HONDURAS

Friends-International started working in Honduras in 2005, with 3 local NGOs in the capital Tegucigalpa (Casa Asti and Alternativas y Opportunidades) and in San Pedro Sula (Amigos Para Siempre) and with INHFA (Instituto Hondureno de la Ninez y la Familia).
Casa Asti and Alternativas y Opportunidades are now part of the CYTI Alliance

In 2005, the IDB Japan Programs financed a technical cooperation on “Innovative Programming for Street Children Projects in Honduras”, based on the experience of Friends-International. This technical cooperation aimed to build capacity in specific topics, leading to the development of a holistic and child-centered model of attention for street children in Honduras.

In 2006 the 2nd phase of the program allowed 11 Government and Non-Government organizations to agree on guidelines for working with street children/youth and to develop collaboration. This was made possible through numerous field visits and discussions with Friends-International and the organization of a workshop in Tegucigalpa entitled “Working together to strengthen holistic services to street children in Honduras”. Findings from the workshop were presented to the First Lady’s Office, who declared this work to be the establishment of the Honduran network of organizations working with street children and youth.

In December 2006, based on the lessons learned during this workshop, the IDB invited Honduran organizations to present proposals to obtain funding to finance pilot projects to develop a holistic and child-centered model of attention for street children and youth, taking as a point of reference the Friends-International’s model.

4 organizations were selected to receive a grant:

• Casa Asti (local NGO) in Tegucigalpa for developing outreach activities and support for social reintegration of street living children.
• Alternatives y Opportunidades (local NGO) in Tegucigalpa for developing micro enterprises to allow mothers working in markets to develop an additional income, thus preventing their children from working and ensuring children join school.
• Amigos Para Siempre (local NGO) in san Pedro Sula for developing Non Formal Education for children, families and schools from one selected community to prevent drug/alcohol use, delinquency and sexual abuse
• IHNFA (Government agency) to coordinate and monitor all projects working with street children and children at social risk.

Friends-International monitors and and evaluates these projects. Exchanges between staff have enabled the directors of the Honduras NGOs to visit Friends-International projects in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. Friends-International staff visit these NGOs in Honduras to provide training and technical assistance to help them develop best practice services for children and youth.