To Download a brochure about Osman Hope’s Scholarship Programs, Click here.
Here are some basic information about Honduras and its educational system, and Osman Hope’s mission in the country:
Honduras is located in Central America and touches the borders of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, and has a land area slightly larger than Tennessee. Tegucigalpa is the capital. It consists of 18 departments, or the equivalent of states. It has a population of roughly 7.8 million. The local currency is the Lempira, and the official language is Spanish.
Honduras, the second poorest country in Central America, has an extraordinarily unequal distribution of income and high unemployment. The economy relies heavily on a narrow range of exports, notably bananas and coffee, making it vulnerable to natural disasters and shifts in commodity prices; however, investments in the maquila and non-traditional export sectors are slowly diversifying the economy.
Additional facts about Honduras:
- 50% of Hondurans are less than 15 years old, and 25% are less than 5
- 27% of the population are illiterate
- In some areas, 80% of the population live in poverty
- 34% of 14 year olds do not attend school
- Child laborers traditionally work in agriculture, manufacturing, or as street vendors
Honduran Educational System
The school year in Honduras begins in February and ends in November. A student attending primary school would generally begin at age 7 and ideally finish the sixth grade at age 12 or 13. There are three levels of education in the Honduran system: primary, secondary, and university. Secondary education in Honduras offers two routes: ciclo comun (a vocational focus) and ciclo diversificado (preparation for higher education). The Honduran constitution states that a free primary education is obligatory for every child between the ages of seven and fourteen.
Statistical information shows that the state of the public education system remains poor. Figures cited by the Ministry of Education suggest that Honduras suffers from widespread illiteracy (more than 40 percent of the total population and more than 80 percent in rural areas). A significant percentage of children do not receive formal education. Especially in rural areas, schools are not readily accessible. Additionally, only 43 percent of children enrolled in public schools complete the primary level. Of all children entering the first grade, only 30 percent go on to secondary school, and only 8 percent continue to the university. In addition, because of a lack of schools, understaffed schools, the high cost of materials needed for these schools, and the poor quality of public education, a good education is still largely the privilege of the few who can afford to send their children to private institutions.
Osman Hope Shelters and the Scholarships Program
The Mission of Osman Hope is to build hope for children in poverty in Honduras. By establishing shelters and through the scholarships program, we hope to provide children with protection from the elements, nourishment for the body, enrichment for the spirit, and educational opportunities for the mind. We currently host more than 100 children in 3 different shelters throughout Honduras. In 2009, we sponsored 11 children in the scholarships program, through the generosity of patrons who support the children. In 2010, that number jumped to 19 children. Scholarships are awarded in 3 year increments for $500 per year, and cover the tuition, books and scholastic materials, uniforms, fees, and other essentials that students may need to succeed in school. In 2010, we also started a tutoring program for the children, to receive additional tutoring at the shelters. The students are required to maintain certain academic standards to continue in the program. They are also required to volunteer their time in the shelters helping the other children in the shelter.
One of the objectives of the scholarships program is to create a partnership between the patrons and the students they sponsor. We want to do this by partnering each patron with a specific student. Your contributions will go to support that child specifically, through their time in the scholarships program.
To contribute, or to sponsor a child, you can click the button at the top of the page, or you can send a check to the following address, payable to Osman Hope Scholarships Program:
Osman Hope, Inc
PO Box 1327
Brighton, MI 48116
We also like to point out that every penny of your contributions goes to the care of the children. The Board members of Osman Hope pay of all of our overhead costs.
To Download a brochure about Osman Hope’s Scholarship Programs, Click here.
