Long longed holiday in Santa Rosa de Copán
After more than one and a half years we could finally go back to Santa Rosa de Copán and enjoy there our favourite vacation. During the time of construction of the vocational training centre, there was no running water, a lot of noise and dirt, and therefore not the ideal site for a holiday with many children. The new vocational training centre offers a lot of space, in the near future, this will then be used as an educational institution but temporarily we have transformed it into our getaway. Training premises were turned into dormitories and life has filled the new walls for the first time. We were able to spend wonderful, relaxing and happy days. The older girls helped actively in the kitchen while the older boys supported the masons with the construction of the outer wall and the little ones enjoyed the beautiful nature and freedom. We went often for walks, played a lot table games or hide and seek, spent time with the pets, organized movie nights and enjoyed the unspoiled environment. All have enjoyed this holiday very much and the children were excellently behaved, because of that we are convinced that this was not our last vacation ...
Visit by INTERACT
INTERACT is a club for young people ages 12-18 who want to join together to tackle the issues in their community that they care most about. Every INTERACT club carries out projects that help the school or the community and which encourages international understanding. Behind the project lies a local Rotary Club, which promotes the young people in their endeavour and helps them to finance their projects A group visited us on a Saturday afternoon and were immediately involved in our childrens’ activities. Some spent their time playing volleyball, others painted faces or motivated each other to rehearse a dance. It's amazing how teens of the same age immediately find access to our children and vice versa. The openness they prove in approaching each other is admirable, for this reason they are quick in finding common interests which lead to friendships and suddenly do social differences play a subordinate role.
Caminando con amor
This year, for the sixth time, the festival, under the motto "Camindando con amor", was organized by the children's home Emanuel. Our children knew what to expect and could hardly keep the anticipation in check. Different companies supported this event and during that day they were each responsible for one of the children's home. They distributed the food, playedwith the children, handedover the TOM'S shoes and accompanied the children to the stage, so that everyone could enjoy themselves. A total of around 20 children's homes participated as well as institutions dedicated to the benefit of children and families and their political party representatives. For the children it was particularly nice to see well-known friends of the IHNFA, to exchange the latest news and to chat about common experiences.
Program against illiteracy
The Honduran education system is the most backward of Central America; only 32 out of 100 pupils end elementary school and statistics show that the national illiteracy rate is at 28%, in rural areas it rises even up to 35.6% with people aging 60 or over. Through the program "Honduras Aprende" (Honduras learns), upper-level students have to teach adult illiterates during 100 lessons, so that they can receive their intermediate-school diploma. Yulissa, had to look for two people in the city who are eligible for this program. This task was not easy as many illiterate people do not have the will to learn to read or write, or they feel embarrassed about it, or they do not recognize the added value at that time. In the end, however, she found a 38-year-old female, who was classified in the 1st class and a 26-year-old woman, in the 3rd class. After half a year, these two women are allowed to accept the nationally recognized diploma for their respective class. For Yulissa this social internship was obligatory, retrospectively she thought it was very demanding but she had learned an infinite amount. She had toprepare and carry out the school lessons independently, as well as the examinations which she then had to correct and evaluate herself. Gaining insights into the teaching profession has proved to be very valuable; shesuddenly seems much more comprehensible towards her own teachers.
New roof for the ‘Sala Cuna'
As reported in the last newsletter, for a matura assignement two students have organized a donation walk through the Canton of Grisons, in favour of our children's home. The first part of the collected donations we have now used for a new roof of the ‘Sala Cuna’ (baby department). The corrugated sheet of the roof was already very old and when it rained we had to place in various places in the living room as well as in the playroom some buckets to catch the rainwater. Now the roof has been renovated, it is perfectly sealed and we are prepared for the rainy season. At this point, once again, a heartfelt thank you to Jvana Netzer and Martina Bläsi.