By Amanda Hall | Development Coordinator
Dear Friends,
OYE's youth leaders are here, there and everywhere. They can be found in the picturesque city of San Marcos, Ocotepeque in western Honduras; the modern and bustling San José, Costa Rica; and next month in the capital city of the USA, Washington, D.C.
At OYE, we believe in the importance of expanding minds and horizons. This includes seeking opportunities for youth to break out of their comfort zones, challenge their ways of thinking, and develop understanding and empathy through cross-cultural exchanges and experiences. These opportunities would not be possible without the collective support of foundations, businesses, and generous individuals like you.
Let's start with San Marcos, Ocotepeque, and a young man named Amílcar. Amílcar graduated from high school back in 2007 with the hopes of one day becoming a doctor. The following year, Amilcar was awarded on OYE scholarship to attend university. Eight-years later, at 27 years old, Amílcar has culminated his year of social service - where he worked at a public hospital in the city of San Marcos - and finds himself just two months away from graduating from medical school and officially becoming Dr. Nuñez. Like all of OYE's scholars, he is a first generation college graduate. This accomplishment, achieved through personal determination, family support and OYE, is just the beginning of an incredibly bright future for Amílcar. We at OYE couldn't be more proud!
We continue with San José, Costa Rica. This January, six of OYE's youth facilitators of our sexual and reproductive health and rights education program CREA, accompanied by our General Programs Coordinator, traveled to San José, Costa Rica to learn from and exchange with diverse organizations promoting SRHR and the New Masculine movement among young people. The New Masculine movement, which emphasizes promoting positve and empowered masculinity, as opposed to toxic and violent masculinity, is so crucial within a country where sexual violence against women and girls is a commonplace and feminicide is on the rise. Since so few people and organizations within Honduras actively work in this area, our youth embraced this opportunity to learn from an organization with nearly two decades of work in the areas of gender, masculinity, and sexuality, and apply their learning to the Honduran context.
Next month, I will be accompanying one of our youth leaders to Washington, DC, and New York City to visit foundations, key donors and exchange with other youth development organizations. This year, we have selected Keyla, a 21 year-old law student who coordinates two youth groups within the organization: the sports program Deportes en Acción and an advocacy project engaging adolscent girls in efforts to institutionalize comprehensive sexuality education in El Progreso's public schools.
While in Washington, D.C., we will be co-hosting a benefit concert with EcoViva to raise funds to promote an opportunity for youth delegates from each organization to participate in a bilateral exchange to share knowledge, experiences and ideas for change. Youth delegates will collaborate during two multi-day retreats in Honduras and later El Salvador to learn from each other about leadership, community organizing, gender equality and environmental stewardship.
Michael Romero, an Austin-based singer/songwriter and former youth development Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras, will provide the music for the evening, including songs by the late Guillermo Anderson, a beloved Honduran singer who passed away from cancer in late 2016. Guillermo was an incredibly kind soul who used his musical talent not only to entertain, but to support and create awareness about diverse social causes in Honduras, including OYE.
If you live in the D.C. area, we hope to see you there on May 19th! Please visit our event page for more information and to purchase your tickets in advance.
Once again, thank you for your belief in our work, your generosity and your committment. Your support is crucial to expanding minds and opportunities in Honduras.
Un abrazo,
Amanda
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