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Report from SHI- Honduras Program Coordinator Yovany Munguia

The community of Texoxingales is situated in a remote and very mountainous area in the municipality of Azacualpa in the district of Santa Barbara.  SHI Honduras began working in the community last year and in February we started our work with the Rutilia del Carmen Pena grade school, named in honor of a teacher that helped to construct the school.  The school has 31 students: 12 girls and 19 boys.  SHI Honduras, with the support of a young North American volunteer, Erin Geiger, began a small work plan that the students and the school director, Maynor Arita, undertook with great enthusiasm. "This is the first time that an organization has come to our school to help us because we are so far from Azacualpa (the nearest large village) and because of the terrible path no one has ever tried to come where we are.” Stated the director.

With this level of motivation they started to work.  SHI-Honduras provided some agricultural tools (hoes, rakes, watering cans, mattocks) and a hose that they used immediately to establish a school garden on the premises of the school.   They spent three months caring for their garden and things went so well that in June they harvested sweet chilies, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, cabbages, corn and beans that according to Maynor Arita, "the children ate until they could burst and they brought [the vegetables] to their homes and ate with their parents and little brothers and sisters. Apart from this, the student government sold garden vegetables and made 400 lempiras (approximately $25) that we use to buy a few products to improve the school. “  The school has plans to grow an even larger garden next year from which they hope to sell part of the production to benefit the students.

But this is not all the students have done.  SHI has provided nursery bags and tree seeds and they have created a nursery with 1000 plants that were in excellent condition when I visited at the end of June.  The plants growing were mahogany, cedar and yellow cassia.  They students plan to reforest the watershed of the community and the school grounds.  “The girls have shown the most enthusiasm with the nurseries and plants.  They have devoted their recesses to weeding an watering.” Said the director.

After seeing such motivation on the part of the students and an application written by the members of the school government, SHI established a fund of 1,300.00 Limperas ($80.00 US) for the creation of a school business maintained by the boy and girls with the support of their teachers.  With this fund they have bought school supplies and items that they sell during snack time.  This small business started at the end of July and in one month has done well.  The teacher has mailed us a note of thanks:

"I am deeply grateful for the help of Sustainable Harvest; we never imagined that after knowing us for only five months you would have the confidence to give us this funding, possibly it was because of the accomplishments and dedication that the students have offered the program.  We have good and ambitious plans that we hope to accomplish with you.  Thank you, thank you for all your support, continue to support us for more time."

Click here to read more about our school programs.