HONDURAS

In Honduras, we now support two projects dedicated to the acquisition of education and professional qualifications: The daycare center “Pasos Pequeñitos” (Spanish for “Little Steps”) and the vocational preparation “Talleres” (Spanish for workshops). During our first visit to Honduras in 2017, we got to know both projects.

Pasos Pequeñitos gives young single mothers in the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa the opportunity to complete their training or studies while their children are cared for in a loving environment by Honduran professionals. In this way, we can contribute to effective work on two levels at once.

The vocational preparation project “Talleres” enables disadvantaged youth to gain practical experience in various trades in a 3-year program under the guidance of Honduran professionals. The program ends with a nationally recognized examination. This is an important prerequisite for further qualification as a trained specialist.

Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America and offers the relatively young population few prospects. Up to 60% of the population lives in poverty, unemployment is over 40% and access to education is very limited due to strong urban-rural differences, especially after six years of elementary school. This leads to extreme poverty, causing migration to the capital region or the US.
Rural communities in particular suffer from a very low level of education and mass migration, which lead to a worsening of the precarious conditions in the area. We want to specifically provide vocational preparation for young people from particularly poor families in rural areas, so that they can succeed in breaking out of the cycle of poverty and fundamentally improve their individual prospects in life.

Honduras is also one of the most violent countries in the world. Crime, poverty and insecurity are part of everyday life for many families. Prices for food and even water are unaffordable for the majority of the population. Out of necessity, many families send their children to work to help feed the family. Consequently, it is particularly difficult for young single mothers. The mothers of the day care center “Pasos Pequeñitos”, come from very poor, sometimes dangerous neighborhoods. We want to offer them the possibility of an education, so that they can provide for themselves and their children in the future.