From trash dump to classrooms, transform 200 lives

Challenge

Due to corruption, lack of quality education systems, gang violence and lack of opportunities, Honduras has a poverty rate of 68% and rising. The population in extreme poverty has been forced to work collecting recyclable materials inside the garbage dumps. Due to the low income this work provides and gang extortion in the site, all family members do this work. Children never attend educational centers. Grace works to stop child exploitation in landfills through holistic care projects.

Solution

Grace serves 83 families (215 students) that work in the garbage dumps of Honduras. By: Intellectual: A school in front of the entrance of the dump, scholarships programs for university and high school students, creation of microenterprises, adult education. Physical: Nutritional, medical, dental, and family planning programs. Emotional: Psychological support, prevention of gang insertion, recreational activities, spiritual support. Familiar: House construction, crisis relief and settlement.

Long-Term Impact

1) New generations (babies taken care since nursery) will never attend to the dump, thus stopping child exploitation. 2) Overall better health conditions (no malnutrition, diseases that can be catch in the dump, death caused by accidents). 3) Gang recruitment prevention. 4) Job opportunities on site and educating 8 different communities to get better payed and safe jobs. 5) Educating since they are babies until they finish university, forming new professionals 6) Teaching emotional resilience.

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources