It takes a village to raise a child but this village needs your help.

  This past October ('07), the Campesino group that we have been working with for about a year now was  forced off the land they have occupied for more than 6 years. We assisted them in relocating with numerous trips of 3 pickups, to some land that HHK and our partners, Amigos of Honduras are buying for them closer to the town of La Bomba.

They and we hauled wood, zinc roofing, household possessions and chickens. Men, women and children made many trips carrying their possessions to their new living sites. They were initially living in shacks made from plastic tarps, with few possessions. They left behind their abobe huts.

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They have very little, including food, and need just about everything. When the rains started, there were lots of wet, kids.  We have taken them fortified rice, tomato soup, folding metal beds, rolls of plastic and many truckloads of ripe bananas. This is just a band-aid. In January we were able to provide wood and zinc roofing to improve the the strength of their homes against wind and rain - - but they need more permanent housing.

On a positive note, they have made much progress in the past few months.  They have named their village Solares Nuevos and have formed a ‘patronato’ which they will use to self govern.  Together we have dug a well and have built a central structure that has a concrete floor and a roof and will be used as a common area for meals and a kinder.

Most of the kids have never attended school and some of our volunteers made contact with the director of the local school, helped register the kids and have provided uniforms and school supplies.  The younger children are being taught by our volunteers in the 'common-building'.  When the older kids return from school, we work with them too.

They need to learn basics like the alphabet and numbers.  They need to learn appropriate school behavior, raising one’s hand, sitting in a circle, etc.  We also want them to have some exposure to learning English and computers and the adults have expressed some interest as well. This is a new project and a tremendous opportunity to help since ANY educational opportunities we provide for these kids (and adults) will be more than they have ever had before.

Volunteers for this project live with other volunteers at a house we have rented in El Cacao or at homestays in La Ceiba.  It’s a bit of a commute by bus (45 mins. from Ceiba and 20 minutes from Cacao) but so worthwhile to help stabilize this new community of people who have never before had a true home. 

If you feel in your heart that you want to help this community - - men in need of jobs, pregnant women, old people and lots of little children, please use our website to make a contribution (fastest) or send a check made out to Helping Honduras Kids, 305 Vineyard Town Ctr #253, Morgan Hill, Ca 95037.  It is also possible to become a monthly sponsor of this community.