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Honduras - Project in shelter for girls |
Organization- This organization is at the heart of poverty in Honduras. By means of good shelter, education, and attention it tries to give chanceless girls (orphans, victims of offenses, etc.) a somewhat different turn in life in order to develop a framework of well educated, strong, and independent women.
- The organization has got two shelter for girls. About 60 girls live internally and a dozen of the elderly girls live in apartments near the NGO in the form of assisted living.
- Besides the ‘girls homes’ this NGO has got a bilingual school for children from 4 through 11 years, a medical clinic, a language school, a computer lab and a hostel. In total, about 45 persons work in this organization.
Project activities- Babysitting small children
- Teaching at primary school
- Help at homework classes
- Undertaking activities with the girls
- Carrying out practical tasks
What’s expected of the volunteers?- Basic knowledge of Spanish language is required
- Basic knowledge of Latin American culture and Honduran culture in particular
- Insight in the development issues and the problems around street children is highly desirable
- Respect for the strong religious background of the organization
- Social
- Flexible
- Taking initiative
Accommodation and living environment- Housing, guidance (and meals) from the organization are available to the volunteer at a fixed, balancing charge per month. The organization has got a number of possibilities for living:
- A so called ‘volunteer home’. Maximum number of inhabitants is 8.
- A room at the terrain of the organization (depending on the volunteer work that is performed)
- A small apartment in the apartment complex of the elderly girls (when available)
- It is possible against payment per week to follow intensive language courses, given by qualified teachers at the language school of this NGO.
Period / duration- A period of 9 months is most suitable for this organization, but placement is already possible from 3 months.
Local costs- €100 for the first month, then €40 per month with a maximum of €300. These costs will be used for guidance during the first month; work supervision; board and lodging.
Experiences “The resilience and flexibility of the children I have experienced as a very positive thing! How brave and strong children they are in general ! I have heard a lot of stories of what the girls had to experience before they came to the orphanage. I saw three kids enter and it was fascinating to see how they develop and adapt during the first few weeks. I also found it nice to see that the girls are really there for each other. They really share good and bad things with each other as real sisters. I have great respect for the organization. And I think that their mission to let the girls grow up as strong individual Honduran women is truly reflected in practice.
I would also say that I felt very welcome and appreciated. I did enjoy the whole time tremendously. I was allowed to organize many nice activities with the social worker and the children. And I really felt that I had built up a nice relationship over time with both the children and the employees.
Just being there, and not necessarily having to do something, watching television together with the children, chatting, jumping into what is necessary at the moment, that was something to get used to in the beginning. “ Vanessa
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