Honduras Home Building
 |
Since 2003, Sierra Service Project has sent teams of volunteers to Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the Americas. Our volunteers are in Honduras to serve and to learn. They are immersed in the culture, live in the local community, and serve alongside Hondurans. In total, SSP has constructed 40 houses in Honduras. In addition to the home building work, which is done with Honduran families and community members, volunteers will visit a school, factory, health center and social organizations working on behalf of the poor in Honduras.Both sessions will take place in the small village of Potrerillos, located
about 30 minutes from the city of Siguatepeque, north of Tegucigalpa.
|
||
| Who Can Participate |  This project is open to mature high school students and college-age young adults. Spanish is not required, but Spanish learners will benefit. Each team has about 10 members, plus an experienced adult who serves as team leader. Because our Honduras program entails 14 days in a foreign country, team members need to be mature, in good health and very good at working with others. All participants must have prior service project experience, and be capable of doing hard, physical labor. Youth and young adults register for this project as individuals, not groups. Because of the small team size and the presence of a team leader and SSP staffers, there are no adult counselors.
|
||
| Construction |  Team members will work side by side with family members and others from the community to build simple, but safe, dry and secure brick dwellings. Nearly all of the work is done by hand. This includes moving bricks, sand and water. You will also mix mortar and dig and pour concrete footings. It’s hard, sweaty work! SSP participants are guided by and work alongside a few skilled Honduran workers. The house on the right was built by SSP in 2009. |
||
| Cultural Immersion and Education Activities |  In order to more fully understand Honduras, teams will take part in a number of cultural and education activities. The tentative schedule is in the Central America Information and Registration Packet. Included are visits to organizations working to improve community conditions. In the past, we have visited a self-help ministry for former street prostitutes, a center for street children, a human rights organization and a group championing the rights of women. We also take a tour of a factory, visit a Honduran elementary school and visit a Centro de Salud – a local primary care health clinic.
Much of our cultural interaction occurs on the work site and at church, however. The groups will attend church on Sundays with our Honduran hosts and will spend time with Honduran youth before and after church. This has proven to be one of the most significant and enjoyable parts of the experience – simply sharing time with Honduran children and youth, playing soccer and other games, or just talking. |
||
| Program Dates |
Session 1 Session 2 |
Both sessions have been canceled for the 2012 summer due to low enrollment. We will continue this program in 2013; please contact Rick Eaton if you are interested in participating in this program in the future. |
|
| Leadership and Orientation |  SSP employs an experienced bilingual staff leading our teams in Honduras. This will be Luis Rios Valle's second year co-leading this project; he is pictured on the right with a family that SSP worked with in 2011. Luis is a fully bilingual Honduran and has extensive experience working as a translator for mission teams. Two additional translators will join Luis.
Prior to leaving the US and upon arrival in Honduras, the groups will undergo an orientation and team building sessions. This orientation will prepare the team for their time in Honduras and enable team building between volunteers. |
||
| The Benefits of International Mission Experiences |
An international service and study experience offers an unparalleled opportunity for spiritual growth, maturation and education for young people. With our Central American program, SSP provides an intense, third-world immersion experience. Our goal is to provide youth and young adults from the United States the opportunity to act out their Christian faith by working in solidarity with poor and marginalized communities in Honduras. Educational, cultural and worship activities provide an eye-opening window for participants to understand the third-world reality of Honduras and see the impact that Christian community and service can have. These trips bring inspiration and consciousness for personal and social change upon return to the United States. |
||
| Fees and Payments | The Honduras Home Building program costs $2,550 which includes
airfare from and to Los Angeles, California, and includes all meals, lodging, program and building supplies, transportation within Honduras and emergency medical insurance. A deposit of $700 is required to hold your spot and airline seat.
|
||
Payment Type |
Due Date |
Amount |
|
| Deposit | At Registration | $700 | |
| 2nd Payment | March 15th, 2012 | $950 | |
| Final Payment | June 1st, 2012 | $900 | |
Financial Assistance Through donations from the Lowell Berry Fund, SSP is able to offer significant financial assistance for this program for residents in the Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. These scholarships are offered on a first come first served basis. Contact Rick Eaton for more information at (916)488-6441. |
|||
| How to Register |
Please call our office and speal to Rick Eaton at (916)488-6441 for more information about 2013 sessions of this program. |
||