Educate First-Generation Students in Honduras

Dear Friends,

2020 was a universally tough year, but especially in Honduras, where many communities - including ours - are still recovering from two major hurricanes on top of the continued effects of the pandemic. As we reflect on last year and move forward, we continue to be grateful and humbled by the support of our generous community. Because of you, we had one of our most successful year-end giving campaigns to date!

We also continue to be inspired by the resilience and solidarity of our young people amidst so much adversity. Even as they face challenges of their own, they have been showing up for their community. Last December, in the aftermath of hurricanes Eta and Iota, a group of our young leaders led activities for children and young people in temporary hurricane shelters at local schools, including one where one of our scholarship students was staying with her family after severe flooding forced them to evacuate their home. Another group of young people joined other local organizations to clear out the mud from houses in a nearby community that was hit especially hard by the hurricanes. These are just a couple examples of the many ways and days that our young people have stepped up to support their peers, families and communities in need over the past several months.

We are also happy to report that 35 of our 36 scholarship students in their final year of high school graduated in December! The one remaining student is now completing her schoolwork and is on track to graduate this month. This is an incredible accomplishment in any year, but especially in 2020 where limited devices and Internet connectivity presented significant complications to distance learning. And in January, we hosted our first-ever virtual scholarship welcoming ceremony, where we welcomed 20 new scholarship students and their families into our community. This is always a special time, when everyone is buzzing with excitement for the year ahead. With some spots remaining to be filled and several students still awaiting their university entrance exam results, we will be reopening our application process next month and welcoming even more new scholarship students this spring.

While our space remains closed for the time-being, our staff and board are hard at work developing a plan for gradual reopening that will bring us some much needed face-to-face time while protecting the health and wellbeing of our young people and staff, their families and our broader community. With so much uncertainty still ahead, please continue to keep OYE, our young people and Honduras on your mind and in your heart.

In appreciation,
Amanda