We are in Honduras, a country that makes your mind contort as you look around. There is a large influence from the other “America” here - everything from KFC, to McDonalds, to Walmart, Costco, Dunkin Donuts - and coffee shops on every corner. When you look at the other side of the road you will see shanties (chabolas) that are merely stone walls with metal roofs with logs on the roof to hold them down in the wind. But what is also here is crime, although you might not see it as obviously. Here the gangs run the rural parts of the country, just outside the city, where the poorest of the poor are.
It is risky for us “gringos” to venture into those areas and also risky for the children who come to collect their bedkits, as we are traversing on their territory. So we teeter on the edge . . . going to schools near - or between - gang run areas (with police or municipal escorts, of course - just in case). That's about as close as we can get that will allow us to help the children, but not endanger anyone, and that keeps our Rotarian and Rotaractor colleagues safe and at peace with their community.
So why do we come here if it's somewhat dangerous? Well we don't really go into danger zones, but mostly because the children need us! So far we have been to 3 schools in borderline areas and each school has thanked us immensely for “not forgetting them,” and for including their children in our program. The smiles, the comments such as “God bless you,” of “I love you” that we hear from the children along with the high-fives and the hugs help us all know how gratifying this work can be.
Maybe WE are the hope that these children need to feel pulling them towards a different way of life as they get older?
That’s why we come here.
Team Honduras, 2025
The Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 and SCAW 🇨🇦