Category: Education

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A Scholarship Helps Two Sisters

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Mariela Rodriguez – Communications Coordinator

During my recent trip to Honduras I was able to talk to some youth from our scholarship program and I wanted to share a story about the impact of your commitment to our student’s education in rural Intibuca, Honduras. 
Meet Eva, she is an eight grade student who was cheery walking into the office where I met her. Eva and her older sister have been raised by a single mother- which has presented her family with many difficulties. However, her mother has made the education of her daughters a priority.

[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”11655″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Eva’s older sister is in high school, which means that there are more educational expenses (books, supplies, transportation, etc) for the family. If Eva was not receiving help from the Shoulder to Shoulder scholarship program, her mother would only be able to afford to keep one of her daughters in school.  Instead, the added financial support from Eva’s scholarship allows two sisters the ability to study.

Eva also shared how she experienced trauma early in her young life which has left her with emotional scars. She also suffers from a respiratory illness which often lands her in the clinic for the day – causing her to miss school. Despite all of these obstacles Eva has been able to maintain good grades and is motivated to keep studying just like her sister. She thanks the donors who are able to make her scholarship a reality and allow her and her sister to study, helping them come closer to graduating. 

Thank you for your time and commitment to our project![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Antonio’s Trade for School

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”12113″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Meet Antonio, a colegio bilingual track student. When the pandemic hit in 2020 he dropped out. Yet, I often saw him walking back his classmates from school – he stood out without a uniform. I did not think much of this, but on our director’s most recent trip she reported Antonio had returned to school! Nervous, but confident he sought our director to talk and she was surprised at how much his English had progressed. Antonio shared that he returned to study even after doing remedial classes and being put a year behind his peers. A school administrator also chimed in how Antonio had SOLD his phone to pay for his uniform and supplies. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]We could not believe how a teenager had persevered through so many setbacks and was still able to choose over and over again to keep studying. Antonio realized the value in continuing his bilingual education every time that he walked home with his peers.

That is why we need your help to raise funds for our education program to support students, who like Antonio may face many adverstities in our region, yet choose to keep going.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”12114″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center”][vc_btn title=”Support Antonio ” color=”primary” size=”lg” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalgiving.org%2Fprojects%2Finspire-3000-honduran-children-to-excel%2F%3Frf%3Dproject_appeal_9518″][vc_column_text]

More than ever your donation means so much to us.

In solidarity,

Mariela Rodriguez

Comunications Coordinator[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Igniting the Reading “Spark”

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Minsis Ramos – Assistant Director

We are pleased to tell you about a NEW CHAPTER in our book of continued commitment to foster reading! As our education team continues trekking towards providing a wholesome education for our students, we created a partnership with Proyecto Chispa or “Project Spark.” This non-profit in Honduras focuses on providing books to schoolchildren and preparing teachers to engage creatively with their students.

[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”11649″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Chispa training; trainers in 2 corners” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:15px|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Hind%3A300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1691087905120{margin-top: -25px !important;}”][vc_column_text]

Together with the Department of Education in Intibuca, we provided training sessions for 120 teachers. Our Chispa partners covered topics like how to motivate students to keep reading a book they’ve already started and how to foster imagination by asking children to think of alternative book endings. Many teachers not only received the benefit of passing this knowledge on to their students, but also to their own children as many of them are parents too. One teacher mentioned how this initiative complements the digital books already available in Kolibri. Adding how her students come from low-income backgrounds who “couldn’t allow themselves to buy a book, yet in Kolibri we have a great diversity of books. [I am] very happy to utilize this teaching method in my classes.”

With the conclusion of this training we have begun preparing our schools for this year’s reading contest as we create excitement amongst the professors who can then ignite the “spark” onto their students.

Until the next chapter!

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