HONDURAS
Roatan, Honduras:
Arnaldo Auld Public School in Gravel Bay, Roatan, is located close to the cruise ship pier and welcomes short visits and donations of school supplies. More information can be obtained on this website: http://www.roatanchildrensfund.com/arnaldoauldschool.htm. This small Kindergarten through 6th grade school is located very close to the cruise ship dock. Over 500 children attend this school in morning and afternoon sessions. The website has a specific list of what the school needs. During a recent visit, teachers mentioned their needs for pencils, pens, paper, crayons, colored pencils, backpacks, chalk, erasers, chalkboard erasers, simple English reading books, flash cards, composition books, and chalk.
Arobia Alexander Welcome School in Los Fuertes, Roatan currently serves 1,165 students. The school is in desperate need of pencils, pens, crayons, colored pencils, scissors, rulers, whiteboard markers, spiral notebooks, construction paper, surge protectors, children's clothes (ages 5-17), children's shoes (ages 5-17), children's backpacks, children's vitamins, band-aids, children's Tylenol and Motrin, flashcards, educational games and puzzles, and construction paper. More information can be obtained on this website.
Clinica Esperanza is a local medical clinic in Sandy Bay, Roatan. It is run by Peggy Stranges, R.N., a nurse who had previously spent 14 years coordinating medical and dental mission teams that volunteered their services in Honduras. Peggy has been working on the island of Roatan since 2001. The clinic welcomes all patients and typically treats 30-40 patients per day. Approximately 60% of the patients are children. Specific needs are contained on their website, and include such items as acetaminophen (for adults and children), aspirin, Tylenol sinus, Tylenol cold, Ibuprofen, dandruff shampoo, ace bandages, vitamins (adult, children's, infant, prenatal), neosporin, diaper rash cream, hydrocortisone cream, and a wide variety of other items. For more information, contact Peggy at peggy@missionroatan.org or visit their website at www.missionroatan.org.
Familias Saludables (Healthy Families) is a non-profit Canadian non-governmental organization (NGO) working in Roatan to help with AIDS education and to reduce the mother-to-child transmission of HIV. According to the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), approximately one in 10 residents of Roatan have HIV/AIDS. Approximately two-thirds of Roatan's population lives on less than $2 US per day and chronic malnutrition affects 33 percent of the children under five years of age. Familias Saludables works closely with the population in need to promote healthy family living. Their needs include powdered infant formula, children's Tylenol, adult Tylenol, children's vitamins, infant vitamins, prenatal vitamins, Pedialyte and other flavored Electrolyte drinks, disposable diapers, children's antibiotics, baby clothes, baby blankets, cloth diapers, diaper pins, baby bottles, small infant toys, stuffed animals, small children's toys, stickers, coloring books, crayons, hotel-sized soaps and lotions, girls' hair bows and barrettes, pens, paper pencils and other supplies. Familias Saludables is located in Coxen Hole, close to the cruise ship pier. For more information, visit the Roatan Children's Fund website.
Jose Santos Guardiola Public School is located in Punta Gorda. It is a significant distance from most resorts and the cruise ship pier, but it could be included on a tour of the island. There are over 500 children in grades 1-9, and the children are primarily of the Garifuna culture. The school welcomes visitors and donations, and could use such things as puzzles and other games, rulers and compasses for math classes, crayons, small children’s scissors, cooking pans and skillets, tools for carpentry classes, and other kitchen items. A complete list of desired items can be found on the Roatan Children’s Fund website (www.roatanchildrensfund.com).
Majken Broby Children’s Home in Gravel Bay (www.roatanchildrenshome.com) is an orphanage located very close to the cruise ship pier, and it houses young children and teens. A list of what the orphanage currently needs is available on their website, and items can be dropped off at the children’s home. Desired items include children’s vitamins, children’s Tylenol, backpacks, shampoo, liquid soap, children’s books in English, children’s music CD’s, and school supplies. For more information about visits and donations of supplies, contact lynn@roatanchildrenshome.com or visit the Roatan Children's Fund's website:(www.roatanchildrensfund.com).
Miss Betty's English School is located in the French Cay area of Roatan and serves children from kindergarten through fourth grade. Items that are needed include books in English, pencils, pencil erasers, pencil sharpeners, construction paper, craft supplies and composition books. For more information, please visit the Roatan Children's Fund website.
Roatan Bilingual School, Roatan Bilingual School, is a private bilingual school located within a short driving distance of the cruise ship pier and many resorts. Contact: Cheryl Galindo, Founder, jgalindo@roatan-net.com. A list of what the school needs is on the school’s website, and teachers report that they also need children’s books so that they can read to the children and encourage a love of reading. Short visits by resort guests and cruise ship passengers are welcomed, and children and teachers greatly appreciate donations of supplies.
Transportation to these and other locations in Roatan can be arranged by contacting Carlos Rodgriguez at Islander Tours (www.islandertours.com), Victor Bodden at Bodden Tours (www.boddentours.com), or through a number of other tour companies on the island. Taxis are also widely available at resorts and at the cruise ship terminal.
Throughout Honduras
An online information and communications network, projecthonduras.com, provides information on a wide variety of volunteer options throughout Honduras. A number of these could be interwoven into individual trips and vacations to Honduras. See the projecthonduras.com Volunteer page for more information and links to organizations.