esperanza and Josue are extremely grateful for Chris Worcester’s financial support which has allowed Josue to pursue his dream of studying at Universidad Politecnica de Honduras. He will be receiving his degree in Industrial Engineering later this year. Chris, a lifelong educator herself, wanted to support Josue’s passion and perseverance.

We are incredibly proud of Josue and all of his accomplishments. He seizes every day with optimism and embraces every opportunity he encounters. Josue has aged out of care at Shriners Children’s Hospital but we will be pursuing further treatment for him at Mass General Hospital.

There are so many reasons I love being in Honduras. Number one is the people, and the relationships that have developed over the years. Next is living in the moment, experiencing daily life and learning about the culture. Last is disconnecting from the news in the U.S., and putting my energy elsewhere, where I can make a difference.

Following the election, I daydreamed about changing my reservation and jumping on the plane 12 days early. I craved the escape of hateful language and threatening violence, and a feeling of powerlessness. Instead, I decided to take a break from the news and enjoy music that comforts me. My “go-to” song is:

We Are the World

I spent the day with my husband and a friend, inhaling nature’s beauty while biking and walking. It was a gift having a sun filled autumn day in New England, with temperatures in the 70’s. I love to surround myself with people who share their positive energy. My mind would continue to drift back to “my” song.

“We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving.“

As usual, I’ve been in the packing mode for several weeks. We have received a large donation of penicillin from Brother’s Brother Foundation that is desperately needed in the clinics and hospitals. Esperanza has purchased dozens of bilingual books to be used in our newly developed ESL program. And we have received individualized box sets of LEGO through the Passing the Bricks organization. There are so many kind and generous people and organizations who support us, and I thrive on their spirit of giving. My excitement builds as I picture sharing these resources and playing with the joy-filled children.

My hope is that we all find ways to feel comfort, peace and love. May our divided nation heal.

The joy of giving to others truly is medicine for your soul. It genuinely feels good, and offers you both a sense of belonging and purpose. Working in Honduras has enlightened me, helped put things in perspective, and introduced me to incredibly appreciative people living in desperate situations.

You don’t need to travel to Honduras to experience these feelings, and you certainly can offer hope and change a life for a child in need. We have specifically kept Esperanza small so that we are directly involved with every patient, student and community project. Your donation has a powerful impact in the village we have called “home” for the past 20 years.

What’s speaking to your heart? It could be wanting to ensure basic healthcare so that children are not dying from treatable illnesses such as diarrhea, or helping a child receive life saving cardiac care. Perhaps you’d like to offer a child the opportunity to receive an education by providing a school uniform or paying for trade school so they have a lifelong skill.

We are incredibly thankful to all of our supporters over the years who have done just that, and more. Patients have been treated in the Boston area and within Honduras. Students have been enrolled in public schools, private bilingual schools, trade schools and universities. Sponsors have provided improvements to the health center, schools and community center. Others have contributed to drilling a well, building a sports court and playgrounds. One couple financed the first police station for the community of Flores.

You can choose how you want your donation spent, and if you would like to communicate or receive updates on “your” child or project. You may want to consider making a gift in honor of someone this holiday season. I cannot think of a better way to spread your love and impact others. It’s contagious.

Esperanza-Hope for the Children, Inc. was first introduced to Noel in November 2005. His mom brought him to us and explained her four year old was in need of life saving open heart surgery. Through the generosity of the Ray Tye Medical Aid Foundation, we brought Noel to Boston and they have been funding his cardiac care at Tufts Medical Center.

The following year, Esperanza brought two year old Astrid to Springfield, MA where she received multiple operations on her tethered spinal cord and cavus foot at Shriner’s Hospital for Children and Baystate Medical Center. Both of the children lived in our home while receiving care, and then began spending Christmas and summer vacations with us. They are both truly a special part of our family.

Noel and Astrid both have sponsors through Esperanza, who afforded them the opportunity to attend a private bilingual school from kindergarten through sixth grade. Following their seven years at Marantha Adventist Bilingual School in Comayagua, Honduras they took different paths. Noel went on to attend Instituto Tecnologica Automotriz de Comayagua to learn auto mechanics. Astrid left for the United States where she attended middle school and high school.

This year Noel decided to further his education and enrolled in seventh grade. He is now a father of a beautiful 15 month old daughter and knew completing additional years would offer greater job opportunities. Astrid will be attending Clark University in Worcester, MA where she will be majoring in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. Astrid has been invited into Clark’s Honors Experience and has received multiple academic scholarships.

Noel and Astrid were asked to develop a program to teach English at Centro Basico Augusto C. Coello, one of the public schools in the village of Flores. This summer they have enjoyed (and been challenged) by eager and active students wanting to learn English. It has been rewarding for us to see these mature adults (19 and 22 years old) use their bilingual skills to help students in their own community. We couldn’t be more proud of both of them!

I want to tell you the story of how Emily Collins and her vast knowledge and connections helped a children’s hospital in Texas get a Honduran teen back home to Honduras, and to her mom. Angie was a previously healthy teen girl from rural Honduras who journeyed on her own over several months to stay with her maternal uncle in Texas. She had not enrolled in school or worked a job but she had made friends in her uncle’s community. Angie had a history of headaches and fainting spells in Honduras but really no diagnosis or specific treatment at home.

About 6 months after moving to Texas, Angie became significantly ill with seizures and confusion and was hospitalized at a local children’s hospital. After an extensive workup, a diagnosis was made and she had multiple different treatments. Angie made some slow progress but significant deficits remained after a number of weeks. She no longer needed inpatient hospital care but she still needed full time supervision and care at home, as well as ongoing outpatient therapies, follow up, and medications potentially costing thousands of dollars. At that point, it was not known if (or when) she might get significantly better. Angie’s uncle could not care for her 24/7 without quitting his roofing job and there were no other relatives available.

Because Angie came to the US without going through the proper channels, she did not qualify for any US government healthcare programs, charity care, or any other resources that would pay for extensive home care needs. Her uncle could not provide much out of pocket and he would have no income if he had to quit his roofing job. Angie’s mother and siblings were back home in Honduras. Angie’s mom tried to get a visitor visa to come to the US but was denied twice because she could not provide any intent to return (like a letter from an employer or school).

We at the children’s hospital in Texas scoured the internet looking for any foundations or charities with a connection to Honduras who just might help Angie and her family. We were so fortunate to find Esperanza-Hope for the Children, Inc. and the names Dr. Tom and Emily Collins. We sent an email via the website and Emily responded within 2 HOURS! Our first successful communication! Over the course of the next several days, multiple emails and phone conversations took place. Emily was able to provide a connection at Hospital Escuela inTegucigalpa, and she reached out to a physician administrator there. Over the next week, we had multiple WhatsApp conversations with doctors at Hospital Escuela through our hospital translators in Texas and they agreed to accept Angie from our hospital to their hospital.

We had numerous hurdles getting Angie home as she had no passport. We had a birth certificate and a paper from the border patrol releasing her to her uncle. That was all but not near enough. The Honduran Consulate and Embassy were very difficult to contact both in the US and in Honduras. Not for lack of trying! Many phone call attempts later and we finally found an international agency in Honduras who was able to make a connection with the Honduras consulate in Dallas, and Angie was able to get a one-time-use passport to go home. Angie flew by international medical transport here in Texas to Tegucigalpa one Saturday morning in May and was delivered safely to Hospital Escuela where her mother met her at the bedside to continue helping to care for her in Honduras. Her medical future is still unknown at this point,
but we do know she is back with her mom who can help care for her going forward. We would
never have been able to start this process without Emily and Esperanza!

Written by: Deborah Hucaby M.D.

In 2005, Esperanza-Hope for the Children, Inc. brought four year old Noel to Boston for life saving cardiac surgery. Noel was born with both aortic and pulmonary stenosis and the doctors in Honduras were ill- equipped to repair his heart. We’ll be forever grateful to the Ray Tye Medical Aid Foundation for providing the financial support for Noel’s open heart surgery at Tufts Medical Center. Noel continues to receive cardiac checkups because he is currently living without a heart valve and will need another surgery in the future.

Noel’s one year old daughter, Itzel was born with pulmonary stenosis too. This was first discovered by a pediatrician who was listening to her heart, and heard a murmur. Fortunately, Itzel’s diagnosis wasn’t as severe as her dad’s, and healthcare (and our connections) have improved in the past 20 years.

Two days ago the doctors at Hospital Maria in Tegucigalpa successfully performed a heart catheterization and were able to improve Itzel’s stenosis by 55%. She will continue to receive follow up care to monitor her heart but for now she is one happy, playful toddler and her parents are relieved.

We’re thankful for all the staff at Hospital Maria, Esperanza supporters, and our friends at World Pediatric Project for the expert care and concern for Itzel and her family. We especially appreciate Kenia, mom of one of our other heart patients (Mathias) who had been through the experience and was able to offer reassuring words to Itzel’s mom, Osiris. Lastly, our gratitude to Mrs. Eileen Tye for her continued prayers and support. Without her, and the foundation she developed to honor her husband, Ray, none of this would have happened. Noel had the good fortune of meeting Mr. Tye on a few occasions, and we know he would be quite smitten with Itzel and probably offering her a stuffed animal, like he did for her dad.