Shalom Project, Honduras

See the progress you helped make happen in your sponsored community

When the project started, half of all children weren't enrolled in school and one in four families didn't have access to clean water. Child malnutrition was common and a lack of vocational skills meant incomes were low.

Thanks to your support, your sponsored child and other children in the Shalom community have improved access to clean water and education and families have new income opportunities.

Together we've achieved so much

1,067 families gained access to clean water

This has reduced the incidence of diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases.

  • 92 percent of households have access to basic sanitation, after 1,067 families were supported to improve their housing and build safe toilets.
  • Families learned about hygiene practices such as hand-washing to prevent diseases, and how to reduce breeding grounds for mosquitoes that spread diseases such as dengue fever and the Zika virus.
  • 15 sanitation committees were formed to oversee projects such as the building of over 100 toilets, 50 houses and several clean water projects.

90 percent of children are enrolled in school

This is up from 49 percent in 2008.

  • 23 schools were upgraded with new classrooms and learning materials, and parents were encouraged to become more involved in their children’s education.
  • Teachers in 10 schools were trained and peer-to-peer tutoring programs established. 72 percent of students improved their grades as a result of better teaching practices and learning materials.
  • Parent-teacher associations were supported in 21 schools, to ensure that education continues to be a community priority into the future.

Over 250 young people completed vocational skills training

This training covered fields including computer repairs, baking, tailoring, carpentry, welding and motorcycle repairs.

  • Community members gained access to financial training, microloans and marketing advice in order to start or expand businesses and increase their incomes.
  • 20 community organisations and five youth networks were formed and trained in community leadership and advocacy, to ensure that the community can lead its own development in the future.

"Child sponsorship has provided us with training and helped our community to better care for children through education and healthcare. "

- Hector, aged 23, youth leader