“To
penetrate and dissipate these clouds of darkness, the general mind
must be strengthened by
education”
-Thomas
Jefferson
 |
| The "Snake Eaters" |
I was talking to
Dr. Tom Arnold the other day about the “Snake Eaters” – the
team bringing world class medical care to isolated indigenous
communities of Gracias a Dios – and their recent venture deep into
the Rio Platano Bio Reserve. Tom recalled an evening this past
August where, while snacking on a freshly-caught nutria deep into the
backwoods of La Moskitia, the Snake Eaters came to the realization
that it would be smart to attach a public health education aspect to
next year's priorities. Well, at first, I didn't know what to be
more excited about! Which was more exciting of a revelation...the fact
that my step-dad has become a bushman, content with what food his
Honduran friends provide in exchange for medical
care unattainable any other time of the year...or the fact that the Snake Eaters figured out in three years
what it took many of us over a decade to learn?!
In our 13th
year as the diverse and united force that is the Alabama HondurasMedical Educational Network, we are striving to merge the medical and
educational aspects of our mission so that both are part of a
holistic approach to long-term sustainable development in Honduras.
Looking back on the 2011 Project Honduras Conference, I notice
similar responses from other humanitarian groups throughout the
country.
 |
| 5th Annual International Medical Seminar in Ciriboya |
As we think about
building stronger ties with other organizations in Honduras and
maximizing A.H.M.E.N.'s effectiveness in helping empower Honduran
communities, we cannot ignore other educational groups. Through
greater communication with other NGOs and non-profits with educational foci we stand to see even greater successes come out of our
woodworking schools, sewing schools, school for the deaf, library
projects, and the AHMEN-SIFAT Initiative. Exchanging ideas with
other groups is not giving away our secrets but building on our
strengths!
“Education is all a
matter of building bridges.”
-Ralph
Ellison
The following list
includes names and website information for various individuals and
groups supplementing the Honduran educational system:
Michael Strong
of FLOW, Inc is a professional educator, speaker, and author. He
believes educational programs in hierarchical cultures should foster
independent thinking, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Stanley Marrder
of Honduras Weekly moved his tech firm to his native Honduras based
on the fact that Honduras has been quietly exporting high tech
Internet applications to the U.S. and Euopre of the past five years.
He emphasizes the need for innovation throughout the Honduran
educational system.
Timothy
Underwood of
Hope With Love, Inc. helps recruit, train, equip, and mobilize
business world professionals and industries with the intent to
democratize expertise and specialized skill- sets.
Carol
Brouwer
of A Better World Canada applies an innovative school-based approach
to teaching hygiene and nutrition and advancing education.
Jairo
Funez
runs the scholarship program at the Alison Bixby Stone School at
Zamorano University. It is a non-profit bilingual elementary school
working to build effective professional relationships with other
non-profit schools in Honduras and Honduran public school teachers.
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| Alison Bixby Stone School located within Zamorano Agricultural University - the site of the 2012 Universities Fighting World Hunger Summit |
Carson
Rodeffer
of Light and Life International incorporates educational programs
into children's feeding centers while working to support other
humanitarian groups.
Esther
Bettney of
Siguatepeque Bilingual Christian School works to develop a
comprehensive English curriculum for K-11 students. She guides an
international teaching staff through the hoops of working within a
locally-run Honduran school.
Deborah
Prieskop
of Steel Pan Alley in Roatan founded a music school with the motto
“The arts are what lift us above the subsistence level.”
Josh
Balser
of Bilingual Education for Central America in Cofradia has worked for
ten years in Honduras developing effective teacher training and
bilingual educational programs for low- income families.
These
are but a few of the thousands of names working at the hundreds of
different educational institutions across Honduras. Just because
A.H.M.E.N. is not highly-concentrated in any of the areas where the
preceding folks work does not mean we can't work together. We can,
and there are many more partnerships to be made in and around
A.H.M.E.N.'s base of operations. I challenge you to find the ones
focused on your specific area of outreach!
By
connecting NGOs and non-profits we can connect Hondurans. Connected
Hondurans can be the transformation they hope to see in Honduras.
“Educating is always
a vocation rooted in hopefulness.”
-bell
hooks
Together,
we are the change.
Great! We are moving forward to help the less fortunate, because this is what Christ would have us do!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words....and of course, your keen insight. If we can pull this off, it will require the help of The Almighty. It's also a good sign that Mr Jefferson agrees. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteWhat does it mean to be an American?
ReplyDeleteWhile attending the Projecto Honduras seminar in Copan, Honduras last week I was sitting at a table make up of an interesting group of people:
One Brazilian
One Honduran
One Ex-patriot American raised in Chili
Three Alabamians
The question came up, what does it mean to be an American?
Each of the people at the table considered themselves to be an American. As a matter of fact, several thought we Alabamians might be consider to a little presumptuous thinking only of ourselves as Americans.
Interesting thought.
Comment if you like
After much effort and collaboration, hopefully one day we will be able to do God's work. The mission is already blessed...Now it's time to hold up our end of the bargain.
ReplyDelete@TC Great idea for discussion! It was really neat being a part of such a meaningful conversation with so many Americans (anyone from the western hemisphere?) represented. How can we say we are from the United States without acting as if we lay claim to the only part of "America" that counts?