Our trip comes to an end...

March 23

Today was our last full day in Honduras and we spent part of it at the ACJ/YMCA building in Tegucigalpa as we reviewed our partnership agreement with Rosibel and her staff. The partnership agreement was signed in Nov of 2007 for the period of Jan 2009 – Dec 2013. Part of the agreement was to review it in March 2011, thus one of the main reasons for our visit.

As we began our discussions it was apparent to our group that the Honduras YMCA had worked diligently to fulfill their obligations. They had started and grown many programs for marginalized youth and did so without a lot of resources. They had mobilized volunteers in all locations and the youth and their communities were benefitting from these efforts.

Our meeting room....

As we looked at our side of the partnership we had realized some of our goals as well but there was still work to do to heighten awareness of the International Development work at our YMCAs. We need to do more with our volunteers as well as our youth. We also need to increase the level of communications among ourselves and our partners in Honduras.

The partnership group....

Can't forget the Newfoundland and Labrador contingent...

After the meeting we enjoyed a great meal together at an Argentine restaurant in the city and then headed out to the Valley of Angels (Valles des Angeles) to do the last of our souvenir shopping and have a chance to relax after a very full and busy week.

Enjoying our last day together...

It is siesta time...lots of crafts for sale...

Playing scoccer in the street...the kids all over Honduras play this sport...

Our hosts are finally able to relax!!

We ended the day with a pizza party and again we were up early this morning to catch a flight to Miami on the way back to home.

Looks like everyone is enjoying the pizza!

Ready to catch our flight to home!!

Bev’s Thoughts:

The basis of our trip to Honduras was to review a partnership agreement between the Atlantic YMCAs and the YMCA Honduras.  We were a part of it and we knew that we were financially supporting the work in Honduras under the YMCA umbrella.  What we did not know was the impact that we have on so many youth in Honduras that are learning life skills through YMCA programs.  They have such limited resources but reach a large number of youth in a lot of rural communities, most of the work is done by volunteers who went through a program and are excited to pass on what they learn.  

We spent nine days, visiting at least one site per day, and met the most dedicated people and awe inspiring youth, it was quite humbling.  We drafted a new partnership agreement that is satisfactory to both parties, but has to be reviewed by the other Atlantic YMCAs that never had the privilege of attending this exchange.  I am grateful for this experience and am proud that our YMCA is a part of this partnership.

Debbie’s final thoughts:

As I reflect on this experience I realize my greatest learning was how an organization such as the Honduras ACJ/YMCA can achieve so much with such limited funding. All of their funding comes from foreign donors because the economic and political environment in their country does not support private donations.

Not only achieve the goals of the partnership; but to involve so many highly committed volunteers is amazing when we sometimes struggle to find volunteers to support our programs. To have a person walk great distances just to volunteer shows the commitment they have to ensure that the youth of their communities can take their place as leaders and hopefully this will lead to a more prosperous Honduras.

Sometimes we think in the North that the people of the South have nothing to teach us as we have more resources and a longer history. This is just the opposite because sometimes being newer and poorer brings a higher level of commitment. Every decision becomes more difficult and every action has to bring a result. This experience again reminded me of our complacency in understanding just how fortunate we are but again how much we have to learn.

I am truly grateful for this opportunity and hope to take what I have learned to apply to my volunteer commitment to the values of the YMCA. We are a charity based organization and the few dollars we send to Honduras every month multiplies by so much more. Let’s hope we continue to do so and have many opportunities to reflect on what else we could be doing with the International Development aspect of the Exploits Valley YMCA.