In 2000, teacher Patty Villanueva witnessed that the underprivileged children around her in the small Honduran town of La Entrada were unable to go to school. As an educator herself, she therefore decided to make a difference.
Hearts for Honduras is a special school co founded by Ms Villanueva, in order to ensure that children of impoverished families get a chance at education, attempting to put an end to the poverty cycle.
In addition to providing a variety of classes including English and ICT, the school also provides one nutritious meal a day, medical and dental care, and essential vitamins that the children sorely need.
Soon, the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church in New Jersey, USA, adopted the school and founded a fund called Friends of the Hearts for Honduras. Money raised by this fund has been used to build more classrooms and purchase essential school supplies and uniforms for the students. On their annual visits to Honduras, members of the Church also assist by teaching, constructing, and engaging with projects which are currently under-way.
Recently, author Susan Gibbons, who regularly visits the school to help out, wrote a book on Villanueva’s journey through the founding of Hearts for Honduras. Gibbons has published a bilingual book for children called Love Grows/El Amore Crece, that demonstrates how doing good is important and enriching. Although she had intended the book to be distributed among her son’s kindergarten class for Valentine Day’s special event, the sheer popularity of the book compelled her to publish it.
Now, Gibbons has dedicated 100% of the sales proceeds to the Friends of the Hearts for Honduras, and more funds will contribute to the growth of this school.
The school was started in 2000 with 23 first graders; today, Hearts for Honduras has 200 students spread across six grades. When the students reach the end of their studies, they receive diplomas and certificates from Microsoft. Many of these students dream of college, something that without Ms Villanueva’s help, would have never been possible.
Creative Commons Love: waterdotorg on Flickr
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