ISSUE
1
FALL/WINTER
2021
THE
A MAGAZINE BY CONNECT GLOBAL
With your support, families all over Honduras have secured food through 3 main methods.
Mothers in La Ceiba have a safe, dignified place to recover
Learn what we are doing to combat the effects of living How we are investing in education for a brighter future
on a dirt floor
CONTENTS pg.3
pgs.10-13
THE WORLD SHUT DOWN, WE SHOWED UP
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
How Connect Global made an impact during a season of unpredictable circumstances
Learn how we are attacking solvable problems
pgs.5-6
pgs.14-18
MATERNITY HOME UPDATES
EDUCATION MATTERS
Learn more about our progress at the Maternity Home
A deep dive into our expanding education initiatives and our Global Education Fund
THANK YOU, SINCERELY. by Javier Mendoza
The past 19 months or so have been a little different than most of us planned. We all in one way or another have been affected by the pandemic, political & physical storms, financial insecurity, and personal loss. Some things have occurred on a global scale and may have only affected us residually, while other events over the past year and a half, have affected us in deep, profound ways. This time period has been defined by two words for me: Perseverance, Together. From launching and maintaining a 24-bed Maternity Home facility and ministry to taking over a brand new education center, to losing several newborns, friends, ministry partners, and even my own father during the Covid-19 Pandemic we have had to persevere through so much. There have been amazing successes along the way, but we have also experienced profound losses which have affected our team members, our partners, and our family; and yet we persevere, together.
Between March 2020 and July 2021 we experienced one of our most productive periods to date.
We have gotten stronger, and we have grown into a nimble, strategic, capable
We were able to mobilize quickly and distribute
force for good.
resources as efficiently and as safely as possible. Our work never faltered and we were able to expand our
As the Pandemic shuttered our plans for our
community outreach in a huge way by saying yes to an
annual Mission Trips in 2020 and most of
opportunity to steward a k-12 school in need of new
2021, Connect Global boldly adapted our
administration and we continue to persevere, together
strategies to this "new normal" and went
to make virtual learning as productive as possible until
into action on the frontlines. We delivered
we can have students back on campus full time.
urgently needed food and water resources and renewed our commitment to our local
I want to say thank you as Connect Global is celebrating
strategic partners in Honduras. We helped
our 10th Anniversary we recognize that we truly could
first responders with PPE and other life-
not do what we do without You.
saving equipment and we did it all because of You.
There have been so many wonderful opportunities to make a difference in someone's life this year and it is an honor to be a part of this special work, as we persevere
The Connection Magazine | 2021
together with You.
The Connection Magazine | 2021
THE WORLD SHUT DOWN, WE SHOWED UP by Javier Mendoza Photography Connect Global
Honduras is one of the most
Together we provided well over
poverty stricken nations in this
10,000 meals to people in need.
hemisphere and many people live day to day not knowing
We worked closely with our
where their next meal will come
partners such as Pastor Allan of
from. Even for those with work, it
CCI church, Pastors Allan and
is hard to make a living. Things
Lorena Posas, Jorge Dubon, as
were made even more uncertain
well as the Firefighters of El
during the global health crisis..
Porvenir to make sure distribution was safe and efficient.
Roadways were closed to all non
"THE NEEDS SURROUNDING US ARE GREAT, BUT OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE" JAVIER MENDOZA, CONNECT GLOBAL
essential traffic, and while many continued working hard to make sure that essential items like food and water could be available, only those who had the financial means were among those who had access. Connect Global committed to doing our part by providing help to the most vulnerable citizens in our city throughout the pandemic. The Connection Magazine | 2021
ConnectGlobal.org |
The Connection Magazine | 2021
HOW WE CONTINUE TO MEET NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC Community Outreach Together we provide thousands of meals to people in need. We work with local leaders to ensure we got to those in need and did it safely and securely. As biosecurity mandates persist in La Ceiba, Connect Global continues purchasing and distributing as many Family Sized Meal Kits as we could, and we wouldn’t be able to help these families without the generosity of so many both in the US and in Honduras.
Supporting Pastors We are grateful for the opportunity to bless pastors and begin a collaborative work with these leaders who serve their town with compassion. Connect Global has continued to prioritize the immediate needs of our pastoral connections here while continuing to create a more sustainable plan for the near and foreseeable future.
CONNECT GLOBAL HAS BEEN BLESSED TO BE SUPPORTED BY MANY MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AT THE MATERNITY HOME IN LA CEIBA, HONDURAS
Many groups, churches, and companies have found ways to support the work alongside Connect Global. They have donated many items such as clothes for mom and baby, cleaning supplies, laundry machines, and recently the Mayors office of La Ceiba even donated plants to beautify our Maternity Home facility.
Strategic Partners We continue to work hand in hand with local Pastor’s Associations, local orphanages, senior care facilities, a local drug and alcohol rehabilitation center and a church-led feeding center providing food for the homeless and food-insecure. As we have grown the depth of relationships in this region for many years, our ability to scale our reach has also increased.
As visitors walk through each room and space they often remark on how impressed they are with the ministry and work and have realized how much more they can help others through our combined efforts. EACH AND EVERY DAY WE ARE TOUCHED BY HOW MUCH THE COMMUNITY IS WILLING TO HELP US.
We are so grateful for all those who have helped us and look forward to seeing more blessings come upon this work. We encourage you to also find ways you and your community can get involved. We have Amazon wish lists that you can shop and then ship to us. We also utilize Smile.Amazon.Com which allows us the privilege of earning a small percentage of purchases made, even on ConnectGlobal.org | everyday items you purchase for your home or office.
The Connection Magazine | 2021
MATERNITY HOME
JANETH MONTOYA; MATERNITY HOME DIRECTOR by Javier Mendoza
Janeth Montoya, our friend, and longtime volunteer, is the Director of The Maternity Home in Honduras.
Janeth has played an integral role in the opening and operation of the Maternity Home since the onset. Even as construction was underway she and her husband, Connect Global National Director Jorge Amador, were vital in every detail making sure that we had a team in place, learning everything they could about the new facility, and training the team to minister and serve the mothers of the home with dignity and care. Janeth has long been an asset as a volunteer, team leader, and host. She has been a blessing by using her time and gifts to serve in various outreach capacities with Connect Global such as children’s ministry, mission team organization, and coordination.
In light of all of these wonderful attributes and her love and compassion for this ministry, it is the pleasure of the entire Connect Global team to have Janeth serve in the official role as Director of the Maternity Home since September 1, 2020. Janeth and our Maternity Home Team have now served over 1300 mothers..
ConnectGlobal.org |
Why the Maternity Home is needed by Javier Mendoza Photos: Maternity Home Team
The Maternity Home ministry provides Connect Global access to serve both moms and newborns with great care and dignity while sharing the good news of Jesus with our employees, hospital staff, and each new mom that we meet. One of those mothers is Ingris. She came to the Regional Hospital Atlantida in La Ceiba to deliver her new baby. Her child was very early and underweight. Her new daughter was only 2 lbs and was in need of several weeks of care at the NICU. At this hospital, as recent as 2019, it would have been normal to see Ingris sleeping in the hallways while waiting on her daughter to recover. There was no designated place for mothers who were waiting on their children who needed extra attention and care.
Many times before the Maternity Home was built our team would observe mothers waiting anxiously for their children in the corridors of the hospital. They were exposed to the elements but staying in close proximity to their children was more important to the moms than their own safety or security. On September 11, 2019, the Connect Global Team opened the doors to the Maternity Home and began hosting these mothers. This got mothers up off the floor and into brand new beds with access to clean bathrooms, showers, laundry facilities, and 24-hour care by the Connect Global team which includes meals, medications, and newborn necessities when available. When Ingris delivered her daughter she immediately found out they were in for a long stay at the hospital while her baby gained weight. She needed many specialized tests which are expensive, but vital, and our team was able to help her with the resources needed to complete these tests. Ingris and her daughter were with us for 41 days. By far the longest stay. After several tests, much-needed treatment, and many prayers Ingrid was able to take her precious daughter, Milagros (which means Miracles), home. Ingrid and Milagros were able to be cared for in a clean, safe place and treated with dignity and compassion by our wonderful Maternity Home Staff. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our lives and this beautiful Maternity Home with on average 50 amazing mothers each month and look forward to thousands more.
The Connection Magazine | 2021
The Connection Magazine | 2021
MATERNITY HOME
It Takes a Village
DANIELLE MENDOZA
CONNECT GLOBAL HAS BEEN BLESSED TO BE SUPPORTED BY MANY MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AT THE MATERNITY HOME IN LA CEIBA, HONDURAS
"EACH AND EVERY DAY WE ARE TOUCHED BY HOW MUCH THE COMMUNITY IS WILLING TO HELP US." We encourage you to come up with ways you and your community can get involved. We have Amazon wish lists that you can shop and then ship to us and we also utilize Smile.Amazon.Com which presents Connect
Many groups, churches, and companies have found
Global the privilege of earning a small percentage of
ways to support the work alongside Connect
purchases made, on everyday items you purchase for
Global.
your home or office. Contact us for more info.
They have donated many items such as clothes for mom and baby, cleaning supplies, laundry machines, and recently the Mayors office of La Ceiba even donated plants to add to the beauty of our Maternity Home facility. As visitors walk through each room and space they often remark on how impressed they are with the ministry and work and have realized how much more they can help others through our combined efforts. It truly takes a village to raise a child and we recognize the need for community in running this Maternity Home as well.
We are so grateful for all those who have helped us and look forward to seeing more blessings come upon this work.
The Connection Magazine | 2021
MATERNITY HOME
A LIST OF NEEDED ITEMS Connect Global Maternity Home Team
Connect Global has been able to bless over 1300 mothers through our daily operation in the maternity home. We have collected, prepared, and distributed many items to these mothers and their newborns as well as helped pay for vital medicines and exams. This ministry has allowed Connect Global to bless thousands of families in the city and nearby communities. We have been blessed by many friends and partners who Give with Us to make this home a reality. and we want to continue providing these blessings to as many families as possible. Donating financial gifts as well as physical items helps Connect Global meet the needs of so many. List of Items Needed for the Maternity Home in Honduras Newborn Clothes Maternity and Post Maternity Clothing Diapers, Newborn and Up Baby Wipes Money for Exams Wal Mart Gift Cards Dry Detergent Clorox Wipes Hand Sanitizer
You can make a donation at ConnectGlobal.org or you can send us the items listed and we will ship the items to our team in Honduras. While a financial donation is preferred so we can buy items locally, feel free to email us if you would like the shipping address to ship your physical items.
Thank You
The Connection Magazine | 2021 SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVES
feature
the importance of Clean Water BY JAVIER MENDOZA
In 2016 Connect Global partnered with the Community Water District in El Tamarindo to support a plan to give water to the residents of this remote and very water insecure town. In August of 2018 & 2019, Connect Global helped complete the most recent phases of this current plan to bring water to 2 communities near the original well that was dug. In 2021 we have begun a new project because people are still in need of clean water. ACCESS TO WATER AROUND THE WORLD IS A PROBLEM
Las Huellas Del Maestro School has a shallow water well on the property that is in need of maintenance and
Water is one of the most precious
repair.
resources on the planet. Water is
“785 million people lack basic access to clean and safe drinking water.” ACCORDING TO CHARITY:WATER
needed for survival. People without
With our National Director, Jorge
access to clean drinking water
Amador, we created a multi phase
become ill, miss out on school, make
plan to address the water issues at
less money, and can even die from
the school.
water borne disease. Due to the pandemic kids are still
OUR CURRENT PLAN WILL BRING FRESH, CLEAN, WATER TO OVER 200 STUDENTS AND STAFF.
Connect Global has long valued
mostly attending school virtually. Our
water and it's inherently basic
teaching staff is working from the
As we attack this issue one step at a
importance to all of life. We have
school in a socially distanced
time, we get closer to providing life
experienced seeing people who
capacity.
giving water to so many. It not only
struggle at best to obtain enough water for their family and at worst become ill because of the lack of access to this much needed
will solve the issues of thirst but also
NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO MAKE THE NEEDED ADJUSTMENTS, REPAIRS, AND UPGRADES.
provide for improved hygiene of all on property and proper sanitation of bathrooms.
commodity. We have started out with a brand
You can be a prt of the solution by
We have endeavored to take on
new reservoir for holding clean water
giving monthly towards this project
clean water initiatives across
that is captured from local sources.
and our many other plans to bring
Honduras since 2006. Together we
clean water access to our friends and
have been able to provide clean
Next, we will be looking at
drinking water to thousands over the
maintenance and plumbing upgrades
years but there is so much work still to
for the current well. We will need to
A gift of just $10 a month will help
be done in providing clean drinking
look at providing a thorough cleaning
provide clean water for one student!
water along with basic sanitation.
of the system, a new pump, and a
Our most recent undertaking is
neighbors across Honduras.
softener/filter to clean out the heavy
You can find out more on our website
metals that are present.
ConnectGlobal.org
addressing the sustainability of clean water access at Las Huellas Del
Once these items are addressed we
Maestro a school we recently
will look into a new rain water
became financial stewards of (which
capture system. We believe that rain
Danielle Mendoza talks more about in
water is one of the most forgotten
a segment on education in this issue).
forms of fresh water and in most parts of the world is highly underutilized.
Clean Water Initiatives
You can Help Connect Global Give Clean Water Connect Global is bringing access to clean, life-saving water to a school in Honduras.
Clean Water will improve sanitation, empower communities, and give kids more time in school instead of time at home battling water borne illness.
As little as $10 a month can make clean water available to one student EVERY year.
We are working together with Community Leaders to bring an entire k-12 school clean water.
Rest assured that 100% of your donation will go directly to help complete this and other clean water projects.
Thank You for partnering with us to help this community.
The Connection Magazine | Fall/Winter 2021
ConnectGlobal.org |
The Connection Magazine | 2021
DIRT BY: JAVIER MENDOZA
Replacing dirt floors with hard, sealed floors "significantly improves the health of young children."
CONNECT GLOBAL BELIEVES IN PROVIDING SUSTAINABLE AND TANGIBLE SOLUTIONS TO SOLVABLE PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE FACE. Dirt floors are very common in many parts of the world. In Honduras, many homes have very simple walls and a roof, but many of the homes are lacking one very basic, important element— a concrete floor. A 2007 World Bank study of a Mexican government program to replace dirt floors with cement found that doing so "significantly improves the health of young children." Among the study's findings: "A complete substitution of dirt floors by cement floors in a house leads to a 78 percent reduction in parasitic infestations, a 49 percent reduction in diarrhea, an 81 percent reduction in anemia and a 36 to 96 percent improvement in cognitive development."
Connect Global has worked in the past with local foundations and churches to help identify and develop strategies to help homeowners get this basic need met as well as introduce new community development initiatives. We are grateful to everyone who supported our work and sustainable projects such as Clean Water, Aquaponics, and Concrete Floors.
Making sure that a family has a sealed and safe floor is one of the most simple ways in which we can transform the trajectory of health and wellness for a family in rural communities worldwide.
Sustainable Solutions
a new opportunity As we look to expand our strategy for sustainable development we are presented with a new opportunity. We have been made aware of a new technology that replaces dirt floors with a natural, less expensive alternative to concrete. We know that sealed floors provide a health and wellness benefit that is lacking in many rural areas and now we know of a simple and less expensive way to solve the problems that dirt floors create. in 2022 we are exploring ways in which to utilize this tech to provide new, sealed floors. This will help us provide a way for families and homeowners to participate in the solution as well we plan to hire local masons thereby adding jobs to the local economy. We are excited about the prospects that this new solution will provide as Connect Global implements this new plan in Honduras. Be sure to follow along and see how we put this new tech to work for those in need. Find out more: ConnectGlobal.org
"EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON WHICH YOU CAN USE TO CHANGE THE WORLD"
L E A R N
L E A R N
T O
T O
Nelson Mandela
R E A D
R E A D
EDUCATION INITIATIVES
Education Matters danielle mendoza
It has been calculated that 168 million* students worldwide have gone an entire year with their schools being closed due to the pandemic. These students are at risk of falling behind on their education and those who are most vulnerable due to economics, geography and violence are at risk to lose the most. Connect Global is doing our part to help students stay enrolled, return to the classroom, and receive the life changing education they deserve. Connect Global promotes education initiatives, funds scholarship programs, and provides other sustainable resources when and where we can in order to support those who educate children. It has long been our desire and one of the guiding pillars of our work in Honduras to provide quality education to as many people as we can.
The Connection Magazine | 2021
We have provided logistical support, aided in construction and rehabilitation efforts, and have provided clean water access to schools across the country since our founding team member's first mission trips to Honduras in 2004. In faith, we have taken a step into a more immersive role in education by becoming stewards of a Primary and Secondary school in San Juan Pueblo, Honduras.
EDUCATION INITIATIVES
Las Huellas Del Maestro translates to “The Master’s Footsteps” and is the name of a K-12 school on the northern coast of Honduras. The School was founded by David and Dialis Romero in 2008. The school has provided quality, Christian education to students over the last 12 years in a caring and dignified way. Basic Education, English classes, Computer Classes, Science Labs and Athletics have all been a part of the many benefits of this school for its students over the years. When the pandemic hit Honduras, Las Huellas Del Maestro had an enrollment of 237 students, it’s largest year ever. From March 2020 through the end of their school year in December, the dedicated staff and teachers worked hard to creatively keep up with teaching in a digital format.
ConnectGlobal.org |
EDUCATION INITIATIVES
A NEW NORMAL Distance learning was a new concept for many teachers and students around the world but this school did what they could to still meet the milestones for their students and against many odds still graduated 24 students at the end of 2020. To start off this new school year the teachers had found many strategic ways to connect with their returning students amidst an ongoing mandate to not meet in person. Programs and Apps like WhatsApp and Google Classroom are a part of their daily teaching schedule. Many Students have still found it hard to connect because of the lack of tech devices and the scarcity of wifi and or cell service. Connect Global has been able to help aid in this year’s new virtual format by providing tablets to students in need as well as a few other items such as webcams and cables to ensure the teachers have the tools they need to connect virtually to our students. We are grateful for the support we have received in order to get the tools needed into their hands.
A NEW SEASON We officially began financial stewardship of this school on Feb 8th 2021. We have been able to learn more fully the impact that COVID19 pandemic and Two Hurricanes back to back truly had on this precious school and its students and faculty. We have personally seen how challenging the economics have been as well as the difficulty of keeping the student body engaged over the months of social distancing. The New school year that started in February saw a deficit of 116 from the year prior. Many students could not commit to distance learning due to lack of connected devices, resources lost due to hurricanes and pandemic, and school debt acquired as a result of parents having lost employment.
The Connection Magazine | Spring 2021
A NEW WAY FORWARD In spite of the hardships, we have been working closely with the staff and directors to bolster their efforts within the virtual learning environment as well as a strategy to reopen safely, and securely when the time comes. In just the first weeks our team regained 51 of the students who were lost from last year in part because of the generous donation of 31 tablets from Connect Global bringing our total student enrollment to 172. We also implemented a plan to help parents who have struggled to meet the tuition costs from last year get their children re-enrolled and begin an appropriate repayment schedule. While this is a big expansion for Connect Global education initiatives here in Honduras we know this is only the beginning. There are many challenges we are still facing and many opportunities to continue growing the school and ultimately honoring the legacy of School founders, David and Dialis Romero. Our work is cut out for us but we see this as a great leap of faith into something we have been growing into since the launch of Connect Global. Through our Global Education Fund, we have committed to providing 12 additional scholarships to a group of girls that live in a local children’s home, Little Lambs Refuge, that Connect Global has supported since 2015. This commitment brings our total number of full education scholarships provided by Connect Global to 28, (9 at New Life School, 7 at Heaven’s Door, & 12 at Las Huellas.) We not only see this as an expansion of our dedication to basic education, but we also recognize this as a seed towards the planting of the Connect Global School of Missions. Head to our website to learn more about our Global Education Fund and how you can get involved.
ConnectGlobal.org |
THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION ACROSS THE GLOBE BY LEXI CONLEY “Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” -Kofi Annan
VOLUNTEER SUBMISSION
While education is a part of everyday life for those who live in developed countries, like the United States, it is much more difficult to come by in developing countries like Honduras. Those who live in places such as the United States, might not even give a second thought to the importance of access to education, because it is so widely available and even required. However, this is not the case everywhere and it is important to consider that the imperative need for education is not being met in many places.
Perhaps you are wondering how exactly education impacts communities directly, and the benefits it has for everyone, not just those who receive the education. First, it is well known that education has personal benefits to those who receive it: longer life expectancies, better pay, and overall improved quality of life.
Additionally, widespread education provides social benefits to communities by expanding tax revenue, reducing crime, increasing GDP, and increasing infant/maternal mortality rates. Furthermore, outside of providing benefits on personal and communal levels, there are even global impacts to expanding access to education. These benefits include reducing climate change, creating geopolitical stability that combats radicalism, and increasing the production of goods.
The inverse of all the benefits to expanding access to education is also true, if there are barriers to receiving education, there are certainly negative impacts that affect everyone. For example, higher rates of crime and poverty lead to higher government spending on initiatives to combat these problems. Likewise, communities that struggle to access education tend to stay underdeveloped and cannot get out of the vicious cycle of poverty that of course leads to shorter life expectancies, stunted economic growth, and civil unrest. Walter Cronkite said, “Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.”
While no one can solve the global education crisis single-handedly, there are ways to get involved and help. Connect Global has recently assumed financial and logistical responsibility for a local school called, Las Huellas Del Maestro, in Honduras. In their efforts to expand access to education, they have provided much-needed resources to students and teachers to facilitate the learning process.
While COVID-19 has issued a blow to education across the world, Connect Global is still making it their mission to leave no child behind and continue the incredibly important work they do for the school.
One student at a time, one community at a time, together we can make a difference globally in providing quality education, that benefits us all.
The Connection Magazine | 2021
BRAVE ENOUGH TO TAKE ACTION By Danielle Mendoza We need more truth, more acknowledgment, more empowerment, and more empathy in this country and around the world for the disparities that have been and for the ones that continue to march on. Let’s aggressively check blatant racism and the sneaky quiet racism too. This isn’t about politics this is about real people with beating hearts and breath in their lungs who have been subjugated, marginalized, and often times brutalized. Some, like MLK Jr, were brave and bold enough to stare injustice down in the street but are we brave enough to echo their voices? What does the megaphone of our life scream? Who are we in public and who are we in private? Sometimes the most effective protests will take place at the dinner table, the one you share meals over with family and friends and co-workers but don’t stop there. Protest when you see the injustices and racism unfolding before your eyes, it’s there, you just have to be brave enough to even allow yourself to see it. And once you’ve allowed yourself to see it take action because as Javier Mendoza says “compassion without action is merely observation."
The Connection - A Magazine by Connect Global
ONE LAST WORD
Thank You for your kindness and generosity. Together we are making the world a better place
THE
A MAGAZINE BY CONNECT GLOBAL
12 N Broadway Loft 3B Yonkers, NY 10701
(214) 725-4352 Email: javier@connectglobal.org
www.connectglobal.org
