Celebrating Differences and Encouraging InclusionThe 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 two very important days: World Down Syndrome Day and World Autism Awareness Day.All over the world, individuals with special needs face troublesome … [Read more...]
Interesting Dynamics of Intercultural Friendships
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 and build connections with Hondurans. The friendships that I have made here have been a huge part of what has made this experience so amazing! That being said, when … [Read more...]
We’re looking for volunteers!
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.The early education specialist will provide support to preschool and kindergarten teachers by providing feedback and … [Read more...]
Memories built after a year of volunteering for Olancho Aid Foundation…
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 DE LOS ANGELES CHILDREN’S HOMEI have enjoyed sharing time with the kids at the Children’s Home. It is a blessing to be able to … [Read more...]
Independence Day in Honduras
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 or the celebration itself, so that there always seems to be something happening related to this important event. All of this is … [Read more...]
“I feel helpless! What can I do to help?”
“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 could no longer continue. A child spoke up and suggested that they cross to the other side of the mountain to find out why people were falling into the water. When they arrived, they found a … [Read more...]
Woman on a Mission
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 could share the experience with even more people in her community.It’s hard to say if right then she truly understood what it would take to lead a team. She’d need to inspire a group of people to join her, seek … [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...]
Traveling 3,000 Miles for Clean Water
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 was from what I am used to. I was invited to fly down to help create an in-depth analysis of the current water projects that the Olancho Aid … [Read more...]
Success Story in Progress: Are there fire drills in Honduras?
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 teacher? Estefany (left) and Isis (right) are best friends and classmates at Escuelita Nazareth. In the news, we are often reminded that unexpected emergencies … [Read more...]