Concepcion, Honduras

Suyapa and her six children live in a rural area of Honduras. This single mother works hard growing food on her farm. She also does laundry, ironing and embroidery to earn enough money to meet the needs of her children and support them through school.

When World Vision began Concepcion Area Development Programme (ADP) in Suyapa’s village and nearby villages, Suyapa joined the local development board to guide activities in the area. At the same time, three of her children joined the Child Sponsorship programme, to be sponsored by New Zealanders.

Although Suyapa was busy at home farming and taking care of her children, she realised how important it was to help determine the direction of her community. She offered her time for the local development board and began to take part in community activities.

After training as a health volunteer, she started providing much-needed first aid treatment in her community and educating others about health and hygiene. She is also an early childhood teacher at the community-run preschool, where she helps prepare 14 local youngsters for school. Her latest involvement is with a community savings and credit system – Suyapa was appointed as the chairperson for her community, a credit to her reliability and leadership skills.

Suyapa is grateful for the training she has received from World Vision, as this has taught her ways to improve her life and the lives of her children. Recently, World Vision supported selected families to build new homes; Suyapa and her children were given the opportunity to build a new, healthy home with ventilation for the stove, and bathing and toilet facilities. Suyapa says that this new home has significantly improved her family’s wellbeing.

By working with people like Suyapa who are committed to changing their communities for the better, the activities of Concepcion ADP are sure to be sustainable.