Honduras has a lot of problems, both politically and economically. It is the poorest of all of the Central American countries, with 64% of the population being considered below the poverty level of the country. San Pedro Sula, the second largest town has the highest concentration of Aids in Central America. Poverty and unemployment have led to areas dominated by gangs. Kidnapping and murder are common in the major cities. Corruption is also common in many areas. Guns are commonplace.
Traditional agriculture exports were originally coffee and bananas. However, bananas produced do not conform to the EU size, so this industry has suffered dramatically. In 1998 Honduras was also devastated by Hurricane Mitch, which contributed to their ongoing problems. Over 5000 people died when it hit.
Education and Health care are expensive and for the majority of Hondurans are luxuries.
Alresford Rotary, coupled with a matching grant from our District, donated £2000 to the Mountain Movers Mission in Danli, Honduras. This is run by Kathy Rubio, from the US, who has dedicated the last 10 years of her life in helping the people in the area of Danli, which is in the Mountains. The Mission supplies medical help mostly free, for those who cannot afford to see a doctor. Student Doctors from England volunteer for periods of usually 6 weeks at a time to help, taking out medicines and treating patients. The money we sent was used for Medicines and Computers, thus helping with both health and educational issues there. The money was channeled through the Rotary club of Danli, with whom we now have good contacts.
One of the Alresford Rotarians visited Honduras, taking in a few days to visit the Mission and see the situation first hand. He and his wife stayed at the Mission and also helped in part of a feeding programme, where 60 – 80 children are fed a basic meal every day by the Mission. Help was also given by doubling the number of chickens, to provide a regular supply of eggs, and by accompanying Kathy Rubio to the United Nations, in the capital Tegucigalpa. Help was secured here from the Food and Agriculture Department of the UN. The FAO.
The Mission is primarily funded by donations, but also by visiting medical students who bring with them medicines and pay for their accommodation. Help is obviously needed as the problem in Honduras is actually set to get worse. After recent flooding in this area, a famine is now feared in addition to the other problems.