Hola. My name is Cristina, an Italian girl working as sales administrator for a tour operator in Brighton, England.

I have always wanted to take part in a volunteer project working with children and this summer I convinced myself that it was my time.

When I chose "Honduras Children" I was looking for a project that helps poor children who can't afford to go to school. Also I wanted to go to a country where the economy really needed help. I spent the past year saving hard to take this opportunity to experience working in a country that still doesn't have the resources to improve its economy by itself due to poverty, corruption and criminality.
 

When I arrived on the 30th of July I was quite nervous because of all the terrible news I have read recently about Honduras, but as the weeks went on, I got closer to this beautiful country and its friendly people. Using simple, common sense rules, there was really nothing to be afraid of.

El Polvenir is a small village about 20 minutes from the large touristic city of La Ceiba. The people here don't have much. The majority of men, if they are fortunate enough to have a job, usually work in the pineapple fields working for no more than $10 a day. Unfortunately the level of education is low and the young people don't know better than to end up in the drug business.

"Honduras Children" was born with the purpose of fighting the tragic destiny of these young people and to teach them, whilst they are young, that education will provide them a valid alternative in life. At the beginning of each academic year, Amalia and Charlie, the founders of the project, collect the children most in need of support. Kids with a single parent or parents with illnesses etc, they make sure that they go through the year learning as much as possible and that at the end of the year, they are ready for graduation.

Working with the Children in "Si Se Puede" was an amazing and rewarding experience. I woke up happy every morning, happy to be spending my time with them. I was travelling to the kindergarten on my bicycle, looking curiously around. Once i arrived, the kids began running toward me, super happy and screaming "Senorita Cristina! Senorita Cristina!". Together, we studied basic English, we painted, colored and we did lots of craft work.

If a child was absent from school for a long period, Amalia would go personally to check if everything is ok where they live. Occasionally, we walked together around the neighborhoods where the children live; these were the most difficult moments of my Honduran adventure. I saw a family of 19 people living in the same house which is not much bigger than my bedroom back in England. They don't live in real houses as i know them, but what seem like cardboard houses located in flooded areas. The hygiene is very poor and some of the parents are ill.

One of the children I met has a mother who is very ill with diabetes; she can barely see or walk anymore. We went to visit her and she told me her child said to her one day, "Mama when I grow up I want to be a doctor so that I can cure you properly". This sort of motivation is probably what will save him from the street.

When I wasn't in the Kindergarten, I spent my spare time doing excursions during the weekends, walking around the village and getting to know the locals a bit better and obviously enjoying the tropical paradise that goes from Pico Bonito national park to Cayos Cochinos marine national park passing through the beautiful Caribbean Bay Islands and the Maya Ruin of Copan.

The people of "Honduras Children" are making such a big difference in this country which is so beautiful but yet so problematic at the same time.

I left a part of my heart there... the only thing I will not miss are the mosquito's.

Thanks; Cristina

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Capri Colello
Sep 29
To Those Hopefully Fellow Volunteers
My experience with Charles and Amalia's Kinder Care was not only eye opening but a wonderful experience. First I would like to say after months of researching volunteering sites and programs Charles was the only one whom was personally responsive and engaging. I corresponded a number of times with him via e-mail as well as telephone (no charge) to ask as many questions and find out as many details as possible. He was incredibly helpful and made me feel completely comfortable with making my final choices on booking this trip. I found most programs to be incredibly expensive and volunteers needed to be present for at least one month. At Kinder you can stay as little as a week or as many months as you want. Though the drive to EL Porvenir from San Pedro Sula is 3 1/2 hours it gives you an opportunity to absorb the culture and settle your mind for your time ahead. Though there is transportation to our exact location Charles was going to be in the nearby town of La Cieba and was nice enough to pick us up there. He recommended that we pick up some groceries as our accommodations had a full kitchen . Basically a lovely home converted into a hostel but feels more like your sleeping at home in your own bedroom (I shared mine with my dear friend Julie). Bathroom and running water all good. We even had to sweet dogs on property.

Charles and Amalia live right on the corner before and we shared many terrace chats with them throughout the days and a farewell dinner. Every day we arrived at school between 7-7:30 and were there until 12:30. Estella was the Kinder teacher of close to 20 kids ages 4-6. She gives you the freedom to interact with the kids as often as you like and encourages creativity. We helped with their daily lesson book, taught some simple words in English, arts, crafts, colored, helped with lunches and played with during lunch break. All their individual personalities will touch you. We also had an opportunity to meet with some of the parents at Kinder Care and in the Barrio. Amalia passes out packets of rice once a month and spends time with several of the local families at their homes. We were lucky enough to be invited along and though we didn't know fluent Spanish they treated us with incredible warmth and welcomeness.

If you care to venture out during your stay on your down time I highly recommend inquiring with Charles and Amalia about their local guide close by (his name escapes me) to take you through the Dole fields to the national forest Pico Bonito for a nice hike and swim in the waterfalls...also an hour boat ride away is Cayos one of the small 15 islands off the coast to snorkel and interact with some more locals in entirely different area.

Overall I had an amazing experience and would definitely go back. As well as recommend sponsoring a child and or supporting their cause on any level even if its donating things through the mail which are much needed!!

Much love to Charles, Amalia, The Kids, Estella and all whom I met in La Cieba during my stay...Muy Buena Onda!!!!!XOXO