Honduras: programs & priorities

ChildFund Australia's affiliate organisation in Honduras has been working in the country since 1982 and currently assists almost 250,000 children and families in 60 program communities.

World coffee prices and fluctuations in the cost of fuel have severely impacted the economy and job market in Honduras. This economic volatility creates unstable working conditions, which makes it difficult for many families to adequately provide for the basic needs of their children.

In October 1998, ChildFund in Honduras worked in collaboration with the Honduran government, providing immediate assistance in the form of food and basic healthcare to those affected by Hurricane Mitch. ChildFund in Honduras identified the damage to water systems, assessed resources and formulated a reconstruction program with the Honduran government. Available resources and community help were mobilised to carry out the system reconstruction, which also corrected errors that had existed prior to the hurricane.

ChildFund in Honduras continues to strengthen its Early Childhood Development program and has 600 project volunteers focusing on developing new activities to create early stimulation for young children, enhance preschool education, and build learning skills for youth.

Development in progress

In partnership with the Honduran Ministry of Health, ChildFund in Honduras has opened and improved the facilities housing communal health centres. The Ministry of Health trains volunteers to manage the centres, and ChildFund purchases medicine, medical supplies and equipment.

ChildFund in Honduras also provides communities with access to potable water, toilets, arranges waste collection facilities and offers advice on methods to prevent mosquito breeding in stagnant water.

ChildFund in Honduras coordinates several activities geared toward the prevention of further land erosion, including tree planting, educational workshops for children and conservation and protection of water resources.