Honduras Project Information

Since 2003, we have sent teams of volunteers to Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the Americas.  In Honduras, our volunteers are immersed in the culture, live in a small community, learn together and serve alongside Hondurans.  In this time, SSP has constructed 19 houses.

Learn more about SSP's Honduras Projects

Click here to watch a short flash presentation.

Church leaders: Learn more about Honduras

The annual conference of Honduran United Methodist Church leaders and North American supporters takes place in Louisville, Kentucky on September 10 - 12, 2009.  This is a very informative, inspirational and affordable venue for learning about the United Methodist Church of Honduras and who the church, with the help of North American individuals and organizations, is improving the lives of the poor of Honduras.  Learn more by visiting the conference web site or download the conference brochure.

Join Us In 2009

We have scheduled two* Honduras project sessions for the summer of 2009.  These in-depth immersion and service experiences are open to High School juniors and seniors as well as young adults.

 *Due to lack of enrollment session 3 has been cancelled.

Price: $1,995

This includes airfare from Los Angeles to Honduras and back, all meals, tools, building materials, emergency medical insurance and transportation while in Honduras.  Limited financial assistance is available.

Registration

To register, download the following items:  our Trip Information Sheet and the Registration Form.  (If you prefer, call our office and we will mail one to you.)  We will continue to accept registrations as long as there is space available. Most participants and many parents choose to talk with us before registering.  Please don't hesitate to call our office for an in-depth discussion of this experience.

Leadership

Each team is headed by a experienced team leader who will meet the team at the departure city, accompany them to Honduras, work along side the team, and accompany the team back to the US. 

In addition to the session leaders, the project is supervised by three experienced SSP employees who will spend the entire summer in Honduras. 

Project Locations

Talanga:  Talanga is a medium size town located about one hour north of Tegucigalpa.  It is located in an agricultural area whose major crops are corn, sugar cane and livestock fodder.  Its elevation is about 2,500 feet.  Lodging for the team will be in the parsonage building, which has rooms with bunk beds.  Food will be prepared by an experienced local cook.  This is SSP’s first year in Talanga.

La Cofradia:  La Cofradia is a neighborhood of Danli, a large town about 1-1/2 hours east of Tegucigalpa.  It is an agricultural and tobacco production center and the elevation is about 2,700 feet.  Lodging will be in the La Cofradia United Methodist Church, which contains a large downstairs area where teams will sleep and eat.  The downstairs has shower rooms for taking bucket showers as well as toilets.  Cooking will be done by a local cook.  This is SSP’s second year in La Cofradia.

Construction

Team members will work side by side with family members and others from the community to build two 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 may also be mixing mortar and digging and pouring footings.  It’s hard, sweaty work!  SSP participants are guided by and work alongside a few skilled Honduran workers.

Cultural Immersion

In order to more fully understand Honduras, the teams will visit several different groups who provide ministries of service in the vicinity.  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 maquila – a clothing factory where tee-shirts, uniforms and other clothing items are manufactured for sale in the U.S.  Most of our cultural interaction occurs on the worksite 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, playing games or just talking.

New this year is a program of two-night home stays.  We will place participants in groups of two or three with carefully selected families.  These youth will get an unmatched opportunity for fellowship with a Honduran family.  Youth not wishing to participate in the home stay program will remain at the church with our staff.

The Benefits of International Mission Experiences

A international service and study experience is offers an unparalleled opportunity for spiritual growth, maturation and education for young people.  With our Honduras Project, SSP provides an intense, third-world  immersion experience.  Our goal is to provide youth 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 our return to the United States.

Our Values and Principles

All of us live in a shrinking world and are participants in a globalized economy.  The following values guide everything that Sierra Service Project does in Honduras:

        · Having a light footprint in our host communities.

        · Whenever possible, do things which build and strengthen local youth organization and        

        Honduran NGOs.

        · Treating our hosts as equals with respect and dignity.

        · Promoting the exchange of values, faith, language, culture and ideas.

        · Encouraging US youth and their churches to support Honduran churches and Hondurans and helping

        to support the communities there in other ways that are sustainable.

        · Fostering local economic development.

Who Can Attend

This project is open to high school juniors and seniors and college-age young adults. Spanish is not required, but it is very helpful. Each team has about 10 members, plus an experienced adults who serve as team leaders. Because our Honduras programs entail 15 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, a recommendation from a youth leader and be capable of doing hard, physical labor.  Youth 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.

Passport and Visa Requirements

A valid passport is required for entry into Honduras.  There is no visa requirement for holders of a U.S. passport.  Minors must have an affidavit signed by both of their parents giving permission to enter and leave the country.

Learn More

We have put together a slide show and will publish a brochure about the project.  Click on the appropriate link to download and print copies. 

There are a large number of websites with information on Honduras and the issues and forces shaping the country today.  We have put together a page of links for you to check out.