We have all arrived safely in Tela, we have spent the last few days learning cirruclum, exploring Tela, and learning about la vida en Honduras. Last Wednesday, we were severly rocked by a 7.1 earthquake. Nevertheless, all of the volunteers arrived in San Pedro Sula safely and we are already working hard! Quickly the volunteers felt the sweltering heat that the tropical climate brings. It is impossible to not spend every moment sweating here in Honduras, lucky for us, the Carribean brings a nice breeze once in awhile.
Friday and Saturday we spent the day learning the cirriuclum, about World Camp, and the struggles that Hondurans face every day. We had some great discussions about the cultural implications that are intertwined to the many inequalities found in Honduras.
This summer we are trying many new projects. We have a brand new teacher training session and are becoming more involved with the local communities around us. We will update you about how our new projects are going. Next week we will travel to the Hospital here in Tela to teach HIV/AIDS to a group of students and to those working at the hosptial. Also we will be working with a local non-profit, Projoven every Wednesday night. Projoven targets low income youth and gives youth the power and educational tools to better their lives. (think "Boys and Girls Club" in hondo) Also, we will be visiting the small prison in Tela, where we will target an at risk population. We are so excited to implement new changes in our curriculum and to learn more about the populations we will work with.
On Saturday night we attended a drama program hosted by the cultural central here in Tela, the drama was held in the old Tela Railroad Company building. The building dated back to the early 1900's and the factory closed when United Fruit, a mammoth U.S. banana company, left Tela in the 1970's. There was dancing, fire, and even dialogue about how important it is to use condoms! Every Saturday the cultural center in Tela holds performances so we will definitely be learning a lot about the cultural scene in Tela.
Today we had our first day of Camp! We had a double day, and traveled to two schools in the morning and one in the afternoon. We taught over 170 students! The first school, Tela American is right around the corner, a mere 5 minute walk from our house. The students were vivacious and had a lot of energy. The second school we traveled to was in La Lombardia about an hour away.
Our days are full of hot rays, hard work, while our nights are much more calm and usually involve the consumption of rice beans and some sort of vegetable. Tonight the first cook group of volunteers will be cooking enchiladas con queso.
We will post some photos from the first camp soon, and we will let this blog be a free space for volunteers to write and describe their experience while in Honduras and more about World Camp.
saludos de honduras,
tara
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