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Country: Honduras

Honduras: Gardening unites and empowers Garifuna women 

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Posted May 26, 2024 .
1 min read.

A community garden is empowering Garífuna women in Honduras. Created by the community-based Asociación de Mujeres Garífuna Mixta, or ASOMUGAMIX, it is a space for Garifuna women to organize and unite. It is receiving support from CARI Honduras, a program by the USAID/Office of Transition Initiatives.

“When we started, women normalized everything. And now, they’re waking up,” says Arely Ibeth Barahona Martinez ASOMUGAMIX of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. “I was a victim. Thank God I’m a survivor and I’m telling the story. But I feel that through our association, there are so many women who are getting out of that cycle and are asking for help.”

The opinions expressed in this video are of the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the position of the U.S. government.

La jardinería une y empodera a las mujeres de Garifuna

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Posted May 19, 2024 .
1 min read.

Un huerto comunitario está empoderando a las mujeres garífunas en Honduras. Creado por la Asociación de Mujeres Garífuna Mixta, o ASOMUGAMIX, es un espacio donde las mujeres garífunas pueden organizarse y unirse. Recibe apoyo de CARI Honduras, un programa de la USAID/Oficina de Iniciativas de Transición.

“Cuando comenzamos, las mujeres normalizaban todo. Y ahora, están despertando”, dice Arely Ibeth Barahona Martínez ASOMUGAMIXgamix de San Pedro Sula, Honduras. “Yo fui víctima. Gracias a Dios, soy sobreviviente y estoy contando la historia. Pero siento que, a través de nuestra asociación, hay muchas mujeres que están saliendo de ese ciclo y están pidiendo ayuda”.

Las opiniones expresadas en este video son de los entrevistados y no necesariamente reflejan la posición del gobierno de Estados Unidos.

Honduras: Creating a network of support for survivors of violence against women and girls

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Posted May 18, 2024 .
1 min read.

The USAID Office of Transition Initiatives supported 11 women’s networks across Honduras to connect survivors of violence against women and girls with services. The networks provide support services in their communities and refer women to other critical resources. “Our objective as a network is to empower women so that they can get out of that hole, as we call it, and so that they can see that we as women are worthy and say no to violence,” says Mirna Yami Lopez of the Red de Mujeres al Mando in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

This community based organization is receiving support from CARI Honduras, a program by the USAID/Office of Transition Initiatives. The opinions expressed in this video are of the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the position of the U.S. government.

Programming their Future in San Pedro Sula, Honduras

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Posted May 16, 2024 .
1 min read.

Alessia Medina in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, is a smart woman whose talents were obvious but her opportunities were limited. The Academy of Programmers in San Pedro Sula changed her life. The USAID Sembrando Esperanza in Honduras has teamed up with FUNADEH, Asociación Hondureña de Maquiladores and other private sector partners to reach youth like Alessia in communities with high levels of violence.

Working together, they provide avenues of opportunity for talented, motivated youth to find a positive, sustainable path forward.

A Q&A with the Sembrando Esperanza team in Honduras 

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Posted May 2, 2024 .
6 min read.

Poverty, crime and violence plague parts of Honduras, driving irregular migration to neighboring countries. 

The five-year Sembrando Esperanza (“planting hope” in Spanish) Activity focuses on local solutions to crime, violence and migration in Honduras. Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and implemented by Creative Associates International, Sembrando Esperanza, the program focuses on building youth capacities and ownership of local challenges. 

FUNADEH colleagues at work in Trujillo

Four members of the Sembrando Esperanza (SE) team in Honduras told us about their locally owned approach to reducing rates of violence and irregular migration. 

What is the mission and vision of Sembrando Esperanza, and what sets it apart from similar initiatives in Honduras and elsewhere?  

Robyn Braverman, Chief of Party: 

The mission and vision of Sembrando Esperanza are reflected in their activities and programs through a comprehensive approach to reducing violence and irregular migration in Honduras. To achieve this goal, they focus on prevention services at the youth and family level that are comprehensive, evidence-based, and differentiated by risks. These services are implemented by capable local actors and supported by resourced institutions, as well as by protective community networks. All of this is anchored in local and national frameworks that facilitate and support these initiatives. 

Our theory of change is based on improving human security in communities, with a special focus on youth and families at risk of violence and irregular migration. We believe that by enhancing this human security and sustainably increasing the performance of local prevention systems, irregular migration and violence in target areas will be measurably reduced. 

What sets Sembrando Esperanza apart from similar initiatives in Honduras and elsewhere is its human security approach, as well as its emphasis on building long-standing local protection networks and services that generate evidence to drive public policies that foster changes and strengthen ties with communities. 

How does Sembrando Esperanza collaborate with local and international organizations to maximize its impact and reach?  

Esdras López, Deputy Chief of Party and Violence Prevention Advisor: 

Sembrando Esperanza is characterized by developing coordination at different levels to drive processes. For example, in the development of the strategy for local systems of reference and counter-reference, coordination has been established with various implementers from USAID, who participate at a strategic level in a coordination committee. At the regional level, coordination is established with field teams to promote service provider ecosystems in municipalities. Additionally, Sembrando Esperanza collaborates with local governments to strengthen local services and improve their connection with the community. Actions and processes are also promoted with community-based organizations in neighborhoods and colonies, aiming to generate comprehensive actions for violence and migration prevention.  

What are the main challenges faced by youth and communities where Sembrando Esperanza operates, and how does the activity address these challenges?  

Marcelo Villalvir, Senior Advisor for Migration and Youth:  

Sembrando Esperanza implements actions in municipalities with contexts of high violence and irregular migration, especially among youth, situations that primarily disadvantage women, young men, indigenous populations, and the LGBTQ+ community.  

They face the following challenges within their communities and families: 

  • Family and community spaces that do not guarantee safety, freedom from gender-based violence, or protection.  
  • A lack of opportunities for income generation. 
  • Climate change impacts on production areas, housing, food security and public infrastructure. 
  • Political and social conflict and high levels of corruption. 
  • Vulnerability to exploitation and recruitment by criminal groups. 
  • Mental and emotional health challenges resulting from violence and irregular migration. 

Sembrando Esperanza, to address these challenges, has defined a model framed in comprehensive approaches that address the underlying causes of violence and irregular migration. They also address the specific needs of youth by improving protective spaces in families and communities, increasing community participation and cohesion, providing psychosocial support, and linking them to services. Additionally, they promote programs and policies focused on violence prevention, irregular migration, economic opportunities, quality education, and strengthening youth resilience in these contexts. 

What notable results and achievements has Sembrando Esperanza attained since its inception? 

Esdras López, Deputy Chief of Party and Violence Prevention Advisor: 

Some early victories include: 

  • Expanding the reach of the family systems-based prevention and intervention model to seven new municipalities in the country where no differentiated violence prevention services by risk level had previously been conducted. 
  • Expanding the scope and focus of the risk behavior measurement tool, which has led to the development of IMC++ and IMC++A [behavioral measurement tools] to measure risks related to violence, problematic behavior, intention to migrate, gender roles and perspectives, and trauma in youth aged 12 to 29. 
  • Engaging the private sector in co-creation processes with youth to drive violence prevention and irregular migration actions in communities with high levels of violence and migration in the municipality of La Lima. 
  • Designing and initiating the pilot of an intervention aimed at the reintegration of returned migrants to reduce migration incidence. 

How does Sembrando Esperanza assess the impact of its programs on communities and the lives of participating youth?  

Esdras López, Deputy Chief of Party and Violence Prevention Advisor: 

Sembrando Esperanza utilizes various mechanisms to evaluate, measure, and generate evidence about its interventions. The IMC++ and IMC++A allow us to measure the reduction of violence risk, intention for irregular migration, and perception of gender roles in youth aged 12 to 29 after an intervention. To identify improvements in collective effectiveness, SE has designed an effectiveness index applied before developing intervention processes and months after these interventions, to measure whether the effectiveness of these communities has changed or not. Additionally, evaluations are designed to measure the impact of intervention models or methodologies addressing violence and irregular migration prevention, such as the family support network model, the pilot family counseling with adults, or the reintegration program to reduce migration recidivism. 

What is the role of the private sector?  

Janina Lima, Public-Private Partnerships Advisor: 

The role of the private sector in Sembrando Esperanza is crucial for achieving the sustainability of SE’s initiatives in preventing violence and irregular migration. Each actor within the private sector plays a different role. Civil Society Organizations are fundamental in communities, empowering and strengthening their capacity for action and promoting their active participation in decision-making, while also raising awareness and educating communities. On the other hand, private companies are key players in community development. SE forms partnerships that mobilize the financial, human, equipment, facilities, and in-kind donations needed by communities to improve their living conditions. 

The interdependence of both sectors, public and private, is necessary for the country’s development. Sembrando Esperanza recognizes the need for a collaborative approach to address social challenges that trigger violence and irregular migration, two factors that are reducing our development capacity and causing profound damage to the foundation of society, which is the family. 

What lessons have been learned from Sembrando Esperanza’s experiences, and how are these lessons applied to continuously improve activities and strategies? 

Esdras López, Deputy Chief of Party and Violence Prevention Advisor: 

Learning within Sembrando Esperanza is ongoing. One of the lessons learned includes the need to enhance and strengthen family care models according to risk levels. Currently, SE is working on a methodological adaptation of this model, which will be implemented between May and October 2024. Another important lesson is the necessity to adapt to local contexts for effective action implementation. For instance, the lack of mental health services in the country and limited specialized intervention capacities have led SE to develop an adaptive strategy in collaboration with the Honduran Ministry of Health and the National Autonomous University of Honduras. Additionally, the significance of enhancing the capabilities of local partners has been identified. To address this, SE has bolstered the monitoring and technical support team, which will not only assist in intervention design but also in the technical implementation process alongside local partners 

Robyn Braverman, Chief of Party: 

  • Local capacity-building processes take longer than expected. 
  • It is difficult to measure changes in processes since each organization, each municipality, and each person requires different support. 
  • It is difficult to foster a commitment/sense of co-responsibility. 

Youths Solutions to Entrenched Challenges

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Posted April 2, 2024 .
1 min read.

PUERTO CORTÉS, Honduras — This Caribbean seaside city is home to the country’s largest port. Like other parts of the country, the city has exceptionally high rates of violence and other daunting challenges, which drive irregular migration to neighboring countries.

Igniting Hope in Youth

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Posted April 2, 2024 .
By Luis Villatoro .
4 min read.

CHOLOMA, Honduras — The urban community of Éxitos de Anach is plagued with a long list of social issues—such as poverty and crime—that may lead to violence and irregular migration.

“Students know this area is dangerous,” says Kevin Saldívar, a teacher at the high school. “And although we have avoided acts of extreme violence, students are surrounded by negative influences, including alcoholism and drug abuse.”

Saldívar has been a leader in identifying youth who are at risk of migrating without proper documentation or falling prey to criminal activities. “I have had students who migrate with their families,” Saldívar says. “Some do not return to the community, but others have returned but with serious emotional problems.”

High school teacher and community leader Kevin Saldívar discusses USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza and its family counseling program. Saldívar has been instrumental in identifying and referring young people who are in urgent need of support to the project’s family counseling program. Photo by: Jim Huylebroek for USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza

Sembrando Esperanza family counselor Kenberlyn Downs explains that schools in Choloma are one of the main referral sources to the USAID-supported program. “We talk to teachers, school counselors and parents who help us identify students who need support,” she says. 

Downs stresses the importance of establishing trust with young people. “The connection we make with young people is crucial. We provide them with support and guidance, allowing youth to see that there is a promising future beyond the current challenges within their communities,” she says.

A photo in this story
Kenberlyn Downs, a family counselor with USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza, explains that schools are one of the main referral sources to the program. She collaborates closely with schools and other local institutions to identify and provide support to students in need. She is based in Choloma. Photo by Jim Huylebroek for USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza.

Sembrando Esperanza relies on a proven behavioral measurement tool called the IMC++ to determine the level of violence and irregular migration risks a youth may face. Interviewees answer a series of questions, such as drug and alcohol use, their personal relationships and their intention to migrate, to determine if they would benefit from the family counseling program.

“This study allows us to see how a young person is developing in different aspects of his or her life including family, school or friends,” says Alejandro Izaguirre, a family counselor with Sembrando Esperanza. “Through this process, we also see clear patterns that give us a better understanding the community’s needs in order to offer effective solutions through Sembrando’s other project objectives.”

A photo in this story
Alejandro Izaguirre administers the behavioral measurement tool called IMC++ at Exitos de Anach Public School in Choloma to determine if the student would benefit from family counseling. Photo by Jim Huylebroek for USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza.

Youth are divided into three categories based on their risk level. Youth at a secondary or tertiary risk level are included in the four-month counseling program that strengthens the family and gives parents the tools to create improved family cohesion, keeping youth focused on their studies, family, and forming positive relationships. 

Family Counselor Kenberlyn Downs says there are several phases to Sembrando Esperanza’s intervention. “We start with one and gradually, as the counseling progresses, we address bigger aspects to work on, and when there is family unity in the process, it becomes easier to work on other behavior changes,” she says.

A photo in this story
A photo in this story
Alejandro Aguirre and the USAID Sembrando Esperanza Family Counselors work alongside a family using the “Family Genogram,” which is a method of evaluation and diagnosis that represents graphically the characteristics, personal relationships, pathologies and other data of a family group over time. The Family Genogram is part of the program’s methodology. Photos by Jim Huylebroek for USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza.

Sembrando Esperanza Program Manager Pamela Sánchez says the program focuses on incremental change. 

“We start with small behavioral changes in young people, working with families to improve the family dynamic,” Sánchez says. “The counselor helps the family set its own rules and expectations, which may include a set time to complete homework and a nightly curfew. We then move to deeper issues, and this brings families together to address their problems through critical and continuous support at home.”

A photo in this story
A photo in this story
Sembrando Esperanza Program Manager Pamela Sánchez applies the family counseling model during a visit to the home of a youth who was selected after the application of the IMC++. Photo by Jim Huylebroek for USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza.

Downs says the counseling is about positive change, and at each stage of the process they recognize the youth’s advancements. Indeed, one step is called the “Celebration of Changes.”

“The Celebration of Changes helps us as a family to see what we have done, how we have progressed and the achievements we have made, little by little and one by one, at that point,” Downs says.

A photo in this story

FOOTNOTES

This family has been part of the Family Counseling process. Both young youth have been evaluated using the IMC++ and currently receive weekly visits from the counselors. Photos by Jim Huylebroek for USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza.

Programming New Skills: At-risk youth in Honduras bridge a digital divide

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Posted March 28, 2024 .
By Luis Villatoro .
4 min read.

Text by Luis Villatoro & photos by Jim Huylebroek

Eighteen-year-old Alessia Medina is smart, talented and quick to learn new skills. Alessia’s parents always emphasized the importance of a good education and hard work as a way forward despite their limited financial resources.

Unfortunately, most Hondurans have limited educational opportunities, and those that are available are subpar.

“I remember the laboratory we had in my school, which was a public school, and it barely met our needs,” Alessia recalls. “Some computers were slow, outdated and we sometimes had to repair them. We couldn’t concentrate very well, the most necessary, the most essential part of the classes.”

Alessia’s father, Duevin Medina, lamented that far too many students are ill-prepared for the workforce or to pursue an advanced degree.

“I am a teacher and work with public education,” says Duevin. “Generally, our students graduate from high school, but they are not ready to go to work. What’s left for them is university, and many of them don’t have the [financial] ability to attend university.”

Students at work at the Programmer’s Academy in San Pedro Sula. Photo by: Jim Huylebroek for USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza.

Students like Alessia, who are talented, often cannot chase their professional dreams because of limited financial resources. Fortunately, while in high school, Alessia’s skills caught the attention of her teachers, one of whom recommended she pursue a career in computer programming through a unique program called the Programmer’s Academy.

Sponsored by the Honduras Maquiladora Association and supported by USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza, the training program offers technological education, entrepreneurship incubation and social inclusion promotion through technology. It targets enterprising youth who have the educational and professional drive but cannot afford expensive technical training courses.

Eight hours a day, five days a week, the coursework prepares aspiring programmers, software developers and individuals interested in technology-related careers. Courses cover subjects such as website development, user interface design, database connection, and other relevant areas of programming and technology.

María Álvarez Cerna, Senior Web Developer and Instructor at the Programmer’s Academy, walks students through an assignment. Eight hours a day, five days a week for one year the students learn technical and soft skills. Photo by: Jim Huylebroek for USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza.

USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza, through initiatives like the Programmers Academy, promotes social inclusion by providing opportunities for individuals from marginalized communities, including women, low-income families and disadvantaged youth, to access technology education and entrepreneurship training. The aim is to bridge the digital divide and empower underserved populations to participate fully in the digital economy.

With a practical focus that reflects the current demands of the job market, the certificate program covers website development, user interface and database connection. The training program also provides additional development for professional growth—such as soft skills, team building and other essential competencies needed for success in the workplace.

Alessia’s perseverance in school and performance on the entrance exams earned her a full scholarship to the program. Her life changed once she enrolled in the Programmer’s Academy as she dramatically increased her technical skills and built positive relationships with other students.

“I have learned a lot about leadership, team building, and various other skills that are important to success in a work environment,” she explains enthusiastically.

The importance of programs like these is reflected in Alessia’s vision for the future.

“Programming is about solving problems, and we can create applications that address all sorts of issues such as domestic violence,” she explains. “I have developed a different view of technology and a sense of responsibility toward my community.”

Alessia is grateful to the Sembrando Esperanza project, which provides a stipend to students. She also credits her family for providing emotional support that helped her persevere in her studies.

Students from the Programmer’s Academy work to complete their final project prior to certification in November 2023. The academy offers technological education, entrepreneurship incubation and social inclusion promotion through technology. Photo by: Jim Huylebroek for USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza.

Students from the Programmer’s Academy work to complete their final project prior to certification in November 2023. The academy offers technological education, entrepreneurship incubation and social inclusion promotion through technology. Photo by Jim Huylebroek for USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza.

In December 2023, Alessia graduated from the Programmer’s Academy as a Software Development Specialist and secured a full-time position as a junior programmer for a major pharmacy chain in San Pedro Sula.

“I feel happiness, excitement and pride, and after a lot of learning and sacrifice, this achievement opens the door to endless opportunities and marks the culmination of another goal in my life.”

Alessia Medina receives an award from Edgar Guerra, Chief of Informatics at the Honduran Maquilador Association, for being the second-highest achiever in her class at the Programmer’s Academy. Photo by: Luis Villatoro for USAID Sembrando Esperanza.

Alessia’s accomplishment demonstrates how access to technological education can be a catalyst for social change. In poor communities with many challenges, knowledge and skills can forge a path to success and greater opportunities. The Sembrando Esperanza activity at the Programmer’s Academy offers students access to education that meets the technological demands of the marketplace and promotes economic growth while illuminating pathways to a brighter future for determined young students like Alessia.

While Alessia and other graduates have new professional opportunities, course instructor María Cerna says the one-year program is more than the individual graduates.

“For the country, it’s a big deal because these kids come from low-income backgrounds,” Cerna says. “Having a future mapped out for them means they’re not getting mixed up in gangs, drugs or stealing because they’re desperate. It’s a big help for the country because it means they’re not stuck in poverty or missing out on education. They’re already dreaming big, aiming to become engineers and stuff.”

Programming their Future in San Pedro Sula, Honduras from Creative Associates Int’l on Vimeo.

Honduras: Kickboxing & Jiu Jitsu build self-esteem, protect women from violence

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Posted December 15, 2023 .
1 min read.

Women’s networks in Honduras are empowering females by enhancing their self-esteem, resilience and individual agency through kickboxing and Jiu Jitsu. These self-defense classes are not only teaching vital skills, but are part of a holistic strategy of building a safer future and working to reduce violence against women and girls in the country.

Honduran women suffer from some of the highest rates of violence against women and girls in Latin America and the Caribbean, with the dubious recognition of having the highest rate of femicides in the Western Hemisphere.

The USAID/Office of Transition Initiatives program called CARI Honduras is supporting these classes in the Honduran communities of Chamelecon and Rivera Hernandez, as well as outreach to survivors, public policy advocacy and more.

The opinions expressed in this video are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of the U.S. government.