Honduras project profile

Concepcion ADP

Education
There are few government-run preschools in Concepcion ADP and many children do not enrol at primary school because their parents cannot afford fees and uniforms or because they are needed to help with farm work.

World Vision currently supports 11 preschools and five kindergartens, training volunteer teachers, repairing classroom and providing equipment and furniture. Three of the preschools set up by the ADP have been handed over to the Public Education Department.

The ADP organises vocational training for young people and runs adult literacy classes. It encourages school attendance by working with families and supporting needy children to attend school.

World Vision has helped several schools establish stationery stores, staffed by teachers and students. The subsidised stationery saves parents money and the schools can use the stores’ profits to pay for much needed equipment.

Health
Most illnesses in Concepcion can be attributed to poor living conditions and hygiene. Nearly half of the population are malnourished.

The ADP trains health volunteers, supports public health initiatives, such as vaccination programmes and HIV/AIDS education, and supports ‘Healthy School’ programmes, in which health volunteers immunise children and supply worm and lice treatment. It helps improve living conditions by assisting people to build better homes and supplying sanitary latrines and water storage tanks.

Parents are trained in nutrition and provided with seeds for vegetable gardens. Children receive fluoride treatment, toothpaste and toothbrushes to encourage oral hygiene and reduce tooth decay.

Agriculture
Farmers in Concepcion grow corn, beans and rice for local consumption and sale. Other crops include hemp fibre, olive seed, yucca, sugar cane, mangoes, bananas and spices. However, poor farming practices have resulted in the loss of soil fertility and poor production of food crops.

As much of the land is hilly, irrigation schemes under construction will increase the viability of production in these areas. Alternative crops such as jicama (a root vegetable like a turnip) and jocote (a kind of plum) are promoted as they grow well in the dry conditions. Community trainers learn better methods of cultivation and water management, which they pass on to their neighbours. Families are trained in poultry rearing and animal health care.

Small income generating activities, such as fish farming, knitting and making jocote jam, are also promoted and the ADP supports producer groups to access markets for their products. It also networks with other organisations involved in sustainable agriculture and assists communities to establish savings and loans schemes.

Community leadership
Local and regional community boards receive training in administration, communication and financial management, so they can plan, monitor and evaluate community development activities. Emergency response teams are formed and trained to prevent and respond to disaster situations.

Children’s participation is vital to the success of Concepcion ADP. There are child representatives on the community boards and each community has a volunteer ‘Community Defender of Children’s Rights’.

Sustainable development
World Vision and the people of Concepcion ADP envisage that by late 2012, the communities’ development will be at a level that no longer requires World Vision assistance. We will keep you updated on their progress.