Learn more about the values that drive us and the impact of our work.
Photo: Austin Helps Honduras
Our Impact
In Honduras, state support for public school drops dramatically after sixth grade. Fewer than one-third of students continue their schooling afterwards. Austin Helps Honduras funds scholarships so that students living in poverty in Juticalpa’s Colonia Solidaridad and neighboring Colonia Los Angeles can continue their education in middle school, high school, and onward into vocational training and college.
After elementary school, students must pay fees for enrollment, books, grade reports, and security. There are additional charges for school uniforms, transportation to and from school, and school lunches. These add up to hundreds of dollars per student each year. Our scholarships pay for all of these expenses and add crucial after-school tutoring in each colonia. In return, students pledge to keep their grades up and participate in community- and leadership-building activities.
These educational opportunities provide a better future for each student and family, and a pathway to break the cycle of poverty and unemployment that pervades many parts of Central America.
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Scholarships awarded to students enrolled in academic, vocational, and university-level programs
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US dollars worth of scholarships distributed to date
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People served by medical teams sponsored by Austin Helps Honduras and Promise Healthcare
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New houses and buildings constructed in the community of Colonia Solidaridad in Olancho, Honduras
Photo: Austin Helps Honduras
This is my fifth year in the scholarship program. My goal with my university degree is to help people who want and demand justice in my country. I also hope to build my own law office. I am studying law, and it has been a great blessing for me to be in and remain in the scholarship program. Thank you for everything.
I’m 15 years old. My dream is to be a professional chef. That has always been my dream. Thank you very much first of all to God because he has put it in your heart to support us, so that each person can fulfill their dream.
When I signed up to be a sponsor, I didn’t expect to have such a meaningful connection with the students but it’s really nice. I love seeing their pictures and hearing about their interests in school and life. It’s like having a pen pal again but with the added joy of knowing that I’m helping them to reach their goals.
Flood damage along the Choluteca River caused by Hurricane Mitch. Photo: Debbie Larson, NWS, International Activities, licensed under CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)
Our History
In late October 1998, Hurricane Mitch struck Central America, leaving more than 11,000 people dead, destroying hundreds of thousands of homes and causing more than $5 billion in damages. It was the deadliest hurricane to hit the Western Hemisphere in more than 200 years. Honduras and Nicaragua were especially hard hit by the hurricane. In Honduras, floods and mudslides brought on by heavy rainfall washed away entire villages, and the majority of the country’s crops and infrastructure were destroyed. …
Austin Helps Honduras volunteers collaborate with our Juticalpa partners to create an annual photo directory of AHH scholarship students. The directory identifies those students in need of a sponsor, and includes basic information about each student to help you determine which student you would like to sponsor.
How do students earn a scholarship?
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Students in Colonias Solidaridad, Solferina and Los Angeles submit applications for the scholarship program to our Juticalpa-based program manager. A local board in Juticalpa assesses each student’s demonstrated academic performance, community service, financial need, and other relevant facts to select the scholarship students. The number of new students entering the program each year depends on the amount of money raised for scholarships the previous year and the capacity of the program manager and volunteer leaders. Students must maintain an 80% grade average and participate in volunteer activities in order to remain in the program.
What happens if my sponsored student leaves the program after I’ve paid for the scholarship?
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If the student has completed one-half of the school year, then the remaining one-half of the scholarship will be a pre-paid credit that can be applied to the sponsorship of a different student the following school year. If the student leaves the program at the end of the school year, you will have an opportunity to select another student to sponsor during the upcoming school year.
Can I donate without sponsoring a student?
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Definitely! Donations in any amount are gratefully accepted and put to use for various needs. Here are some suggestions:
$360 Internet Service for one University student for one school year (10 months)
$325 School Day Lunch Allowance for one student, one school year (200 days @ $1.63)
$245 Public Bus Transportation to High School for one student, one school year (200 days). Unlike in the U.S, there is no free public school bus transportation
$100 Funds 28 hours of tutor class instruction time to help middle school and high school students improve their academic achievement
$60 Instructor fee for Commercial Truck Driver Certification class for one student
