Back-to-School 2016

It’s back-to-school time here in Honduras.  So much fun for families – and us too! Kids have been out of school since November and they are ready for a change.  I’m sure there’s lots of mothers that are ready too!  For the past few weeks the tiendas have been bulging with colourful backpacks and workbooks, and sporting hangers of uniforms fluttering in the breeze.  In the next few weeks, schools will be bulging with kids wearing these colourful backpacks and fluttery uniforms.

We know that parents want their kids to go to school.  But, if the child doesn’t have the mandatory uniform, black school shoes and backpack, the school will send the child home. This is the same for many countries – but knowing this doesn’t make it any less frustrating to those who recognize that quality education hasn’t a lot to do with show. For several years, we have assisted the children of the church with a start on the amount of money needed for back to school.  With the changes we have made in our mission focus, we feel directed this year to provide more for the families God has put directly in our path.  For some, this means providing money to be used to make purchases knowing that the money will be used as intended.  For others this includes a trip to a store to make purchases. 

Like back-to-school in North America, there’s an excitement with making all those special purchases.  Many families load into the mini-bus to head to downtown Coxen Hole, hoping to get the best variety and bargains.  Both are found along Market Street and the side street that I have never learned the name for.  For me, these stores remind me of a flea market with vendors waiting to entice you to stop and buy. I can never get the same good prices as some of our friends do in Coxen Hole, so usually shop in the Colonia at a tienda where I am known and get a discount. 

   

If you are looking for name brand items, like Crayola or quality pencils, erasers, and scissors these aren’t always easy to find and come with the price tag of an imported item.  We always appreciate those who come to Roatan bearing these gifts in their luggage! It is really hard to study the colour red using a crayon of poor quality that is really more pink than red. However, students prefer the workbooks available here.  The covers are bold and active – like the kids!  They are also ruled inside in the way expected by the teachers.

Recently, we have noticed the price of materials has increased.  To outfit a child for school we try to provide:

2 uniform shirts – 320 lempiras

2 undershirts -       160

1 skirt or pants -    280 (approx. depending on size)

1 pr.black shoes -  200 (approx. boys’ cost more)

Backpack -               280 (approx.)

Workbooks -           200

Other supplies -      100

                                 1540  lempiras      (This is approximately  $68US$ or at today’s exchange $96 CAD)

There are no texts provided by the school.  As an add-on, a reader can be purchased costing between 85L to 150L depending on the grade.  Most families do not provide this.

Just to put this cost into prospective – a person working full-time at a job, Monday to Friday in Roatan makes approximately 1500 L for a week.

During the past week we have also visited two schools to register for the year on behalf of our sponsors. With our partners-in-education, the Gartners, we have 8 kids we are responsible for. Registration is followed by a trip to the tailor where the kids are measured for skirts or pants. 

A week ago, volunteers from R-Church assisted in the distribution of school uniforms, shoes and backpacks provided by donations to the children of Special Treasures – The Dump Ministry. It is very rewarding to see the huge smiles, hugs and thank yous from the kids and their parents. These are gifts for families who bring home approximately 300-400 L per week for their families.  Without a doubt, 50 students are going to school who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend.

Outfitting your child as well as providing food, shelter, water and power is a major challenge for the parents here.  I am very surprised each school start-up that most families are able to assemble all that is needed to attend school.  We are also not surprised when so many strangers stop us or come to our gate to ask for help and we feel as discouraged as they are when we have to turn them away. We extend a special thank you to the people who have provided funds to help us with school needs.  Each dollar is needed – especially in light of the Canadian exchange rate – and is making such a difference, now in providing hope, and for the future in providing choices.  We’re excited that when that bzzzz of the entry bell is sounded the classrooms will again bulge with noisy, active kids eagerly awaiting their new teachers and lessons.   Back-to-school 2016!