In every society there are children with special needs. These needs include things like blindness, deafness, Down syndrome, and autism. Children in Honduras are no different. However, what is different in Honduras is that in a town like Siguatepeque, the public school system has no funds for a special needs school. And the Honduran government only provides limited assistance. In short, there is no way for these children to receive even a basic education without the intervention of private individuals and charitable organizations.
Accordingly, 15 or 20 years ago, a charitable organization decided to get a special needs school started in Siguatepeque. This organization did not have a lot of funds for the project, and so about 10 years ago, they asked the Society of the Good Shepherd if we could help them in various ways. Since then, the Society has been involved with the special needs school helping with projects like building outdoor fixtures, painting the school rooms, and making financial contributions.
The school has now grown to 110 students and has recently moved to a new location that is large enough for all the students. Because there is only one school to service the entire region, many students come from the mountain villages and surrounding towns to receive this special education they are unable to receive elsewhere.
The Honduran government pays the salaries ($350/month) for three teachers: first grade, 2nd through 6th grades, and 7th through 9th grades. In addition, it provides a therapist who works with the blind students, teaching them to read braille. These paid teachers are supplemented by volunteer teachers, who give art classes, teach sign language, and provide extra tutoring. One mom volunteers with the kindergarten children every day.
In general, the students receive more love and attention at this school than at home, so they thrive in this school setting. They love the routine and safety. All the students work together to maintain cleanliness in their classrooms, and the teachers make sure they are able to do their homework on their own at home. This autonomy builds their self-esteem, which is evident from the smiles on their faces.
The Honduran government usually provides rice and beans for the children’s meals, but sometimes it does not have anything to give the school. During the month of May, there was no food from the government, so the students didn’t receive any food at school. It was a long and hard month for the children, as they look forward to the school meals each day, as this energy helps them to get through their classes.
The director of the school, Iris Mendoza, is a committed Christian who works night and day to find extra school donations and to locate volunteers to help teach. She also organizes different fundraisers, like a recent 5K race, and she prays constantly for the school.
The students are asked to pay $250 a year for their tuition, books, and materials. Presently, 31 of the students are unable to pay this small annual amount. Our readers have provided a full scholarship for one of these students, a girl named Nayeli—but we still need to raise scholarships for the remaining 30 students. One of our readers has volunteered to fully match any donations made for these scholarships. In other words, for each reader who donates $250 to sponsor one student for a year, this person will sponsor an additional student for a full year. In short, if we can raise the $250 tuition for fifteen students, we will have all thirty students covered for a year—because of the matching grant. This provides a golden opportunity to help “the least of these my brothers.
Julie Nyhoff de Valladares
The Society of the Good Shepherd, P. O. Box 122, Amberson, PA 17210 • (717) 349-7033
Click on the following link if you would care to make a donation to the work in Honduras: Honduras Donations
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