My Year of Service in Honduras
Donation protected
On June 14th I will arrive in Honduras to dedicate the next 14 months towards serving the children at Amigos de Jesús! This is a mission that I have dreamt of for many years now and one that will be sure to change my life. I hope that you will be a part of making this mission possible!
Continue reading below to find out more about Amigos, my motivations for joining Amigos, and fundraising details.
This is a video I compiled from this past March when I was provided the amazing opportunity to chaperone the SCU Global Medical Bridages trip to Nicaragua. I hope it gives you some idea of how much I love to work with children :)
About Amigos de Jesús:
Amigos is a home for abused and abandoned children that is located in one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. It has become a safe haven for over 100 children by serving as their school, playground, bedroom, chapel, and family. Children who used to eat out of garbage cans and live on the streets now eat in their own dining hall, sleep in their own bed, pray in their own chapel, work in vocational training shops and receive an academic, religious, moral education in their bi-lingual school. Amigos also supports over 300 more impoverished children living in local villages and shelters in other parts of Honduras, Guyana, and Tanzania. Additionally, it is a registered non-profit organization in the U.S. with headquarters in Pennsylvania.
Click here if you'd like to read more about Amigos de Jesús!
About My Motivation to Serve at Amigos:
Since childhood, many of my happiest moments have come from opportunities to connect with and serve those around me. Over the years I've dedicated countless hours volunteering with a wide variety of communitiesincluding the impoverished and homeless, high-risk children, the elderly, individuals with special needs, and many others. Now, I have been provided the opportunity to fulfill a long-lived dream of volunteering in another country for an extended period of time. Following graduation in June of 2014, I began looking into various programs but Amigos captured my heart immediately. Their beliefs, values and teachings align so well with my own and I am beyond excited to spend the next year of my life there.
My list of reasons for why I am dedicating the next year to Amigos could probably fill up a short novel, so I will just discuss one of the greatest...
One of my major motivations for serving at Amigos is the opportunity to spend each day with children who have previously experienced unimaginable hardships. I love being able to serve children because I believe if they are empowered at a young age, it can go such a long way. I'm passionate about working towards inspiring them to dream and believe in themselves while also helping them develop the tools to accomplish anything they set their minds to. I firmly believe that everyone possesses an infinite number of gifts and talents; that anyone and everyone can make a positive, everlasting impact on the world. However, sometimes, they need someone to help them see and believe in their gifts/talents and I hope to be one of those people for the children at Amigos. I've spent many years tutoring and coaching and am aware of the challenges that come with this age group. Still, the ability to play a supportive role in the development and transformation of a child is unlike any other type of work. Plus, I get to constantly keep learning from them as well! :)
My specific job assignment will be determined by July 18th. Job placement is a mutual discernment process based on the interests, skills and gifts of the volunteers and the needs of the Amigos family. Job placement includes two teams- the educational team (3-5 volunteers) and the Administration/Hogar Team (2-4 volunteers). Each volunteer has a primary job or set of responsibilities that makes them part of one of the teams and is typically performed between 7:00 and 4:00, in addition to one or more secondary jobs that are not based on team and have a varied schedule. Those on the Educational team will have 1 main job; those on the Administration/Hogar team will divide up responsibilities among team members
Educational Team primary jobs are:
• Pre-school teacher
• Transitional classroom teacher (for children who are new to Amigos until they are assessed and ready to be placed in their permanent classroom)
• Vocational teacher (mixed-grade/age/ability classroom focused on academics and vocational training)
• Bilingual teacher (mixed-grade/age classroom focused on academics and English language acquisition)
• Tutoring and special education
Administration/Hogar Team responsibilities:
• Medical records and health care management
• After-school tutoring and homework help
• Child care for youngest children
• Recreation
• Communications/social media
• Sponsorship program management
• Office and administrative support
• Tech support
• Substitute padrinos
• Substitute teachers
• Pastoral assistant
• Infrastructure support
• Non-school based English classes
Secondary jobs include but are not limited to:
• “Specials” teachers at school (religion, PE, computers, music, art)
• Librarian
• Hospitality coordinator
• Community service
• Music ministry
• Volunteer coordinator
• English classes for staff
• Case manager (all volunteers have a caseload of children)
Regardless of my job assignment, I am looking forward to being in an unfamiliar environment where I will be challenged with situations outside of my comfort zone. I am excited for the overwhelming spiritual, social, emotional and intellectual growth that will follow from learning to find comfort in being uncomfortable. :)
You can follow my journey throughout the year on my blog:
www.jillianshondurasjourney.blogspot.com
About Fundraising/Costs:
We are asked to fundraise at least half ($2,200) of what it costs Amigos to support us for the year. This includes room and board at Amigos, health insurance, orientation/retreats, transportation within Honduras, residency, $50/month stipend, etc. However, I am hoping to fundraise $6,185 to cover the following costs:
---$4,400 = total cost for Amigos to support me
---$900 = approx. cost of flights to and from Honduras
---$885 = 4 weeks of Spanish school in Honduras (which I desperately need!!)
I promise you that each and every penny raised will go towards the costs above and if I surpass this amount the rest will be donated to Amigos as well. Any amount helps and is greatly appreciated! :)
Here is some additional information to give you an idea of how your donations can help benefit the children at Amigos:
---$25 = school supplies for 1 child a year
---$100 = field trip for the children
---$300 = sponsors one child for a year
---$1,500 = school uniforms for a year
---$5,000 = feeds the children for a month
Feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions. Thank you and God bless!
Continue reading below to find out more about Amigos, my motivations for joining Amigos, and fundraising details.
This is a video I compiled from this past March when I was provided the amazing opportunity to chaperone the SCU Global Medical Bridages trip to Nicaragua. I hope it gives you some idea of how much I love to work with children :)
About Amigos de Jesús:
Amigos is a home for abused and abandoned children that is located in one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. It has become a safe haven for over 100 children by serving as their school, playground, bedroom, chapel, and family. Children who used to eat out of garbage cans and live on the streets now eat in their own dining hall, sleep in their own bed, pray in their own chapel, work in vocational training shops and receive an academic, religious, moral education in their bi-lingual school. Amigos also supports over 300 more impoverished children living in local villages and shelters in other parts of Honduras, Guyana, and Tanzania. Additionally, it is a registered non-profit organization in the U.S. with headquarters in Pennsylvania.
Click here if you'd like to read more about Amigos de Jesús!
About My Motivation to Serve at Amigos:
Since childhood, many of my happiest moments have come from opportunities to connect with and serve those around me. Over the years I've dedicated countless hours volunteering with a wide variety of communitiesincluding the impoverished and homeless, high-risk children, the elderly, individuals with special needs, and many others. Now, I have been provided the opportunity to fulfill a long-lived dream of volunteering in another country for an extended period of time. Following graduation in June of 2014, I began looking into various programs but Amigos captured my heart immediately. Their beliefs, values and teachings align so well with my own and I am beyond excited to spend the next year of my life there.
My list of reasons for why I am dedicating the next year to Amigos could probably fill up a short novel, so I will just discuss one of the greatest...
One of my major motivations for serving at Amigos is the opportunity to spend each day with children who have previously experienced unimaginable hardships. I love being able to serve children because I believe if they are empowered at a young age, it can go such a long way. I'm passionate about working towards inspiring them to dream and believe in themselves while also helping them develop the tools to accomplish anything they set their minds to. I firmly believe that everyone possesses an infinite number of gifts and talents; that anyone and everyone can make a positive, everlasting impact on the world. However, sometimes, they need someone to help them see and believe in their gifts/talents and I hope to be one of those people for the children at Amigos. I've spent many years tutoring and coaching and am aware of the challenges that come with this age group. Still, the ability to play a supportive role in the development and transformation of a child is unlike any other type of work. Plus, I get to constantly keep learning from them as well! :)
My specific job assignment will be determined by July 18th. Job placement is a mutual discernment process based on the interests, skills and gifts of the volunteers and the needs of the Amigos family. Job placement includes two teams- the educational team (3-5 volunteers) and the Administration/Hogar Team (2-4 volunteers). Each volunteer has a primary job or set of responsibilities that makes them part of one of the teams and is typically performed between 7:00 and 4:00, in addition to one or more secondary jobs that are not based on team and have a varied schedule. Those on the Educational team will have 1 main job; those on the Administration/Hogar team will divide up responsibilities among team members
Educational Team primary jobs are:
• Pre-school teacher
• Transitional classroom teacher (for children who are new to Amigos until they are assessed and ready to be placed in their permanent classroom)
• Vocational teacher (mixed-grade/age/ability classroom focused on academics and vocational training)
• Bilingual teacher (mixed-grade/age classroom focused on academics and English language acquisition)
• Tutoring and special education
Administration/Hogar Team responsibilities:
• Medical records and health care management
• After-school tutoring and homework help
• Child care for youngest children
• Recreation
• Communications/social media
• Sponsorship program management
• Office and administrative support
• Tech support
• Substitute padrinos
• Substitute teachers
• Pastoral assistant
• Infrastructure support
• Non-school based English classes
Secondary jobs include but are not limited to:
• “Specials” teachers at school (religion, PE, computers, music, art)
• Librarian
• Hospitality coordinator
• Community service
• Music ministry
• Volunteer coordinator
• English classes for staff
• Case manager (all volunteers have a caseload of children)
Regardless of my job assignment, I am looking forward to being in an unfamiliar environment where I will be challenged with situations outside of my comfort zone. I am excited for the overwhelming spiritual, social, emotional and intellectual growth that will follow from learning to find comfort in being uncomfortable. :)
You can follow my journey throughout the year on my blog:
www.jillianshondurasjourney.blogspot.com
About Fundraising/Costs:
We are asked to fundraise at least half ($2,200) of what it costs Amigos to support us for the year. This includes room and board at Amigos, health insurance, orientation/retreats, transportation within Honduras, residency, $50/month stipend, etc. However, I am hoping to fundraise $6,185 to cover the following costs:
---$4,400 = total cost for Amigos to support me
---$900 = approx. cost of flights to and from Honduras
---$885 = 4 weeks of Spanish school in Honduras (which I desperately need!!)
I promise you that each and every penny raised will go towards the costs above and if I surpass this amount the rest will be donated to Amigos as well. Any amount helps and is greatly appreciated! :)
Here is some additional information to give you an idea of how your donations can help benefit the children at Amigos:
---$25 = school supplies for 1 child a year
---$100 = field trip for the children
---$300 = sponsors one child for a year
---$1,500 = school uniforms for a year
---$5,000 = feeds the children for a month
Feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions. Thank you and God bless!
Organizer
Jillian Gerrity
Organizer
Sunnyvale, CA