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In 2008, a group of 22 Proniño boys attended the Republica public school. Only two years earlier, reluctant parents were afraid to let their children study with “those street kids”, but within months after their admission the school director wrote a letter to congratulate Proniño on the “exemplary behaviour” of their pupils.
NOTS Foundation decided to provide scholarships for these 22 boys in 2008, but the group of candidates is steadily growing. More children have finished their rehabilitation program and qualify to attend formal school. For that reason, as of 2009, the number of scholarships available to boys at Republica has been raised to 24.
Local situation
Honduras is one of the poorest nations in the western hemisphere. An estimated 60% of its children are malnourished and many are abandoned by their parents or roam the streets because they have no parents at all.
Proniño’s work focuses on the rehabilitation of drug addicted street children from Northern Honduras. Proniño is the only centre that focuses on the specific needs of boys living in the streets.
Main goal
Give 24 rehabilitated street children continuous access to education; a solid education will enrich their minds and give them the self-confidence to go out into society and be productive and honest.
Crime and gangs are incredible problems in Honduras. Many street children either fall prey to them or turn to them for protection. By offering a wholesome alternative you can help these 24 boys to secure a solid future.
Description
This project entails facilitating the schooling of 24 rehabilitated street children by providing them with uniforms, school supplies, a teacher's and pedagogic assistant and transport.
These students currently attend a school in the town of El Progreso, La Republica. The Republica public school was chosen because the school has a good reputation in town and because it has excellent connections with the Proniño management. Teachers are dedicated, do their utmost to reach and teach the children despite the limited means, and have welcomed the Proniño boys with their arms wide open. Most of these boys attended a small neighbourhood school before they could go to Republica.
Although the neighbourhood school offers classes and attention, and has the advantage of being very close to the Proniño center, it cannot offer the same quality of education or guidance of pupils that Republica has proven it provides. Most of these boys are far behind in their education because they have not been to school much, or sometimes not at all. That means that the boys attend classes with children who are generally much younger and they must deal with the stigma attached to having been on the streets. Many of them can not read or write well and must attend special classes.
Dropping the boys into mainstream classes with children significantly younger without any personal guidance would result in imminent failure. Consequently, the Program offers a dedicated teacher’s assistant who daily attends school with the group, collects homework, and is given all special information regarding study and reinforcement for individual children.
The Education Program for street children has created a warm nurturing environment where these boys can flourish. Maintaining a solid relationship with the school is imperative to the success of the boys. A board member of the Education Program for street children is also a full time teacher at the school. Her presence guarantees that the children are being treated fairly and are given all the attention that they need.
