Choose Education

I am a firm believer in education as a way to spark long term change and cycle breaking. In Los Pinos, and in many communities here in Honduras, education is not made a priority. Many women I know only made it to 6^th grade, and many never even learned to read. In many cases of extreme poverty, the parents pull the kids out of school to work or beg in the streets instead. With such a low level of education, one becomes trapped with very few job options, which don’t pay well. So the cycle continues, without thought of changing the opportunities for generations to come – with such severe poverty, many times thoughts only focus on here and now and immediate needs.

However, education is possible and can change entire families. Kids who grow up and graduate from highschool and the university will not only likely have the resources to keep their future kids in school, but they also will push them to achieve even more than they did. That is why I’m excited to continue to support and encourage kids and parents who want to continue their studies.

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I know I’ve been bragging a lot about Jennifer lately, but she is the perfect example. She graduated and now is headed for the university. You’d think that would earn her some congratulations, but in fact what she has received from some close family and friends is just the opposite. They criticize her, call her lazy, and say that if she really cared about providing for her family, she would get married (ie. get pregnant). I hate to think about how many young girls have been told that and how many believed it. Jennifer is an intelligent, beautiful, determined young woman who is worth much more than her ability to find a man to get her pregnant and maybe stick around for a few years to provide food for her and her family (then when he leaves, she is expected to do it all over again with the next guy). I praise God that Jennifer did not believe this lie, and she is now headed for big things – a future and a hope!

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I’m excited to come alongside even more families as they reach out for help with education. In general, grades 1-6 don’t require monthly tuition in the public schools, the families just struggle to provide school supplies at the start of the year. Since the schools have little funding, the kids are expected to provide everything from decorations for the classroom, toilet paper, printer ink, every material for every art project, and the usual uniform, backpack, notebooks, books, pencils etc. When working a job that barely provides enough for food, buying this amount of school supplies at one time is just not possible! Right now, kids are beginning to register for classes that will begin in early February. There are lots of kids in need of school supplies to start out the year. With your help, we can meet those needs for the people that have no way to provide these supplies. 

The amount needed depends on grade, school, and whether or not they need a new uniform or registration fees, but on average, a donation of $60 will give a child what they need for the school year. So, will you invest $60 in a child’s education – an opportunity to change their future, their family, and their country! The number of kids we can bless with school supplies and give a boost to this school year depends on YOU!

All donations through World Outreach are tax deductible - see the sidebar of this blog for more information.