Donations to Esperanza – Hope For The Children
After spending the summer in Honduras teaching children photography, Jason and Becca from Our Journey for Hope have shared much the children’s work online. You have the opportunity to buy a student’s photograph, which will go towards increasing educational opportunities for the children of Flores, Honduras. Please check out the amazing photos these children took and consider donating to a great cause.
To see the children’s work go to: http://ourjourneyforhope.bigcartel.com/
February marks the beginning of the school year in Honduras. School is provided free of charge by the government but not the school supplies or uniforms, which are mandatory. Six volunteers from Esperanza will soon be traveling to Honduras with duffle bags full of school supplies and we are still in great need of black school shoes in any sizes.
Honduran children living in severe poverty take an average time of 9 1/2 years to complete the sixth grade. There are many reasons for this including children having to leave school to help support their families, teachers being on strike, and others simply lacking the resources.
Stores currently stocking these shoes include: Pay Less, Target and Walmart. Please consider donating one pair of shoes and giving one deserving child the opportunity to attend school this year. No child should be left behind…
Interested in making a donation this holiday season? Looking to donate in someone’s name as a gift? Please consider Esperanza, it’s through your support that we are able to help these amazing children in Honduras. Happy Holidays!
You can donate online in our How to Help section
Fifteen year old Ben Lania recently organized his own drive for collecting school supplies, over the counter medications and toiletries. His initiative and follow through produced a generous response within his community.
Ben provided us with these supplies for our last trip to the village of Flores. The much needed items were enthusiastically received by children and adults alike. Families go without basic items such as soap or toothpaste due to living in extreme poverty. Children are not afforded the luxury of “back to school shopping” for supplies… they scrape by with what they can find.
All recipients were extremely grateful for Ben’s donations, and their underlying comment was “someone living far away cares.” Children are our future, and this one is making a positive impact. Thanks, Ben!
For the past ten years we have been receiving financial and spiritual support from the folks at Pilgrim Church in Lexington. The memebers and friends of the church have also generously offered their support with supplies of clothing, shoes, school supplies and more.
Every spring, the Honduran Support Group holds a book sale. Proceeds from the sale are used to purchase Spanish books and supplies and/or complete a project at one of the schools in Flores, Honduras. This year, over $1,500 has been donated to construct an outdoor eating and play area at an elementary school.
We wish to thank Mrs. Sandi Gardiner who organizes a fantastic crew to coordinate the book sale, and to Pilgrim’s Mission Committtee for supplementing the proceeds. This project is being enthusiastically endorsed by the teachers in Flores and will be enjoyed by many children.
A year ago today, our beloved friend, Ray Tye passed away. He truly was my hero and his spirit lives on in me, as I share his desire of helping improve the lives of others. Please take a moment to read about this remarkable man and the impact he had on so many lives at his foundation’s website: www.raytyemedicalaidfoundation.org. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with his wife, Eileen and his large extended family. We are incredibly in debt to this foundation for providing the financial support for three of Esperanza’s patients. The following words were included in our tribute to Ray…”I love how he had no boundaries and helped people of all ethnicities, religions and ages. I think of him when I read Proverbs 31:8-9: Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly: defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
This evening, we will be toasting Ray with grateful hearts…may he be having his own celebration, surrounded by loved ones.
Esperanza would like to thank Charlie and Nancy Morrison for providing a financial scholarship for a child to attend a private bilingual school in Comayagua, Honduras.
Although Honduras offers free primary education for 7-14 year olds, the sad reality is many areas of the country lack schools. When they are available, they are understaffed and in some circumstances, joint-grade instruction is provided, only through the 3rd grade. Other villages may have a bigger buildings, but they still deal with poor teacher training, lack of materials and outdated teaching methods. The teachers are often on strike because they are frustrated by their working conditions and low wages.
Illiteracy remains at 40% for the total population and 80% for the rural communities. Only 43% of the children enrolled in public schools will complete the primary level. Of these students, 30% will go on to secondary school and a mere 8% will continue to the university level.
Having the opportunity to attend a private school is a privilege few will ever experience. It truly is “the key” for the future, and we hope Nancy and Charlie’s child will become a valuable leader of tomorrow…for herself, for her family, and for her community. Their scholarship not only pays for the educational costs, but provides a healthy meal,transportation, and an escape from a mundane environment.
Charlie and Nancy Morrison and their four children has been actively involved for years with the children from Honduras; hosting numerous children hospitalized locally and visiting Honduras themselves.
If you are interested in supporting another child with the opportunity to attend school, please contact Esperanza.
Esperanza would like to express their appreciation to Ms. Deirdre Huff and the students in her Spanish classes for their involvement with the children in Flores, Honduras.
For the past two years Ms. Huff’s classes have organized collections of school supplies, sporting goods and clothing which were shipped to Honduras. Her classes have also participated in a Pen Pal relationship with the students in Flores. Earlier this month, Astrid Ordonez visited the classes at Diamond to express her appreciation on behalf of the children in Flores. The students enthusiastically asked questions of Astrid…her life in Honduras and her recent hospitalization at Shriners.
Esperanza would also like to thank Katherine George, and her mother, Melissa for facilitating this relationship with Diamond.
As Thanksgiving approaches, we’d like to express our gratitude to the children in Pilgrim’s church school, Pilgrim Nursery School and Debra Adam’s nursery school. Deb Adams and Leslie Holmes explained to the children of our upcoming trip to Honduras, and our need for small toys to be given out at our medical clinics.
The children took these messages to heart and responded with such generosity in sharing their own toys with others in need. One day, Matthew Chytil was home sick from school and spent hours going through his collection of cars. He had heard Deb’s message, “they should be in good condition, and fit in the palm of your hand.” Matthew’s inspection of each car could rival the best mechanic’s! He checked the wheels, and looked for any chipped paint and explained to his mom that he was only sharing his BEST ones.
Children can certainly be our best teachers, and we thank all the children for their selfless giving and compassion for others. And we do give credit to all the caring adults in their lives who have helped instill these values.
Esperanza-Hope for the Children, Inc. is grateful for Brother’s Brother Foundation’s recent donation of $7, 261.13 worth of medication and surgical instruments, and $1,200 of Crocs. These supplies will be used in Esperanza’s December (2-12) mission trip to Flores, Honduras. Currently, there is a doctor at the public health center, but they are in desperate need of medicine and equipment. The shoes will be an appreciated “gift” to help prevent illnesses and injuries for children and adults.
Esperanza - Hope For The Children 