St. Martin’s Ev. Lutheran ChurcH June 2011 Benevolence Focus:
Austin Helps Honduras Scholarship Program
A message about our June 2011 Benevolence Focus: Austin Helps Honduras Student Scholarships In 1998, Hurricane Mitch hit Honduras with a vengeance, killing thousands and displacing many thousands more. In Juticalpa, a group of people who were living on the banks of a river in cardboard and plywood shacks before the hurricane lost even those homes and their meager possessions in the floods following the hurricane. In 1999, the first group of members from St. Martin’s went to Juticalpa to finish construction on about 75 houses started by members of Austin’s Riverbend Church. They were able to join in the fiesta to celebrate the first families receiving keys to their new homes. The residents proudly named their community, “Colonia Solidaridad.” Since then, ten groups from St. Martin’s have traveled to Juticalpa to work on construction and maintenance projects, including the building of an elementary school, Escuela Solidaridad. Realizing that most children did not attend school beyond the Sixth Grade because their families did not have funds to send them to school or because the wages they could earn at menial jobs were necessary for the families to survive, a scholarship fund was established. The $500 scholarships needed for each student covers all expenses related to school for one year—materials, fees, supplies and equipment, uniforms, shoes, and meals. During the 10 years of this scholarship program, 344 annual scholarships have been given to 124 individual students, with 16 graduating from high school and 17 from vocational programs. This year, there are 44 students who need scholarships -- and we are highlighting 12 of those student’s stories as part of our June Benevolence Focus at St. Martin’s. Money to pay for scholarships comes from donations, matching grants, sales from arts and crafts events, and from generous donors who sponsor one or more children for a school year. Already this year, 21 of the 44 students have sponsors. Before St. Martin’s became involved in building the houses and providing a means for students to further their education, the children had no dreams for a future. Now, many of them are gainfully employed in jobs they would never have been able to attain, some have established small businesses in their homes, and some of the high school graduates are taking courses at the local university. Your Benevolence Focus gifts through St. Martin’s may be made by check with “Honduras” on the memo line or online at our website: www.saintmartins.org. There also are opportunities for making on-going monthly contributions to help support this program. For further information, contact St. Martin’s member Bunny Oliver: 301-4753
Cecia Abigail Casco Age: 14 Grade: 8 Favorite Class: Natural Science Favorite Color: Green Number of Siblings: 4 Number of people living in home: 5 Cecia writes: “I am a good girl and student, well behaved, and a good daughter and sister. I am good with the teachers. I want to go ahead and become a professional or a teacher. I want to give back to my parents and my brothers and sisters.�
Cristian Jose Najera Age: 13 Grade: 8 Favorite Class: Natural Science Favorite Color: Blue Number of Siblings: 7 Number of people living in home: 9 Cristian writes: “I like soccer, and I like school and studying because I can learn more. I would like to be someone in life and I would just like to be a teacher to teach children what I learned in school.�
Delmy Nohemy Sosa Mejia Age: 12 Grade: 8 Favorite Class: Natural Science Favorite Color: Pink Number of Siblings: 5 Number of people living in home: 9 Delmy writes: “I like to read and to be a student. I like to be with my family. I like to draw, dance, sing, and to live together with my companions. With a scholarship, I can continue studying, and with the money, I can help people in need.�
Dennis Favian Munguia Age: 16 Grade: 11 Favorite Class: Natural Science Favorite Color: Blue Number of Siblings: 4 Number of people living in home: 6 Dennis writes: “I am a respectable person. I like getting along with people and I like painting pictures. I want to be someone in life, and to study to help my parents.�
Jose Enrique Guifarro Age: 14 Grade: 8 Favorite Class: Social Studies Favorite Color: Gray Number of Siblings: 2 Number of people living at home: 2 Jose writes: “I like to be a very good person and I like to share good things and be happy. I like to make good grades and pass all my studies. I want to be someone in the future.�
Laura Roxana Andara Age: 14 Grade: 8 Favorite Class: Social Studies Favorite Color: Pink Number of Siblings: 3 NUmbe rof people living in home: 6 Laura writes: “I am a person who likes to dance very much, but I also like to study. I would like to be a scholarship student because I do not have many resources to study and I would like to be a part of the opportunity.�
Leandro Misael Flores Grade: 10 About Leandro: Leandro is very polite, and a little shy. He has a younger sister.
Leonardo Esau Meza Age: 19 Grade: 11 Favorite Class: Spanish Favorite Color: Black Number of Siblings: 1 Number of people living in home: 4 Leonardo writes: “I'm a very quiet person. I enjoy studying, playing and learning more about this world. I need financial assistance and so I can help my parents a little.� Special Note: Leonard participated in painting the mural on the wall behind him in this photo for a project to promote non-violence. Also, his mother was one of our first scholarship students. She was awarded a scholarship for two years for a sewing course. She takes in sewing jobs at their home in the Colonia.
Maria Jose Aceitono Age: 13 Grade: 8 Favorite Class: Social Studies Favorite Color: Blue Number of siblings: 3 Number of people living in home: 4 Maria writes: “I like to be kind, caring and respectful, and I like to study very much. I want to proceed for the benefit of my community and myself.�
Claudia Patricia (Patti) Colindres Age: 13 Grade: 8 Favorite Class: Natural Science Favorite Color: Blue Number of Siblings: 5 Number of people living in home: 3 Patti writes: “I would like a scholarship to graduate and to be someone in life, so that I can help the Colonia.�
Saida Ebelina Figueroa Age: 17 Grade: 11 Favorite Class: Social Studies Favorite Color: Blue Number of Siblings: 7 Number of people living in home: 6 Saida writes: “I am a young person who is very friendly. I like music very much, to always give a smile, and I like to help others. I would like a scholarship because I like to study to prepare myself for helping with the necessities in my community.�
Susana Guadalupe Irias Age: 13 Grade: 8 Favorite Class: Natural Science Favorite Color: Pink Number of Siblings: 3 Number of people living in home: 6 Susana writes: “I am a person who likes to study and to be educated by my teacher and my parents. A scholarship would be a big help and it will help me succeed and be able to be someone in the future.�