Blog|News

February 13, 2024 As we enter the sacred season of Lent, marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, students return to school in Honduras for the beginning of a new academic year. While we welcome them back over the next 6 weeks, we’d like to introduce you to some of the people involved in each of […]

¡Buscamos candidatos para miembros de la junta directiva de la OAF! Olancho Aid Foundation está buscando 2 o 3 nuevos miembros de la junta directiva para apoyar y avanzar en nuestra misión. En particular, esperamos invitar a candidatos con experiencia en liderazgo/administración educativa, especialmente en Honduras, gestión de proyectos centrados en la educación y finanzas/contabilidad […]

Seeking OAF Board Member Candidates! Olancho Aid Foundation is looking for 2-3 new board members to support and advance our mission. In particular, we hope to invite candidates with expertise in educational leadership/administration especially in Honduras, education-focused project management, nonprofit finance/accounting. See the full board member job description.

Spotlight: Olancho Aid’s Clean Water Champion, Pablo Sarmiento!   Starting in 2014, Olancho Aid began to confront a significant issue facing rural families in Honduras: the lack of access to clean water. It is common in Honduras for many rural communities to source their water from rivers that can be contaminated with agricultural waste and […]

Six Questions and Answers about the Traveler Program For the first time, Olancho Aid is hosting trips that individuals, families, and small groups can sign up for. Since the program is new, there are lots of questions about how it will work and who can get involved. Here are some answers! If  you have a […]

Olancho Aid Foundation Names Lauren O’Neill New Executive Director Olancho Aid Foundation is pleased to announce that Lauren O’Neill has been named Executive Director. Lauren was previously in the role of Director of Honduran Operations. She has more than 10 years experience in grassroots leadership, strategic partnership management, and international development along with a strong […]

A History of Escuelita Nazareth Nazareth, a Project of Love The story of Nazareth begins with the arrival of a girl with Down syndrome at the Concepción de María School Center, her name was Tania Lemus. She sparked the interest of Licda. Blanca Rivera who believed children with disabilities should have the opportunity to receive […]

Why do they leave home? “You work in Honduras, help me understand why people leave.” “Why do people keep trying to cross the border even knowing they are unlikely to make it to the U.S. and not be deported?” “What is the Church doing to help suffering Hondurans?” “How can I help members of our […]

Dear Friends, When I met the founder of Olancho Aid, he asked me three questions. “Do you know special education? Do you know construction? And finally, do you want to learn? I could only answer the last question enthusiastically, and I said, “yes!” Believe me, I had no idea how much I would come to […]

Olancho Aid Foundation Names Lauren O’Neill New Director of Honduran Operations (Directora de Desarrollo)    We welcome Lauren O’Neill to the Olancho Aid Foundation, Inc. team as Director of Honduran Operations. Lauren brings over 10 years experience in grassroots leadership, strategic partnership management, and international development along with a strong background working with NGOs that […]

Rob Privette completed his term of service as a board member in December 2020. In many ways, he has been supporting Olancho Aid for over 13 years. Below are thoughts from Rob about his time with the Foundation.  It seems like only yesterday that in 2007 Kristi and I were making preparations to go to […]

Thank you to outgoing board treasurer, Rob Privette, DVM, for his many years of service to Olancho Aid Foundation.   Kind. Calm. Steady. If you’ve met Rob Privette, you know these adjectives fit. His term of volunteer service with the Olancho Aid Foundation Board of Directors ended in December and he will certainly be missed. […]

Dear Friends, My heart gets heavy when friends ask, “how much more can Honduras take?” The successive challenges of the last year have layered hardship on the shoulders of the most vulnerable in my community. When it starts to feel overwhelming, I think of the verse below. It does not say that we must have […]

Dear Friends, Across the world, the poor have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 94,500 Hondurans have tested positive for the disease. In the last month, Olancho became the region with the fastest growing rate of cases and tragically, the fatality rate in the state is over 12%. Access to care is limited, […]

Today, the Board of Directors of the Olancho Aid Foundation unanimously voted to create the “Father Richard Donahue Legacy Fund.”  Donations received in Father Donahue’s name will be utilized to sustain current operations at Escuelita Nazareth and enhance programming that benefits individuals with disabilities and their families in Olancho Honduras. Contributions in memory of Father […]

September 3, 2020 Dear Friends, As you know, the last few months have been arduous for the people of Honduras and we at Olancho Aid have been faced with difficult decisions. Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you who contributed to the Coronavirus Relief Fund, Olancho Aid has been able to maintain limited operations […]

Olancho Aid Foundation and the Diocese of Juticalpa Partners in Faith: Catholic Values in Action by Dr. Susan Nedza The Olancho Aid Foundation remains committed to supporting the Diocese of Juticalpa and its mission during these difficult times and in the future. For over twenty years, our partnership with the Diocese first under the leadership […]

Dear Friends, Thank you for all of your prayers and financial support that has allowed the Olancho Aid Foundation to continue its mission in Honduras. Your support has meant that our seniors graduated from Instituto Bilingue Santa Clara. It meant that we were able to transition to online education for students in both bilingual schools […]

Living Our Mission During the Coronavirus Pandemic On March 16th, Honduran officials implemented a shelter in place order for people across the country in hopes of slowing the spread of COVID-19. Olancho has strictly enforced the lock down, halting travelers in and out of the department. The massive impact on the economy means more people […]

Inside Kellogg featured this article from Dr. Susan Nedza about experiences that influenced Olancho Aid’s response to COVID-19. EMBA Alumni Collaborate to Support a Community in Honduras April 23, 2020 By Susan Nedza (EMBA 2000) I recall being assured on entrance to Kellogg that, as a graduate, I would be equipped with the knowledge and […]

Faith Serving Abroad   Looking from the time I started volunteering in late August in Julticalpa, Honduras until now, it has truly been such an experience. I was originally supposed to come to Honduras a year ago but I decided to defer for a year. I felt that I was not mentally and emotionally ready […]

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, most Olancho Aid volunteers returned home. Here is a post from Jim Walker, one of the volunteers who was forced to end his term of service early. Olancho Aid Volunteers – Safe and well taken care of in uncertain times! I made my fourth volunteer trip to Juticalpa in very […]

COVID-19 in Honduras On Saturday, March 14th, Honduras issued an “Alerta Roja” (Red Alert) after additional cases of COVID-19 were confirmed. Airports and borders between Honduras and its neighboring countries have been closed to all but essential travel. The country is focused on keeping the virus out of the country as an outbreak would seriously […]

You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that roams in darkness, nor the plague that ravages at noon. Ps 91:5-6 Merciful God, hear our fervent prayer for all who suffer from Coronavirus. May those who are infected receive the proper treatment and the […]

Spring 2020 Volunteers In January 2020, three new volunteers joined Dani Da Costa, Karen Wiley, Anne Foley, and Mai Tran who returned from the previous semester. All of these volunteers have been living and working in Juticalpa to support Honduran staff in various capacities. Keep reading to learn more about the newcomers! Mark Wessel, Strategic […]

Gifts Honduras Gave Me This is my third trip volunteering in the bilingual schools with Olancho Aid.  I come to the schools after a lifetime in US schools as a teacher, administrator, college professor, and literacy coach.  While I arrive in Honduras with the intention of teaching school teachers and administrators, I actually learn as […]

Welcome, Fall 2019 Volunteers     This fall at Olancho Aid, we are joined by two new long-term volunteers, in addition to returning volunteers Daniel Da Costa, Stephanie Fore, and Karen Wiley. Please join us in welcoming Fernando Gonzalez and Mai Tran; keep reading to learn more about them!     Fernando Gonzalez, Educational Consultant […]

Welcome, Kerry Lindstrom! Please join us in welcoming Kerry to the Olancho Aid Foundation Board of Directors. With her background in education and experience living in Honduras, she will be an asset to the Education Committee. Kerry is a 5th grade English Language Arts and Social Studies teacher at Fairview Elementary in Dayton, OH. Previously […]

Thoughts and reflections of a first time volunteer. My journey, like many others before me, started with a calling; in my case it was an urge to go out and experience the world. I wanted to help others, learn about different cultures, and in turn learn more about myself. My hope was to make a difference […]

High Heels in Honduras By Monica P Flood Prairieville, Louisiana Through the hole in the roof… The bugs scurried in. The wet trickled in. The dust swirled around carelessly. A unpleasant carpet of dirt and grime replaced the students that once gathered here eager to learn. Poverty can be shaming. People are afraid to look […]

Welcome, Summer Camp Volunteers!     In addition to returning volunteers Dani, Caroline, and Stephanie, five more volunteers join us this month to run a two-week English day camp for Santa Clara students and other bilingual students in the area. Read on to learn more about them!   Lynn Cina Hi, my name is Lynn […]

Sporadic Reflections “Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 My mother served as a Public Health Nurse and when appropriate I would volunteer at her side. In addition to watching my mother in awe as she serviced her community, I […]

Celebrating Differences and Encouraging Inclusion The end of March and beginning of April were an especially busy time at Nazareth Special Needs School. On top of day-to-day school work, students found time to visit with mission teams, practice and perform a dance on Father’s Day, and even to lead the community of Juticalpa in celebrating […]

Hope and Transformation Volunteering?…Letting go of old ideas, ways of life, and allowing god to guide my life changing me into the person he wants me to be for the good of myself and others? Change is not easy. It can be difficult, scary, uncomfortable, and just plain different from how we are used to […]

Interesting Dynamics of Intercultural Friendships      One unique aspect of the Olancho Aid Long Term Volunteer Program is that volunteers get to experience living abroad for an extended period of time. I have lived in Honduras for almost six months now, and one of my favorite parts has been having the opportunity to establish […]

We’re looking for volunteers!     In additional to the traditional volunteer program, this year Olancho Aid is seeking experienced volunteers who are experts in their field to serve as mentors and administrators at the Foundation. Our most pressing needs are for an early education specialist, a human resource specialist, and a mission team assistant. […]

Memories built after a year of volunteering for Olancho Aid Foundation… TRAVELING AROUND HONDURAS Roatan was one of the most amazing places I have ever visited. There was nice weather, friendly people, and wonderful beaches. I also enjoyed visiting Copan Ruinas. Learning about Mayan history was something really intriguing and mind opening. NINOS/AS AT MARIA […]

Welcome, Spring 2019 Volunteers!   This semester we are excited to welcome five new volunteers, as well as to welcome back returning volunteers Dani, Stephanie, Jim, Kat, and Karen! Read on to learn about the newest additions to the Olancho Aid family.   Gloria Flores, Kindergarten through 2nd Grade Tutor Greetings and salutations, I’m Gloria […]

Stepping Outside Your Community to Make a Difference Have you heard the story of the Dad and his young daughter walking down the beach and it is covered with starfish? The little girl stops to throw one starfish back into the ocean before the hot sun dries it out. The Dad, impatient for his morning […]

Christmas Arrives! Standing in front of my window I watched the stars. They looked more beautiful than any other day and there was something outside in the air that told me that it was not an ordinary day. The world had the special vibe that everyone could recognize; it was Christmas. For many of us […]

The Five “F”s On behalf of the Olancho Aid Foundation Board of Directors, please accept our gratitude for all the support you provide to our mission through your prayers, donations and solidarity projects. It is my pleasure to share with you the outcomes of our recent annual retreat and planning session. Our 2019 plan can […]

Reasons to Volunteer with Olancho Aid!   Check out our list of reasons YOU should consider volunteering with the Olancho Aid Foundation as told by former and current volunteers.   Reason #6: You’ll be immersed in a new culture! “My favorite part of being in Juticalpa is learning all I can about Honduran culture. I […]

Independence Day in Honduras by Karen Wiley, Fall 2018 Volunteer   Honduras’ National Day is always celebrated on September 15th. It commemorates the independence of the Central American provinces from Spanish rule in 1821. Although September 15th is the actual date, the celebrations continue all month long. Either there is the preparation for a celebration […]

My first week! by Jim Walker, Fall 2018 Volunteer Buenos Dias from Honduras! Our flight from Miami was uneventful, except for the two-hour delay leaving. No worries upon arrival as we had been prepared well. We were greeted by the smiling faces of Jose and Stephanie just outside the baggage claim area. We had a […]

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 […]

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 […]

Joy is the word that keeps popping up for Pat Thompson when she describes her experience in Honduras. Pat was introduced to Olancho Aid about 5 years ago, through a neighboring parish, Holy Family Catholic Church of Brentwood, TN. She joined their mission team so she could participate in the group’s clean water initiatives in […]

“I feel helpless! What can I do to help?” There once was a town that was situated next to a river. Day after day, month after month, year after year, they dutifully rescued an ever-increasing number of people whom they found drowning in its currents. Over time they became exhausted and some argued that they […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Mary Roy When did you join Olancho Aid? I was already going to and in love with Honduras before the inception of Olancho Aid as my first trip was in 1993. My first introduction to Olancho was when it began, and I was one of the original board members. I was on […]

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, […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Emily Hoefs Age: 22 Hometown: Greeley, Colorado University: University of Northern Colorado When 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 […]

Ms. Breve’s Lesson If asked to think of a particularly challenging student, all of you teachers out there would have (at least) one come to mind immediately. Maybe it’s a child who needed A LOT of attention, or specialized resources, or more support at home. Maybe it was the first time you encountered a student like […]

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 […]

Dr. Susan Nedza Shares the Good News About Olancho Aid at Villanova Conference Celebrating Pope Francis’ Anniversary Anyone who has taken part in a mission team will remember the moment when they thought, “I am not sure how I ended up here, but I know that the Holy Spirit was involved….”  I had a similar […]

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, […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Francisco Barahona     Age: 37 Hometown: Juticalpa, Olancho, Honduras Universidad: National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) Role in the Foundation: Controller/Director of Finances.     How did you find out about the Olancho Aid Foundation? Before I started working for the Foundation, I had been working at a bank as a cashier. […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Katie McClave   Age: 24 Hometown: Overland Park, KS University: Creighton University   When did you join Olancho Aid? I joined OAF at the end of August 2017.   How did you first hear about Olancho Aid? I first heard about Olancho Aid through the Catholic Volunteer Network, and then I saw […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Pablo Sarmiento     Age: 32 Hometown: Juticalpa, Olancho, Honduras University: Francisco Morazan National Pedagogical University and the National University of Agriculture     When did you join Olancho Aid? February 3, 2014   How did you first hear about Olancho Aid? My friend, Francisco Barahona (the Comptroller at the Foundation), told […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Irene Umaña     Age: 24 Hometown: Tegucigalpa, Honduras. University: Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA   When did you join Olancho Aid? August 2017   How did you first hear about Olancho Aid? I was volunteering in Nicaragua and my plans were to move back to Honduras and find a job. While I was job […]

Advice from a Team Leader of 25 Years In 1993, Mary Roy reluctantly traveled to Olancho, Honduras after being asked by a friend who needed a female chaperone for his mission team. She describes those 10 days as “life-changing” and says she knew right away she would return, but could not have imagined she would […]

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 […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Anne Foley   Hometown: Effingham NH University: Syracuse   When did you join Olancho Aid? 2017   How did you first hear about Olancho Aid? My brother’s church in Westport MA sends a team here.   What is your role at Olancho Aid? I am on the Board of Directors focusing on […]

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 […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Nelson Eduardo Corea   Age: 25 Hometown: Tegucigalpa, Honduras University: Universidad Europea del Atlántico (UNEATLANTICO) and Universidad Nacional Autónoma del Honduras (UNAH) When did you join Olancho Aid? I joined OAF in September, 2016. How did you first hear about Olancho Aid? I saw an ad in a newspaper. What is your […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Carlos Membreño     Age: 29 Hometown: Erandique Lempira, Honduras University: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH)   When did you join Olancho Aid? I joined Olancho Aid on January 25th, 2017.   How did you first hear about Olancho Aid? A friend of mine was hired first and he told me there […]

At age 17, Hannah made a decision. She was at the end of a 10-day trip as a member of her godmother’s mission team. Full of energy and passion about the experience, Hannah knew that this first visit to Honduras would not be her last. She decided then to lead a team herself so she […]

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 […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Yareli Antunez     Age: 28 Hometown: Juticalpa, Olancho University: Catholic University of Honduras   When did you begin working at the Olancho Aid Foundation? I started working in the main office on February 9, 2013.   How did you find out about Olancho Aid? I began learning about the Foundation’s work […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Sarahi Breve     Age: 35 Hometown: Olancho University: UNAH   When did you join Olancho Aid? August 3rd, 2015   How did you first hear about Olancho Aid? A co-worker told me about it.   What is your role at Olancho Aid? I am the homeroom teacher for 3rd grade B. […]

How do you prepare for Christmas? Did you just roll your eyes? Are you stressed just thinking about it? Let’s change the subject. How would you know Christmas is coming if you lived in Olancho? Christmas traditions around the world are as different as the Christians who celebrate the holiday. The beauty of the celebration […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Jess Santavy Hometown: Greensburg, PA University: Gannon University, Erie PA When did you begin working with the Olancho Aid Foundation? I served as a volunteer with Olancho Aid back in 2007-2008. In March of 2016, I was hired as an employee. How did you first hear about Olancho Aid? When I was […]

An Update on the Political Situation in Honduras   As news of post-election civil unrest in Honduras gains more attention, the Olancho Aid Foundation would like to provide you with a report from Juticalpa. Most of the demonstrations have occured in Tegucigalpa which is three hours away.  Please be reassured that our our employees, volunteers, […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Krista Garcia   Age: 23 Hometown: Juticalpa University: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH) in Tegucigalpa   When did you join Olancho Aid? I joined OAF on January 2017.   How did you first hear about Olancho Aid? Well, I graduated from Instituto Cardenal Rodriguez, so I’ve been part of OAF since […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Damalis Garcia   Today the spotlight is on Damalis Garcia. Though she has only been with Olancho Aid for just over a year, she has shown tremendous leadership within the Foundation. In her role, she seeks and manages talent, but she also does a lot more. Damalis works to support every person in […]

Learn more about our work in 2017: Your gift will allow us to bring education and clean water to more children and families. A contribution of $34 covers the monthly gap for one student (the gap is the difference between tuition received and operating costs). Please consider a gift of $15, $34, $50 or more. […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Allan Casco   This week our spotlight is on Allan Casco, who has been with the Foundation since its earliest days. He joined the Olancho Aid family first as a student and now as a staff-member. Keep reading to learn more about Allan’s journey and what the Foundation has meant to him! […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Sonia Cruz   This week we're highlighting Profesora Sonia Cruz! Even though she has only been a part of the Foundation for about a year and a half, this September she won the distinction of Instituto Oscar Cardenal Rodriguez's (our monolingual college-prep high school) Teacher of the Year! Congratulations and thanks for […]

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 […]

This past August, Will Zolpe of Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin traveled over 3,000 miles to Olancho for a service learning project to assess Olancho Aid Foundation’s water purification program. Enjoy reading Will’s reflection below. Visiting Honduras, although only for two weeks, really surprised me in the sense of how different of a life it […]

  Olancho Aid Spotlight: Gabriel Vasquez   Gabriel (right) with the 2017 Santa Clara Summer Camp counselors   Age: 17 School: Instituto Bilingüe Santa Clara (IBSC) Grade: 12th   What is your favorite part of school? Might sound crazy but, class time is my favorite part of school.   Do you have a favorite memory […]

Olancho Aid Spotlight: Susan Cáceres       Age: 25 Hometown: Juticalpa, Olancho, Honduras University: Universidad Pedagógica Nacional Francisco Morazán (UPNFM)   When did you begin working with the Olancho Aid Foundation? I started working with OAF in 2015 as a Spanish teacher for the preschool program at Centro Escolar Bilingue Santa Clara (CEBSC, our […]

Flooding Affects Olancho Aid Students and Employees Last weekend, after several days of intense rain throughout Honduras, flash flooding washed away homes and left others filled with mud. President of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, visited Juticalpa Thursday to survey the damage. He promised to build 25 homes for families left devastated by the destruction. In […]

Estefany is nine years old. She is a student at Escuelita Nazareth who is blind. There are eight other children in her classroom, some with visual impairments and some who have perfect vision, but other learning difficulties. If there is an emergency at Nazareth, will Estefany know what to do? Will her classmates? Will her […]

This week's Olancho Aid Spotlight features former high school teacher and volunteer coordinator Megan Conley. During her two years of service with the Foundation, Miss Conley was known for her organization, her sense of humor, her dedication to her students, and her leadership of the volunteer program. Read on to learn more about what Miss […]

This week at Olancho Aid, we are highlighting Carlos Gonzales, who has been with the Foundation for ten years as both a student and a teacher. We recognize him today for his hard work and his dedication to his students' education. Thanks for all that you do, Mister Gonzales!   Name: Carlos Javier Gonzales Acosta […]

Olancho Aid Foundation Welcomes Dr. Susan Nedza as Board President   Olancho Aid Foundation is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has elected Dr. Susan Nedza as Board President. Susan is the Senior Vice President of Clinical Outcomes Management at MPA Healthcare Solutions, Inc. She has been a member of the Olancho Aid […]

Every week, we will be highlighting a different member of the the Olancho Aid community. This week, we begin by recognizing Wendy Varela in honor of her birthday. Wendy has been a beloved part of the Olancho Aid family for over ten years, working in both the bilingual elementary school and in the main Foundation […]

I was certainly feeling a combination of things as the first day of school approached. Excited to be finally meeting the children that I will be working with, and nervous to see what this school year would bring. However, as the bus came to pick us up in the morning, I could feel myself becoming more […]

Welcome Sinéad, Katie, Stephanie! Olancho Aid welcomes 4 volunteers who will serve with our team during the next 11 months. We are all excited to work with these ladies who are passionate about education and service. Meet the volunteers:       Stephanie Fore, Volunteer Coordinator Stephanie Fore graduated from Knox College, Galesburg, IL, in […]

In order to be eligible for a scholarship to the three-week intensive English summer program at Gannon University, our students were required to participate in an official application process. Students answered questions about their backgrounds, aspirations, fears, and motivations. Their answers were honest and inspirational. By sharing these responses from the applications, we hope to give […]

As the school year draws to an end, we at the Olancho Aid Foundation are excited to begin preparations for the annual Santa Clara English Summer Camp! At camp, we strive to help students maintain and improve their English levels, while (of course) also having a lot of fun. The camp is open to students from […]

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” – Winnie-the-Pooh For those who do not know, I have been living in Juticalpa, Honduras as a volunteer teacher for the Olancho Aid Foundation, for about the past ten months. During this time, I have pushed myself outside my comfort zones, gone […]

Mission California was more than a beautiful and priceless experience of traveling with my friends, it was an experience where I gained a lot of knowledge and  got to know a lot of other cultures in the world. I learned a lot about education in the United States and also about the different behaviors and […]

“Mission CA” was an unforgettable and wonderful experience for me. Since the very beginning of this journey I knew we were privileged to go on this trip. The experience and knowledge I acquired while on the mission are so valuable to me. I loved and enjoyed every single detail; everything was new to me, but […]

In January, Bishop Bonello of Juticalpa joined Olancho Aid’s executive director, Carlos Najera, and director of advancement, Jessica Santavy, to visit several parishes and high schools near Nashville. During their visit to Father Ryan High School, which has organized student mission trips, they were invited to speak with a representative from the Tennessee Register about Olancho […]

Thanks to support from our awesome donors, Olancho Aid has completed its first #GivingTuesday campaign. In just 24 hours, we raised over $6,000! Best of all, our students and staff jumped on board to participate and even donate! By the numbers: 2 donors pledged to provide chalices $350 raised by STUDENTS $6,476 will go toward […]

#Giving Tuesday This year on Tuesday, November 29, 2016, Olancho Aid will participate in #GivingTuesday for the first time. Our goal is to raise enough money so our principals and teachers can build a base of science education resources for students at our elementary and high schools. In the video below you can meet some […]

First Quarter Completion Jacob – November, 2016 As the last student left the halls of the Instituto on Friday, the conclusion of the first Quarter of the school year drew to a close. It was a quarter filled with laughter, challenges, and a lot of new experiences. Upon its conclusion, I can favorably look back […]

12 Things I’ve Learned for the 12 Weeks I’ve Been Here ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Linden – October 2016 So as of today (October 24th) I have officially been in this country for 12 weeks. To mark the 12 weeks of being here I thought I’d share 12 different things I have learned so far. Some more serious […]

The Olancho Aid Foundation is a Catholic non-profit organization operating in Juticalpa, Olancho, Honduras. We strive to open up doors of opportunity and break the ever-pervasive cycle of poverty by providing quality, faith-based education to youth in the area. To assist in our mission, we host international volunteers each year to provide invaluable service to our […]

Experience in Photos Marissa – Oct 2016 Kelly Ann, Linden, and I with some of the elementary                                   Oscar, Walter, and I waiting for the Bible Parade to start. teachers at La Casita.                […]

HOMESICKNESS  There’s No Place Like Home Kelly Ann – September, 2016 I’d just like to start out by saying that I lasted a lot longer in the homesickness department than I thought I would. I tend to be a very emotional person. To say I’m close with my family would be an understatement; my cousins […]

Olancho Aid has a relationship with the orphanage located just down the street from the main office. Some of the children at the orphanage attend the foundation’s schools through scholarships facilitated by the foundation. The orphanage is run by nuns who care for the children and organize everything from their schooling to their meals. The […]

Since being here in Honduras, I have adapted to the early to bed, early to rise mantra that seems prevalent in many parts of the world where the daylight hours dictate sleeping schedules. This definitely seems to be the case for most Hondurans. Every morning I wake up at 5:50am to get ready for school […]

Showering here in Honduras, although mostly the same, at times has definitely been different than what I was used to in the Untied States. I cannot say that I was anticipating a five star hotel, but I think it is worth noting the differences and how it is unique to what most people experience in […]

What is it like to live as a volunteer in Olancho, Honduras? How does it feel to be an American living abroad? What is it like to teach at a bilingual school? What does one do for fun in Honduras?   If you have ever asked yourself any of these questions then you are in […]