Notes From Honduras – February 2019

Just like that, classes are back in session for another academic year at El Hogar.

Last Monday, students from all over Honduras arrived with their families at the Technical Institute (ITSM) to register and begin the 2019 school year. They met in the chapel for a brief service, lead by Padre Luis – ITSM’s chaplain. Following the service, Lazaro and Profe Norma – the Director and Sub-Director of ITSM, respectively – welcomed the families and expressed their gratitude for being able
to begin another year working with the families to transformar las vidas (transform the lives) of their children.

(Clockwise from top left) Anthony (left) with his stepfather and brother registers for the ninth grade at ITSM; 10th and 11th-grade girls with some peers at ITSM; Eduin with his dad; Seventh-grade students copying out the carpentry workshop rules.

Changes continue this year at ITSM as the bachillerato (high school) program continues to expand. This year, our 10^th and 11^th-grade girls join their male cohorts at ITSM in classes and the electrical workshop.

Our elementary campus is also busy with activity at the beginning of the school year. As we move to focus on strengthening families, we are excited that our day school program is expanding. Our residential students share their high-quality care and education with peers from the community.

(Top) Profe Ariel takes attendance of the second-grade students; (Bottom) Profe Heyser in math class.

It’s appropriate that all of these positive changes have been happening over the past couple of years, as we’ll celebrate El Hogar’s 40^th anniversary this month. We’ll celebrate the 40 years of quality care and education we’ve provided to many Honduran children, and will continue to evolve our program to best meet the needs of children and families as we move into the future.

– Erika Skafel, Coordinator of North American Relations

To learn more about El Hogar, please visit our website at www.elhogar.org.