Illiteracy in Central America is through the roof. In Honduras it is the law for children to finish sixth grade, then about 40%of children drop out because responsibilities at home and life on the streets take priority. In Los Pinos however the dropout rate is even higher, often times kids don’t make it even that far. Los Pinos is looked at by Honduran society as a neighborhood without a future, and the kids from the community looked at as if they are trash. But what happens when you take one kid from a hopeless neighborhood and give him a chance for change? What happens if you take one kid and he becomes an example of what can happen, what can be? I’ll tell you what: a ripple effect, a change in the mentality of the community where he started. Hope begins to blossom as the realization that things can be different begins to sink in.
Let me introduce you to one such kid. This is Ariel…
Ariel is 16 years old and lives with his mother, one older brother and two younger sisters. Currently they live in a one-room shack made of miscellaneous wood scraps. They have no electricity, plumbing or kitchen. Ariel’s father is an alcoholic and tried to kill himself in the home one evening – drunk – by stabbing himself in the chest. So he was recently asked to leave the home after 20 years of marriage for the safety of the children.
(The ultimate dream is to build Ariel’s family a house on the property of Zion’s Gate in order to get them out of Los Pinos. The idea is that Noemi, Ariel’s Mom, could be employed by the ministry and the kids would be able to continue their schooling. The cost of a house would be approximately $4,000.)
Ariel is a GREAT role model for many in the slums of Los Pinos. Los Pinos is saturated with massive drug problems amongst the youth, with sniffing paint thinner as the number one drug. Nightly the streets are full of teenagers getting high and shooting their guns in the air (Ariel's description) especially Friday and Saturday nights. Every weekend Ariel boards a public bus to go to the property – Zion's Gate – to be out of this unhealthy and dangerous environment. That is where Kaleo and I got to know him. We loved him and were thankful that he was able to stay with us for the majority of our stay there.
Last year Tony and his Wife Nidia invited him to return to school after a one-year lapse (as his family did not have the money for registration, uniforms and school materials). Ariel was super excited for the opportunity to continue his education. Two weeks ago he graduated from the seventh grade. The public high school he attends is a one-hour bus ride from his home and is located in a gang infested area. The goal is to offer him a four-year high school in a private Christian school (Escuela Gran Comision).
The cost to attend is as follows: $90 Registration Fees (annual), $85 Monthly Tuition (Feb through Nov); $300 (annual estimate) books, materials, uniform, special events. A monthly sponsorship would be $105 per month. We would like to seek $120 a month for unexpected costs along the way. So here is my proposition: we are seeking people who want to partner with us in prayer and their finances for this young man. Kaleo joined together to support his first month, but there is still much need for the months following.
Also currently Ariel is enrolled in two private courses offered on Saturdays at Kairos English and Computer School: 1) Four-hour Computer Course and 2) Four-hour English Course. These two courses are a one year commitment and he will receive a Certificate upon graduation. Tuition for both courses is $50 a month. We have one sponsor at this moment for $30 a month. We are also in prayer for sponsorship of the remaining $20 a month.
I simply wanted to present you with an opportunity. No pressure or guilt. Support could look like five dollars a month or deciding to cover a whole month, it is up to you! For more information about this or details on how to donate go to: http://hopeinhonduras.blogspot.com/2011/11/opportunity-for-private-education.html. Thank you in advance for considering this opportunity!
Information about The Great Commission School:
The Great Commission School is a ministry of Great Commission Church in Tegucigalpa and was created to be an educational institution that supports families in meeting their responsibility to educate and train their children, both in academia as in the formation of character to life.
We have two options: Bilingual functioning from August to June and Spanish that runs from February to November.
We strive to achieve the purpose through various elements, such as having a staff of trained teachers and academic programs with high-level educational materials, but above all, based on biblical principles that teach us about character, about loving God above all things, love our neighbors, on the respect and obedience to our authorities, to pursue excellence in everything we do, about being responsible, be honest and have good attitudes and, in particular, teach us about love God's unconditional for us, demonstrated in the sacrifice, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to pay us all our sins and eternal life.
Our argument is the Bible, our role model is Jesus Christ and our mandate is to preach the gospel and make disciples of Jesus Christ to glorify God in all nations.
Our greatest desire is to serve as best as possible and make the stay of students in our school one of the best experiences for which you need the help of all, parents, teachers, students and staff.
