GRADUATIONS AND INAUGURATION!

On this Christmas Day,

 we would like to share some of the joys and accomplishments

of our mission in Honduras during this month of December:

CMP Graduation

On December 2nd, the 6th CMP graduating class presented and defended their Social Project on Alphabetization.  They had taught 11 adults in one of the three levels of Primary education.  They not only obtained a 100% grade, but were congratulated by the examining board as the best among 3,000 pupils they had examined.

 

The case of Suyapa, mother of five children, is worth to mention:  One of her daughters, who graduated from the CMP two years ago, taught her the first level. Another daughter, who graduated a year ago, guided her through the second level.  This year, it was her niece who taught her the third level, which allowed her to complete the 6 years of primary education! This niece is part of the same house hold (about 10 adults live in a two room house in the mountains, without running water or electricity).

 

The following Friday, December 6th, we had a thanksgiving Eucharist, celebrated by Fr. Jonathan, with the participation of staff and families.  Our volunteers from the USA were also present in spirit.

The graduates with Sisters Olga, Teresa María, Marta Inés and María

Rejoicing!

Potable Water for Sixty Families

Bill Kearny, from Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Seekonk, MA, one of the first comers to the mission in Guaimaca with the Diocesan groups, started five years ago to move a project to bring potable water to a very deprived area. Being an engineer himself, he enlisted the commitment of the Boston Chapter of Engineers Without Borders, who throughout these years has had about twenty people working on the project in different capacities.  Many have come to Guaimaca, work on obtaining funding and together realized studies and provide technical assistance.

The project serves the families of three villages: Aguacatillo, Maraquito and part of  La Calona in Guaimaca.  Most of them only had the polluted river water for all their needs. Needless to say that illnesses were rampart in the area.

The EWB (Engineers Without Borders) teamed up during these five years with the Water Board of the three villages, the City of Guaimaca, who assisted with some equipment and materials and the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation, who acted as a liaison between groups. 

Sr. María shairng the history of the project

After these years of many trips to Guaimaca, intense work, training of the people in the area, the people started having running water on December 18th, when the project was inaugurated. 

Sr. Marta giving a financial report

Some of the families

Standing room only

 Claire Barker who coordinated the project during the last two years, and David Ramos, a Honduran native and member of the EWB Boston Chapter were present, as well as Dr. Nelson Chávez, mayor of Guaimaca, the Dominican Sisters, the Water Board and many people from the three villages.

Claire Barker speaks on the name of the EWB

Potable water at last!

Dr. Chávez cutting the ribbon

It was certainly a joyful day

that marked a new beginning

for many people! 

First University Graduate

Thanks to the openness of the University of Agriculture in Catacamas and the generosity of several benefactors, several CMP graduates went on to pursue university studies in 2010.  Now after four years of perseverance and intense study Patricia López graduated on December 21st. She has now her Bachelors in Natural Resources and Environment and is ready to move on as a professional to contribute to the betterment of her country.

  

Sisters María Ceballos, Teresa María Abelló and Marta Inés Toro, accompanied her.  It was a happy moment for her parents and family members.  We were glad to have been able to express our gratitude to the different university officials.

We thank all those who in different ways

have supported our university students!