A unique and rewarding professional experience

I volunteered with BECA from 2011 to 2013 as a Program Administrator at Santa Monica Bilingual School. I felt empowered and motivated to be a part of an organization that gave me excellent support and meshed so well with my values and my understanding of good development practices. BECA began working in its partner communities by request of the communities who wanted to offer a high-quality bilingual education to improve their children's academic and employment opportunities. BECA's child-centered programming continues to be informed by its local partners, host communities and its students' parents to this day. I particularly enjoyed working side by side with parents who volunteered at the school to pay for their child's education.

This experience pushed me to continue my international development career Stateside; I currently work for a USAID implementing partner in Washington, DC.

My best memories of my time in Honduras are of hardworking and goofy students, dedicated parents, baleadas (you have to try this food!), beautiful vistas, bonding with fellow volunteers and community members, playing in a soccer league, and seeing incredible growth in students, in BECA, and in myself.