Changing Plans

In Honduras, plans change all of the time (and that's not always a bad thing). Our team got good at being game for anything at any time and handled changes with flexibility and grace. Our last day at El Hogar proved to be no different.

We were up early for the daily 7 am breakfast and then rushed back to the volunteer house to pack and clean so that there would be time to give last notes and hugs to the children we had come to know over the week and we wanted to have some time to talk to Matt Engleby, Executive Director in Honduras, to pose the many questions that we had. The house was a buzz of activity when unexpectedly Gustavo came to the door and said "Claudia is ready to take you on a home visit". Plans changed and we scrambled to get out to the van in just a few minutes.

Gustavo drove us to the home of the grandmother of students Fernanda and her sister. We parked about a block away, crossed the street, walked across a path and down some stairs. Fernanda's home was built of wood and tin and was built into the hillside with other similar structures below and next to theirs. We entered 2 at a time. The home consisted of 2 small rooms with a mattress filling each room, a small kitchen and bathroom area. They had electricity but no running water or sanitation. 7 children, 3 adults, a large rooster and a larger dog shared the home. This visit  left us with a sobering image of urban poverty in Tegucigalpa and helped us to understand the reality many live in and why El Hogar exists. Many felt it was important to see the urban home as compared to the other 2 more rural homes we had seen previously during the week.

We then returned to El Hogar, finished our chores and then had about an hour to meet with Matt and Erika, our team host for the week. We talked about our meeting the previous night with Heyser and our admiration and appreciation for the passionate and caring staff that we have encountered, seen in action and have gotten to know. Then, we discussed questions about social service systems or the lack thereof in Honduras- healthcare, housing, education, social security, etc. We ended with a discussion about what action steps Matt and Erika suggest for us upon our return. Matt asked us to remember Honduras, to learn more, to keep up with what's going on there as it is seldom reported in North America, to be aware that how we live in this world impacts Honduras and to really strive to live out a changed life, not just a changed view of the world. They asked us to keep this experience alive among us, that we have shared a experience that no one else truly understands. They asked us to do what we can to share this experience with others, particularly new people, and to support the organization.

We could have talked all morning but we needed to get to the airport by 10:30 so we said our final goodbyes and headed to the airport where we shopped and ate and then flew to Miami. In Miami, the US customs lines were very long but we managed to all get through and then go back through security for our domestic flights with time for burgers, beers and shakes. We were back in the US now where things work according to plan, right? Not so much...

Our flight to Charlotte was delayed and it quickly became clear that we would miss our connection to Boston. The crew in Miami told us to go to Charlotte and American Airlines would put us up in a hotel and rebook us on flights on Saturday. After we landed but before we de-planed, an announcement let us know that there actually weren't any rooms available in Charlotte. Kiana said she actually had tears in her eyes imagining another night in an airport. Liz and I quickly went online while waiting to deplane and Liz managed to have secured 5 rooms at the Hampton Inn (apparently American doesn't do business with them...) by the time we got off the plane. She won the MVP award for the day! Also before we deplaned, American called each of us to let us know that we were already rebooked on Saturday flights which was great because we did not have to stand in line at the gate with 100 other angry people and try to sort out flights for 9 people. (Sandy had her trials on the way to Honduras so she luckily got back without any problems.)

Once settled at the Hampton Inn at about 11:45, Jeremy and Megan headed across the street to get some beverages to aid in celebrating Megan's 24th birthday at midnight. Fun was had by all who joined in- some of us were stressed about turning 24 (getting old) and some of us can't even remember what we were doing when we were 24. It was so great for me to realize I am exactly twice Megan's age- ugh! No doubt Megan did not plan to have a birthday at the Hampton Inn in Charlotte, NC but maybe she will always remember where she was when she turned 24...

On Saturday we left on many flights in 1s and 2s from 7 am to 2:30 pm. Some flew direct, some through DC and some through Philly. I am happy to report that at 6:00 pm tonight all team members have arrived back in Boston!

I took a risk in suggesting that we take this trip- a group of colleagues travelling to a foreign land could be really good for our collegial relationships or really bad but I also knew it would be a great opportunity. This group of SSYP staff is committed to improving opportunities for youth, to supporting their education, to creating safe spaces for young people, to challenging systems and to making all young people feel valued. In so many ways, this is the same work that El Hogar is doing. For me, it was the perfect combination and I believe everyone who traveled with us would agree. There is so much work to be done in the world, near and far, and I could not have chosen better people to be in it with. It was my great privilege to lead this team and I look forward to seeing how we continue this work. May we be the agents that change the plans that poverty puts in place for all of the young people we care about.

-Betsy

El Poder del Amor

What does it mean to commit your life to your work?

How can you continue to find the passion and love for your work even in the hardest times?

The power of love was the ever present theme of our final full day here in Honduras. 

These are two questions that our group has wrestled with over the past week, and will continue to sit with as we take this experience and bring it back to our lives in Boston. I certainly won't pretend to have any answers to these questions, as many people wrestle with them for their whole lives, but one thing that has become clear is that there are some simple yet powerful themes that are group is ready to bring back and live out.

First and foremost, the most important thing you can do is truly love and support young people, consistently and unconditionally, without any expectations for what you will get in return. We saw this today at The Micah Project, an organization that works with young boys who are addicted to yellow glue and who are living on the street. In our visit to their center, the staff talked about the importance of unconditional love and support and how important it is to support students no matter how much their choices or decisions may frustrate or hurt you. I have seen this to be true in my own work as well, and want to continue to embody the idea of unconditional love and support as it relates to our teens making tough and complicated decisions about their post high school journeys. 

We once again had the unique opportunity to journey to another one of the El Hogar's centers as we saw the farm school. Not only were we treated to an incredibly lunch of home grown Tilapia, rice and a beautiful fresh salsa, but we got to see all the different facets of the school, a school that helps students graduate with the same skills and knowledge that two years at an agricultural university would provide. And they do this by the end of 9th grade! 

However, despite all the incredible opportunities to visit different organizations it was our final moments of the day that will sit with us for along time to come. First we were treated to the opportunity to speak to one of the professors here at El Hogar, Heyser. This was a blessing for so many reasons but one that spoke very specifically to my own heart. I have watched Heyser take on a variety of different roles over the past week. I have seen him be a teacher, a dance and music instructor, a counselor and a mentor/role model to the boys here. He does so with an incredible grace and authenticity that only comes when you live and breath your work. He embodies what positive masculinity can look like, allowing himself to be both vulnerable, passionate, strong and kind with all the young people he crosses paths with. He shared his own story, and talked about his own passion for teaching and the variety of lessons he has learned over the years. For those of us who work in youth work, Heyser embodies what we strive to be. Someone who loves his job and the young people unconditionally, and truly lives and breaths El Hogar.  

After this humbling and incredible experience, the group sat down for a final reflection. The reflection was extremely moving as team members took the opportunity to speak to how this trip has impacted them on a personal level. It was a moment for group members to lean into the support of the group and express where they are at on their own personal journeys of discovery, knowing that they were surrounded by a ground of people who are there to support them.

So what does it mean to commit your life to your work? I don't know, but what I do know this that it is vital to find a place that fills your heart with joy no matter how tired, frustrated or painful the days might be. We feel so grateful to have been welcomed in to the community of El Hogar and walk away feeling both rejuvenated to see all the smiling faces of SSYP on Monday, while also dedicated to continuing to support the work that is going on here at El Hogar.

The power of love is ever present in our minds as we leave a part of our heart here in Honduras, not only waiting for us to come back, but also pushing us to continue the way in which we live in the world. The power of love is a beautiful thing, and sits heavy in our minds as we leave to board the plane back to the States.

-Jeremy

 

Getting more than you give

Hi all! Megan and Kemarah here. Sorry for the long post but we did A LOT today. Highlights include a home visit, a meeting with a women's empowerment group, and a meeting with the director of the El Hogar elementary school. 

Today started bright and early with breakfast at 6:10. We considered ourselves lucky as the middle school boys get up at 5 to do chores before eating. Beans, tortillas, eggs, cheese, sweet plantains (Kemarah was ecstatic) and CREMA was served. 

Following breakfast we had free time which has come few and far and between on this trip. Members of our group used the time to reflect, tan and paint toe nails. Bella looked onto the soccer field that she would have to say bye to and left a piece of her heart.... and her skin #leakyknee 

Following our break we visited a home of a former student of the technical school. After driving down a dirt road for mile we turned onto the highway where we eventually pulled over. We were greeted by a young boy dressed in a perfectly white uniform shirt and black slacks. He had been walking along side the road coming from the opposite direction. We walked around the property and took it all in. A quaint abode complete with a rusted galvanized roof and wooden walls. Maybe 300 square feet in total. The home was furnished with a new fuel efficient wood stove and three small mattresses. The teen explained that him and his mom have been collecting bricks to build a new home. The area was covered in litter. Their backyard was a valley. A banana tree stood tall on the side of the home. 

Thinking back to our reflection from the night before, one could think of this family's situation as sad, hopeless or as a glass half empty. However, there is much to celebrate here. This family owns their own property, this mother with the help of her two sons built a home for themselves, and are sustaining. One son is in the 10th grade (a fantastic artist!), another son is in 8th grader studying at the El Hogar Technical Institute, and the last son is in 4th grader at a local elementary school. While there are systems playing against this family, they are taking steps to improve their situation. This mother is now working full time and the sons are motivated to continue with their education and are looking forward to helping to build a sturdier new home.  

After the home visit we returned to the technical institute campus to tour the spaces where the young boys of El Hogar become licensed carpenters, welders, or electricians. We were completely blown away by the work the boys have done and impressed by the intricate and fun pieces, hand made by the students, that adorn the grounds of the instituto technico. Might I too add there was a cow eating grass in the middle of campus. Not unusual I promise. 

We piled in the van back to El Hogar's Tegus campus for lunch where we quickly enjoyed spaghetti and tortillas. We then ventured out into the city where we had the privilege to meet with Nessa from a women's empowerment group Centro de derechos de mujeres (CDM). Nessa provided us with a powerful run down of how the guns in the United States have a direct impact on the violence against women in Honduras. She highlighted the fact that Nicaragua has fewer murders per capita compared to Honduras even though it is only 3 hours way by car due to links in US policy. We appreciate CDM's hospitality and we look forward to continuing a relationship with Nessa. 

Following our meeting we returned to El Hogar to meet the director Claudia. She told stories and recalled experiences from the past 27 years. She talked about success stories and challenges she, the kids and the organization has faced. El Hogar has also been reflecting on it's programming due to changes in policies the country. Claudia hopes that El Hogar will continue to work with young people to bring them to strong futures. 

In the evening half our group hosted a game night at the basketball hoop while the other half spent the evening trading dance secrets with the masterful dancers of El Hogar. With dance and music we saw what Bella pointed to about soccer earlier in the week. Music and dance are two different yet powerful modes of communication that can bring people together. We not only broke down language barriers but we were so inspired by the passion and culture that we saw in the young people of El Hogar that now we have an entire folk dance routine down! 

We ended our day with a meaningful reflection led by Kemarah & Kate inspired by a questions formulation technique by the right questions institute. We generated questions that we had about our day and one of the major themes was US policies and how they have an impact on poverty and violence in Honduras. We are also very interested in the stories of the staff that we've encountered and about what brought them to El Hogar when reflecting on the question of what is the difference between a job, vocation and "calling."

 

E pluribus unum

Today, Tuesday, our team engaged in the three activities that brought us to Honduras: working, learning, and playing. During our evening reflection, we wondered: What values do we share as a  group? What groups are like ours? To whom are we connected? To whom do we WANT to be connected? Are we many, divided peoples or are we one, global community? Liz here to report on our day's activities and how we are striving to find answers to some of these questions.

The morning began with work projects. One team continued to paint the final bits of green and purple on the walls of the arts building. Attention to detail was necessary for putting the white on the trim and door frames.  The transformation is impressive, though not yet complete, as the floor calls for color.  Another team finished the destruction of a concrete railing outside the main office building, making space for the construction of a library. Again, the change is significant and immediately visible. (Apparently, that project's change is also palpable as that team reports sore muscles from swinging the sledge hammer.)

Lunch of rice, meatballs, and salad was quickly consumed before we set out to meet with another group, The Micah Project. This is an NGO that has done street ministry for over a decade in the city of Tegu, building relationships with young people (mostly but not all male) who live on the street, huff glue, and hunger for food and love. The youth find that community with each other and also with two of the amazing street workers we saw in action, Hector and Olvin. Over time and with commitment, the street workers have built trust and connection with young people (some as young as nine, some old enough to be raising their own toddlers) who due to abuse, or abandonment, or choice have found the street community to be more welcoming than their own families. Olvin described the numbness that comes from huffing glue as a relief from the loneliness and feelings of anger and grief that come with the loss of relationships with relatives.  While our team had meaningful conversations with the street workers and played with one teen (who was a varsity-level champion of the hand slap game), we had discomfort and confusion about our own roles. What did it mean to be observers in this dynamic of poverty and addiction? What complicity, if any, do we have in the situation as people from Estados Unidos? The complications of this became more pointed as we watched a Honduran taking pictures of our group observing and photographing teens and families living on the street. 

As we continued to wonder about these questions, we piled back into the van to travel north to El Hogar's Technical School, which provides academic classes and vocational skills to middle and hug school boys. On the way, we heard a remarkable story from our driver. About a year and a half ago, an unusual storm blew into the hills around Tegu. Winds from across the desert blew in sand that made the skies hazy for months, so much so that there were days when flights to the airport had to be cancelled. The winds also blew in a species of beetle that attacked the pine trees, like termites, killing thousands of trees. Efrain pointed out the huge trucks carrying loads of timber and the empty hillsides, saying they had previously been forests full of pine trees. In eight months, from April to December 2015, the landscape around Tegu was dramatically and devastatingly changed.  Again, some of us wondered: what role, if any, did we have in this transformed landscape? Was it related to climate change? Was there a warning of sorts in this biblical-style set of plagues? 

After a forty minute drive, we arrived at the oasis of the Tech School. Clean air, white buildings and green grass greeted us.  About 80 boys in blue uniform shirts, crisp haircuts, and bright smiles added to the welcome. We gathered for a short orientation under a huge mural of the risen Christ in the church sanctuary, with our group of ten visitors facing rows and rows of curious boys. After a brief description of our purpose in being there (to get to know the boys and the school) and point of origin (Boston in the house!), there were  some successful attempts by the boys to learn the names of everyone in our group and some humorous attempts by people in our group to repeat the names of all 80 boys (Megan killed it by naming almost all the students in the first three rows).

Dinner of plantains, sausage, and tortillas was followed for the boys by an hour of academic study and for our team by an hour of learning from Lazaro, the director of the school, about the history of El Hogar. He has worked for the organization since the first seven boys began 38 years ago in one building in Tegu. His own dedication and commitment and love is a major factor in the success and expansion of the organization, now educating 250 students on four campuses.

Finally, thanks to the generosity of the teachers in shortening homework time by 15 minutes, we were ready for the play that transcends differences of language and age. Soccer balls were pumped up, nerf footballs squeezed, orgami paper grabbed and we were off! Sandy and Franklin played soccer on the grass with younger boys with Kiana cheering them on; Bella, Jeremy, and Megan got schooled and scraped playing intense, fast soccer on the fenced-in area of the basketball court; and Kemarah led boys and Kate, Liz, and Betsy in making aerodynamic paper airplanes and orgami cranes (the 36-step paper lion attempted by Liz was less successful...). Cheers from the games and looks of concentration from the paper-folding indicated that fun and challenge and accomplishments were being shared by all. 

This evolution of two groups becoming one was clear when we came together for the evening prayer and singing that is a regular ritual for the boys. Now, instead of facing each other across empty space as our team sat on altar steps and the students sat in rows of chairs, we were all  sitting together, shoulders touching shoulders, on stairs. Laughter and chatting that is the sign of real relationships had to be quieted down. Then, one of the teachers gave a short reflection on the verses in Romans (5:1-5) that say "suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope." It is not a question of whether the glass is half empty or half full, he concluded. It is having gratitude for there being something in the glass at all. This struck many of the folks in our group, as we imagined how it may have resonated with the boys. 

Later, as we gathered around the (literal) reflecting pool for our evening reflection, we were moved and left with questions from the day. The work projects done as a team in the morning had bonded us still further to each other and to some of the older teens who painted and rubbled alongside us. The learning and observations with The Micah Project raised questions for us about our role and motivations in global development and mission work. With what groups do we share values and with whom do we want to align? The playing, laughing, and singing with the boys of the Tech School offered some answers and solace, as we found ourselves part of a group and an effort bigger and more long-lasting than our own efforts. Out of many, one.

For me, I can't help but put what we are seeing and doing into a larger context. Since arriving in Honduras, I have been reading Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario (all credit to my son's teacher Mr. Valenzuela, who assigned it to his 7th grade Humanities students at Boston Latin Academy). Enrique's dangerous trek took him on the tops of freight cars, through deserts and rivers, from Honduras to the United States to reunite with his mother. She had left Tegu when Enrique was five years old so that she could get the employment and wages needed to raise her family. While she sent money back home, Enrique found himself suffering the loss and confusion that comes from missing his mom. He turned to glue to dull the hunger of poverty and sadness of loneliness; he feared and aligned himself (for safety) with the gangs that run parts of Tegu. And then he traveled with the approximately 75,000 Central American (including Honduran) unaccompanied children who every year make the treacherous journey to the perceived opportunities, love, and wholeness offered in the USA. Knowing I still have much more to learn about the ways global trade and US foreign policy have helped create these circumstances, what I can see is that El Hogar is offering--right now and in Honduras-- much of what Enrique and his mom both sought. El Hogar provides the education and job training, safety and freedom for play, and the love of and connection with family that answers the longings and needs of children like Enrique, teens in the plaza of Tegu, students at the Technical Institute, and adults like me all have.  E pluribus unum.

 

 

Reporting not so live from the wifi bench

Covered in paint and blisters we stomped on cockroches like nobody's business. Before you stop reading let me explain!

Hola! Although, I took a different route from Boston that landed me in Houston for an extended time, I finally made in to the beautiful land of Honduras a whole 24 hours later. This is Sandy with the official dish out on day 3 in land of the Catrachos.

Following another wonderful breakfast the group followed two of the young men from El Hogar to the art room. It was set up very much  like a play space with toys, games, and art projects strewn all over the place in a wonderful way. Our instructions were simple, move everything from the side and paint all the walls, however what seemed like a daunting task was quickly overcome by the climbing ability of our young helpers. They scaled the walls with ease, removing posters, pictures, nails, and banners so we had a blank canvas to start our project. Upon the arrival of the paint, a vital component, the team set out to create a vibrant, colorful space. Joined by a large group of our young friends, we were able to complete the majority of the task. The kids helped at every point along the way, only stopping because it was time for their class to begin.

Lunch was next, and we were once again treated to a masterful blend of vegetables, rice and of course tortillas.

After lunch the team broke off into painting and demolition groups. While one group put most of the final touches on our painting project, the other group proceeded to put their energy towards destruction as opposed to creation. The painting group got treated to a viewing of the many different art projects the kids have done including piñatas, flowers, and baskets made out of newspapers. The demo squad put together an impressive show of force and finesse as they dismantled an old cement banister to create space for a new reading room.

La cena followed, and with it brought the groups first interaction with crema, which blew their minds with its combination of cheese and milk.

After dinner, we enjoyed the evening games that the kids took part in, led by their incredible teachers. Then the group has the wonderful opportunity to hang out with the youngest group of boys, which included hot wheel races, coloring sheets, board games and catch.

Some of the group members stumbled upon Danza folk orica (traditional dancing). Bella and I sat there for a while watching six through sixteen year olds intently listening to their instructor and following the steps to the best of their ability  with a level of skill that impressed everybody. They did all this with huge smiles on their faces and they slowly mastered a big part of their culture. I felt proud for them, because it was incredible to see that they had the want to learn an older form of dance, often chanting "viva Honduras", with a beautiful combination of joy and pride.

In case you had forgotten about the cockroaches...

Eventually the feeling in the room was too intoxicating to not join, and first I and then Jeremy, Megan and Bella all jumped in to learn the dance. It was as if they were waiting for us to do so, because many of the older boys then took the time to teach all of us the steps, which was described as stomping on cockroaches, joining us as partners as well as extremely patiently helping us correct our many missteps. It was a truly amazing experience. Once we learned the main dance, all the younger dancers left to go to bed, while the older boys stayed to practice more with their teacher.

What came next was a truly beautiful site as this group of young men proceeded to dance five different styles of dance with each other and their teacher. The level of comfortability and affection they showed for each other was incredible and ran counter to the often misconstrued form of masculinity that many of us are used to from the States. Jeremy found it inspiring to see these young men take such pride in their dancing.

I'll leave you now, knowing that you all are still wondering what the crema sauce was actually like, and jealous of this incredible weather and experience. Till next time.

          - Sandy

Are soccer balls really that special? Day 2 in Honduras!

Hello! Bella here :) Unfortunately, I may not live up to "SSYP Team Run Down with Jeremy and Kiana" but I do hope to move and inspire you, while also making you laugh out loud every once in awhile as I share my experience from today.

It started with a breakfast of champions: pancakes, syrup and butter. We then made our way to St. Mary's Episcopal church where we participated in the service and when I say participated, I actually mean that you could have heard Jeremy singing from 3 miles away. But the best part about church was when we were given the chance to say La Paz and hug every person around us. There was a feeling of unity within this church and it made us feel welcomed and loved. 

After, we made our way up to Santa Lucia to visit the girls who recently lived at El Hogar. We enjoyed some fried chicken and coleslaw (nope, not KFC) as well as beans and tortillas. The real fun started when Kemarah pulled out the friendship bracelets and Liz, Jeremy, Franklin and Kate started a game of Uno. 

The view of the mountainside and the far off city of Tegucigalpa were not so bad either. 

Although I happened to love every part of today for a number of reasons, there is one I hold with me the most. As many of you may or may not know, soccer holds a special place in my heart. It's been my life for 15 years and now that my college soccer career is over, I look to find that love of the game anywhere I can. Well, I happened to find it right here in Honduras and I am thankful for that. 

This isn't just about soccer though. It's about the fact that something as simple as a ball can have a sense of unity. It's about the fact that this sport has made me feel comfortable and welcomed at El Hogar. 

I walked into this experience feeling anxious about not knowing Spanish. I step outside and find myself feeling uncomfortable over not being able to simply start a conversation with one of the kids because of my lack of knowledge in the language. But...that anxiety goes away as soon as I step on that soccer court.  And that's when I feel a sense of comfort, unity, and engagement. I feel welcomed. I feel accepted. All because of the game of soccer. Today, we ran around for about 3 hours just playing soccer. Some of us ended up on the ground a few times, some of us got nailed in the stomach, and some of us were getting schooled by Junior and Mario an embarrassing amount. But I found myself laughing at the same things they were laughing at, celebrating the same goals and tricks they were celebrating and finding the same frustration in losing the ball as they were finding. In all the ways we were different, we were similar. And that is what I loved about today.

Language barriers can seem impossible to get past but now I realize that there are more than just words that can bring us together. There are a number of universal languages out there that unite people. My two favorites just happen to be a smile and fútbol. 

The SSYP Team Rundown with Jeremy and Kiana

Three flights, a sleepless overnight in Miami airport, and enough coffee to fill an Olympic swimming pool later, the SSYP team has managed to have a fun, successful first day in Honduras. We're your co-hosts, Jeremy and Kiana, here to give you the rundown on the past 48 hours.

• 10 people made it to Logan Airport
• 50% of the people got stopped at security (apparently traveling with rolls of toilet paper and massive amounts of gummy worms is a crime?)
• 0 out of 9 anticipated having to take a shuttle, outside, at Laguardia airport (especially those wearing short sleeves)
• 9 of us made it to Miami; 4 chose to stay in a hotel, 5 endured an overnight at the airport #NEVERAGAIN
• In a move that questions the identity of the group, 5 team members chose Starbucks and 2 chose Dunkin to start the final flight of the trip off right 
• The group had a safe (but bumpy) landing on the famously difficult Tegucigulpa runway

The 9 of us arrived at El Hogar to an immense amount of smiles, hugs and a wonderful first lunch. After a brief tour, the group spent the afternoon getting acquainted with our home for the next six days. We played soccer, colored endless Minions and tried our best to keep the Jenga tower from falling again and again as the group spent an incredible first day hanging out and playing with the wonderful kids of  El Hogar. We are looking forward to Sandy's arrival tomorrow. 

Additional Fun Facts:

• Jeremy was asked if he was Kiana's dad, since he's 53 (according to the kids)
• Bella had to go back to Einstein's Bagels not once, not twice, but three times at 2 in the morning 
• Franklin is a celebrity here at El Hogar
• Kemarah is the candy queen 
• The SSYP crew is extremely out of shape and got schooled at soccer by children half our age

Thanks for joining us! Tune in tomorrow for the next episode of SSYP at El Hogar.

 

We have arrived at El Hogar (except for Sandy who is stuck in Houston and will hopefully join us tomorrow! We are happy to be here, particularly Franklin!

Most of the team (minus Kate, Franklin and Betsy)

Next weekend, 9 SSYP staffers and one college student will head to El Hogar in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. El Hogar is a home and a school for 250 children born into extreme poverty. It consists of 4 campuses- the elementary school, the technical school, the farm school and the high school girls campus. We will live at the elementary campus in Tegucigalpa but will travel to all campuses and have time to get to know the students and staff. We will hear from members of the community, visit other sites and organizations, play lots of soccer and UNO. We will learn about Honduras, about extreme poverty, about why a place like El Hogar exists. We hope you will join us in this experience by checking this blog every day for updates.