Honduras
Honduras means “the depths” in Spanish. The deep waters off the north coast in the Caribbean Sea inspired Christopher Columbus to name the country Honduras in 1502. Slightly larger than the state of Tennessee, Honduras is the second-largest country in Central America. More than 80 percent of the land is mountainous; swamps and jungles cover the coastal lowlands.
Stories in Honduras
“The water level was rising very fast and we had to use a ladder," Ana says. "There were around 400 people trapped on the roof and that roof wasn’t big enough to hold so many people. We could have fallen at any moment.”
Ana and her family spent two days on the roof, waiting for help to arrive. “At night it was freezing, it was horrible. And during the day it was extremely hot and there was no water. We were all in a panic. We told each other that if we drowned, at least they will find us together. And we were just waiting for the worst. Then a boat came looking for us. In that moment, I felt stronger. Like a sign of life, of hope.”
The boat took Ana and her family to safety, and they are now staying in a temporary shelter for families displaced by the floods. She has lost her home and all her belongings, but she is grateful that she and her family managed to survive. “We think our mum is a super mum. She is my father and mother.”
Plan has launched a multi-country response to Hurricanes Eta and Iota, which struck the region just two weeks apart, causing widespread damage and severe flooding. Our response teams are urgently working to reach communities with clean water, food, child protection services, hygiene kits and supplies to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Plan International is working in Honduras, as well as other countries around the world facing the aftermath of natural disasters, to provide shelter, clean water, food, hygiene kits, supplies to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and child protection services.
Adolescent girls like Ana are the most vulnerable in times of conflict, facing high risk of violence, exploitation, trafficking, child marriage, unequal access to healthcare and lost educational opportunities. We work with communities to provide emergency preparedness, relief and recovery, and ensure the immediate and long-term needs of girls and children are met.
Recently, Keysi joined a Plan economic empowerment program, which gives young women access to financial training and services, as well as entrepreneurship and gender equality training. She hopes to start her own tailoring business one day.
“During the training, one of the subjects which really caught my attention was the inequality in opportunities that exist for men and women," Keysi said. "I have now learned that we have the same social status and that we should be valued equally for our efforts and abilities."
Plan International has been working to improve children’s lives in Honduras since 1973.
:01 (OPENING SLATE) MEET NANCY, A PLAN INTERNATIONAL SPONSORED CHILD FROM HONDURAS WHERE YOUR SPONSORED CHILD LIVES. WE GAVE HER A CAMERA TO SHOW US A DAY IN HER LIFE. <br /> :06 My name is Nancy, I am 12 years old and I live in Honduras. <br /> :11 I have been a sponsored child with Plan International for 8 years. <br /> :15 I have 2 brothers. Eliezer, and my other one is Christian. <br /> :22 My mother takes care of us. <br /> :25 She does the housekeeping and many other things. <br /> :31 A normal day in my life is waking up early, doing some chores, <br /> :39 having breakfast, <br /> :42 going to school and attending my classes. <br /> :50 This is my school. <br /> :53 I am in the 7th grade. <br /> :57 I like school a lot because we learn a lot about Honduras and its bordering countries. <br /> 1:06 This is my class. <br /> 1:08 Hello! <br /> 1:11 I would like to be a doctor when I grow up, because I want to help people. <br /> 1:20 Plan International’s sponsorship has helped me to better myself. <br /> 1:28 I feel as though all girls have the right to participate. <br /> 1:33 We have learned that we have the same value as boys. <br /> 1:39 Plan International has also helped with scholarships, educational kits, and school furniture. <br /> 1:49 In Honduras, many people living in rural areas do not have adequate sanitation facilities. <br /> 1:57 In our houses we have restrooms and basins, and in the kitchen we have burners. <br /> 2:07 Hello, Nancy! <br /> 2:08 Hello! <br /> 2:10 I like to write letters to my sponsor to let her know how my life is going. <br /> 2:18 Having this direct communication with her is very special to me. <br /> 2:23 Dear Sponsor, I hope you are fine and happy by the side of your family. <br /> 2:28 Here, we have sunny and warm days. <br /> 2:34 In my community, things have changed since Plan International’s arrival because now, <br /> 2:40 our parents treat us differently. <br /> 2:43 They give us permission to go to the field and play. <br /> 2:49 We have more space, because Plan International has helped us make improvements. <br /> 2:56 Thank you for being a sponsor with Plan International. <br /> 2:59 Good night!
Plan stats in Honduras
Office & operations
Plan Honduras’ country office is located in Tegucigalpa, with program unit offices in Copán, Santa Bárbara, Intibucá, Lempira, La Paz and Choluteca.
Technical areas
Plan Honduras focuses on the following program areas: early childhood care and development, comprehensive inclusive education, youth empowerment and advocacy.
Number of sponsored children
As of June 30, 2020, people like you sponsor 27,626 children in Honduras through Plan International.
When you sponsor a child through through Plan, you form an incredible friendship.
But that’s just the beginning. With Plan, you also have the unique opportunity to:
Send her birthday gifts and cards.
Give her special holiday presents called Little Treasures.
Subscribe her to Plan’s educational kids’ magazine, Sunny Days.
— Visit her (when travel restrictions are lifted), with individual travel assistance from us.
Each gift offering is safely hand-delivered by us, and given to your child with personalized cards from you. It’s likely that the child you sponsor will have never seen anything like these gifts, and they’re available year-round to make the bond between you and your sponsored child even stronger.
Meet a child to sponsor