Honduras Child Alliance

Honduras Child Alliance was my first longer volunteering experience. I had originally planned to stay 2 months, but I fell in love with the community and realized I had a lot left to learn from its people, that I returned for another 4 months.
The way the organization is set up, it truly fosters a great team spirit amongst the volunteers, and an opportunity to really integrate into the community. I loved every part of my day - planning with the team, carrying out the activities with the kids, going for a run after classes and being joined by the kids leaving school, ordering fresh watermelon juice at Iris's, a quick soccer game with the Bomberos, baleadas and a stroll on the beach, adult class, and guitar jam sessions with our in-house band.
The activities are set up so that, after some initial training, you can quickly integrate into the day-to-day, yet the management is open to new ideas and really supportive. When I extended my stay, I was able to set up a literacy program and work with some of the kids that we had spotted needed an extra little bit of support. My time in El Porvenir was really rewarding; I look back fondly and often remember amazing times - and whenever I do, temptation strikes and I start looking at flights... I'll be back one day, for sure!

I first volunteered with HCA in 2016 and came back two years later to develop a program. I directly felt welcomed there, by the volunteers and the community. Teaching English to kids and adults is really inspiring because you can see the impacts on them. So there are different types of classes: kindergarten in the early morning, then during the day, there is the kids’ class (from 6 to 12 years old), and at the end of the day, adult class. All of them are really different and it can suit to everyone with different levels of Spanish. Moreover, it is a good opportunity to learn Spanish with the community, and English with volunteers. HCA allows volunteers to develop projects such as mine: develop the “baños program” and helps you to connect with the community. I would definitely go back to build baños and teach English if I can.

I first volunteered with HCA in 2016 and came back two years later to develop a program. I directly felt welcomed there, by the volunteers and the community. Teaching English to kids and adults is really inspiring because you can see the impacts on them. So there are different types of classes: kindergarten in the early morning, then during the day, there is the kids’ class (from 6 to 12 years old), and at the end of the day, adult class. All of them are really different and it can suit to everyone with different levels of Spanish. Moreover, it is a good opportunity to learn Spanish with the community, and English with volunteers. HCA allows volunteers to develop projects such as mine: develop the “baños program” and helps you to connect with the community. I would definitely go back to build baños and teach English if I can.

Vacation Activities Program, or VAP, was one of the best parts of my time at HCA. Every week, we taught a different subject, such as geography, science, and animals! During Geography week, we explored different parts of the world through food, music, art, and language. Not only were the kids able to make/label their own maps, but they could even count to ten in Mandarin! All of the kids and volunteers learned a ton and had an amazing time!

El Porvenir is an amazing town! It's fairly quiet, but very friendly and welcoming. I don't think I ever walked to class without seeing people that I knew and I always felt incredibly safe, even at night. I loved that we got the opportunity to see more and more of El Porvenir every day on our walks to class because it is such an amazing place!

I volunteered with HCA for four months after graduating high school and I am so grateful that I did. When I arrived in El Porvenir, I was warmly welcomed by a wonderful and enthusiastic group of volunteers from all around the world (Germany, Scotland, Israel, Australia, Spain etc.) The classes were definitely my favorite part of the HCA experience. I loved getting to know the kids and both learning from them and teaching them in class every day. Our classes were filled with art, games, music, healthy snacks and laughter, and were just a ton of fun! After leaving HCA I couldn't really stay away and ended up coming back a year later to work on a Baño Project. I miss El Porvenir, the students, and the volunteers all the time and I can't wait to go back!