The Central Honduras Education Fund

The primary activity of the Central Honduras Education Fund is to provide scholarships to deserving students graduating from high school in rural Honduran communities within a 25-mile radius of the capital city of Tegucigalpa. The goal is that these students become self-sufficient and productive citizens who contribute to the development and capacity of their communities. The Central Honduras Education Fund individually selects scholars that demonstrate not only a desire to continue their education at the university level, but also a commitment to sharing their education with the community around them. The Central Honduras Education Fund family, with the help of the Central Honduras Education Fund Advisory Board, maintains an extraordinarily close relationship with scholars, their families, and the communities in which scholars live and work.

The Central Honduras Education Fund provides hope in the form of access to education for a rural population struggling for economic and social equality. Despite a trend that indicates very limited and often inexistent educational opportunities for this population, The Central Honduras Education Fund looks to break the barriers and build leaders from within these very communities.

The Central Honduras Education Fund hopes to continue to be a catalyst for sustainable development of rural Honduras through education, providing the gateway to education one student at a time.

Central Honduras Education Fund Scholars

2009 was an extremely challenging year for the Central Honduras Education Fund administrators and Scholars alike. In April, a tragedy took place that will remain in the hearts and minds of all of us for many years to come. Denia Benitez, a mother of two beautiful children, the Central Honduras Education Fund’s first Scholar and a dedicated hard working student, at the age of 29, passed away. After hearing the news, Mike, David and Aaron traveled to Honduras and were present for the funeral service. Needless to say, friends and family of Denia were, and continue to be, inconsolable.

Denia was to begin a teaching internship in her home town in the coming months, and was entering her fourth year of university. Her death serves as a reminder to us that we must live and love each day we are here, and that we must continue to encourage and support each other the best that we can.

The Central Honduras Education Fund’s second Scholar, Walter Durón Meza, began his university career in Accounting. After completing a successful spring semester, Walter tragically  lost his father to cancer. He courageously accepted a series of new roles of at home, but when his sister was struck soon after with a serious illness and hospitalized over several weeks, Walter’s family duties became increasingly demanding. A week later, Walter called us and let us know that he had made the difficult decision to withdrawal from the school to tend to his sister and help provide for his family. He hopes to one day return to finish his degree, and we are holding a place open for him when the time is right for him to do so.

Rather than interpreting these tragedies as obstacles, the Central Honduras Education Fund has instead reevaluated its mission and further reaffirmed its goals. We believe that education is a sustainable outlet, and has found confirmation of the incredible potential of the Central Honduras Education Fund in the success of Saira Raudales.

Saira, our third Scholar, is currently involved in an internship at a cattle ranch as a quality inspector, while at the same time attending the Universidad Autónoma Nacional de Honduras (UNAH). Thus far, Saira has been nothing short of amazing in her responsibility and dedication both academically and professionally. Her timely reporting, excellent grades, and professional attitude leaves us confident in her ability to excel at the university level. She is tremendously invested in her education, and the Central Honduras Education Fund feels privileged to have her as a scholar.  Our hope and dream is for Saira to graduate and become the example for future scholars. In addition to work and school responsibilities, Saira is helping us organize and educate the Joseph M. Martens Educational Award winners. She inspires us all to continue fighting for our dreams despite the daily challenges life provides.