Letter of Thanks from Vincente Matute School, El Paraiso • Honduras

My name is María Isabel Urbina, and I am the director of Vincente Matute School in the community of El Paraíso Honduras. In the name of my students and myself, I thank Sustainable Harvest International, Erin Geiger and her family [SHI volunteer and supporters] for the projects they have done in my school. We have learned so much, not only about agriculture, but also about the environment.

With assistance from Jorge and Rigoberto (SHI-Honduran staff members), we have completed tree nurseries with both fruit and forest trees. These we planted during the school year in the watershed which provides vital liquid to our village. We have also planted small parcels of corn, beans and other vegetables using techniques that protect the soil and improve it. All of this has helped feed the 35 girls and boys that attend the school.

With SHI's support in the past years, we have finished the construction of an improved [wood-conserving] stove that we use to prepare food for the children. We have also gotten garbage cans and have taught the students to throw trash in one place and not to contaminate the area. Something very important is that SHI has helped us by providing 1,500 limperas ($90 U.S.) to establish a small store which sells school supplies and snacks. The student government runs the store and uses the profits to buy materials for the school and to improve the education of the students.

We hope to keep learning much more and ask you to keep supporting SHI because it is the only organization that has come to our village and our school.

Our deep thanks for everything.

María Isabel Urbina

Sustainable Harvest International  •  81 Newbury Neck Rd. Surry, ME 04684  •  207.374.2002 (phone)  •  207.374.2093 (fax)  •  info@sustainableharvest.org  •  www.sustainableharvest.org