Welcome, Fall 2018 Volunteers! This school year we are excited to welcome five new volunteers, as well as to welcome back returning volunteers Stephanie and Dani! Read on to learn about the newest additions to the Olancho Aid family. Rachael Cina Hello, my name is Rachael and I am from Boston, Massachusetts. I grew up in New Hampshire, and attended college at Lesley University where I studied Global Studies and Women's Studies. I just graduated from Boston College with my … [Read more...]
Teacher Alumni Return for Mission Trip
Recently, Olancho Aid Foundation welcomed back four volunteer alumni who all taught for a year in Santa Clara classrooms. Here is a note from one of them, Dana, describing her experience returning as a mission team member:Going back to Honduras with some of my roommates and co-teachers from the 2014-2015 school year was one I will never forget! At times it felt like we had never left, but it was also great to see the progress that the Olancho Aid Foundation has made over the past few years. … [Read more...]
Welcome, Summer 2018 Volunteers!
Welcome, Summer 2018 Volunteers! This summer, Olancho Aid welcomes three new volunteers to our program. Gina, Stephanie, and Savannah all join us following short-term mission trips with Holy Family Parish in Tennessee. They will be serving in different capacities in the Foundation both on the ground in Honduras and virtually in the United States, and we are so excited to have them on our team! Gina Schmid, Long-Term Volunteer Gina Schmid is from Brentwood, TN. She is … [Read more...]
Olancho Aid Spotlight: Emily Hoefs
Olancho Aid Spotlight: Emily HoefsAge: 22 Hometown: Greeley, Colorado University: University of Northern ColoradoWhen did you join Olancho Aid? I joined Olancho Aid in January.How did you first hear about Olancho Aid? I first heard about Olancho Aid last summer. I was interning at Catholic Relief Services at their global headquarters in Baltimore, MD. I loved the work I was doing, but I had a stronger desire to work more closely with the people I was serving. So a fellow … [Read more...]
Olancho Aid Volunteer Experience (Video)
Olancho Aid Volunteer Experience The Olancho Aid Foundation couldn't provide a quality English education without our team of international volunteers. We are so grateful for all that they do, and are so excited to share with you some of their experiences. Interested in joining our volunteer program? Apply today for openings in August and January! … [Read more...]
New Gardens for Olancho Aid Students
New Gardens for Olancho Aid Students Since joining the Olancho Aid family at the beginning of January, long-term volunteer Delton Phan has been tasked with a number of projects at both Centro Escolar Bilingue Santa Clara and Instituto Bilingue Santa Clara. Some of his responsibilities have included assisting in art classes with elementary students, helping design and paint murals with high school students, implementing a recycling program, and planting gardens at both … [Read more...]
ESL Academy at Olancho Aid
ESL Academy at Olancho Aid Anne Foley, Ph.D. Instructional Designer In November 2016, I came to Juticalpa, Honduras to work with Miss Alma Sagastume, the principal at Santa Clara Bilingual School, to develop an ESL program to improve English language skills for the teachers and staff at the schools. As a bilingual school, it is necessary that all staff have competency in spoken English and that classroom teachers also have fluency in reading and writing English. Ms. Sagastume’s goal was for … [Read more...]
First Impressions
First Impressions by Emily Hoefs Lush green mountain ranges for miles in every direction - this was the first glimpse I got of Honduras as our flight was descending into Tegucigalpa. The natural beauty of this country only became more surreal the further we drove to our new home of Juticalpa. But it's not just Mother Nature that adds to the beauty of this country, the vibrant Honduran culture is what gives this country life.On my flight here I sat next to a couple from San Pedro … [Read more...]
Welcome, New Volunteers!
Welcome, Daniel, Emily, and Delton! Olancho Aid welcomes three volunteers who will serve with our team for the next four months. We are all excited for our new team members who will be joining four year-long volunteers who arrived over the summer. Meet the new volunteers! Julio Daniel Da Costa Daniel is from Misiones, Argentina. He earned an International Baccalaureate from United World College Costa Rica in 2013, and graduated from Wartburg College in 2017, earning a … [Read more...]
How did I get here?
SPOT CAMERA REFLECTIONS How did I get here?A year after my stint as District Governor, I saw a PowerPoint presentation by a Lion named Claire M. Sullivan. I knew Claire from the Westport (Mass. 33-S) Lions Club. Her presentation was about a religious (Catholic) based organization in the Central American country of Honduras. This organization is known as Olancho Aid and is based in the city of Juticulpa. Olancho is the Department (State) in Honduras where Juticulpa is situated. Her … [Read more...]