Olancho Aid Foundation is excited to announce the launch of a scholarship program at Santa Clara, a private bilingual Catholic elementary school located in Juticalpa, Honduras. The school currently provides an exceptional education to students in the area. The scholarship program will provide low-income students with a high-quality bilingual education that they would otherwise not have the opportunity to receive.

Honduras is the third poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, approximately fifty percent of the population is below the poverty line. As a result the public education system suffers from a lack of resources, high student-teacher ratios, poor teacher training and no system of accountability. The government funds public schools through the sixth grade. However, many children are unable to attend even public schools because they cannot afford school supplies and the mandatory uniform. Many Honduran children are only able attend school for a few years and 40% of the population is not educated past sixth grade. Educating Honduran youth is an important step in helping the country develop economically and socially. An academic curriculum emphasizing social justice and strong literacy, math, and critical thinking skills will empower our students to tackle the problems affecting Honduras and work for change.

OAF has demonstrated a commitment to educating Honduran youth for approximately 20 years. However, the scope has been limited due to financial constraints. The scholarship program allows poverty-stricken children to take advantage of the outstanding education OAF offers. We currently need sponsors to make this extraordinary program flourish. OAF is committed to cultivating a personal relationship between each sponsor and child. In an effort to strengthen these relationships, OAF pledges to provide monthly updates on the child’s progress in school, a private online interface to track the child’s academic performance, and correspondence from the child. Your sponsorship will allow a child to receive a quality education and in turn give back to their country. You will be able to see a child’s life change and break the cycle of poverty.