Special Appeal to Complete the Honduras Project

Dear friends:

I am a retired scientist and recently experienced the most fulfilling and important volunteer activity I have ever participated in! Some might even call it a miracle! I want to share this story with the hope you will help me in trying to help those who are less fortunate economically. Like Christmas, this story is magical and I believe you will agree after reading about my GVN volunteer experiences in Honduras.

My story

Last December, 2010 I traveled to Honduras as a volunteer with Global Volunteer Network. I stayed nearly a month to work on components of 3 houses for three families in a small agricultural community called ChiliGatoro. This community of about 1,000 is composed of native Hondurans referred to as Lenca people (analogous to Inca or Mayans). The Lenca are rapidly joining the 21st century way of life, and are adapting their agronomic life style to commercialization and encouraging their children to pursue education through college if/when it can be afforded.

GVN's partner organization had adopted this community to assist them by upgrading their lifestyle and way of life through building a finite number of small (about 420 sq ft), “comfortable” clay or concrete block homes using local building materials as much as possible. In November of this year I returned to Chiligatoro to visit the family I met last year and to see the progress in further building in the community.

The current situation

Unfortunately, I learned that the GVN program in Honduras had to be closed due to the sudden departure of their partner organization who oversaw the program, including the building projects. I learned there are 5 homes left in various stages of completion but all work has stopped. When I contacted GVN about this, they were as surprised and shocked as I was. We cringed at the prospect of how 5 families and children must feel to have been let down, especially after ground had been broken for their new homes. As a result, we have decided to work together to raise the funds needed to complete the 5 houses.

My significant other, Julia is of Lenca origins herself and was raised in the area of Chiligatoro. We met after I completed all work in December of 2010. She is an example of the Lenca motivation for self improvement through education. Julia is a professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the National Honduran University in Tegucigalpa, the nations’ capitol city! She is living proof of what hope, love and education in the family can sometimes do to bring about significant changes in a single generation. I believe it is a miracle that we met, fell in love, and I learned she is descended from the very people I came to help in Chiligatoro, Honduras!

My appeal

The purpose of this note and campaign is to help raise $5,000 needed to complete the construction of the last 5 houses and to turn them over to the 5 families that were left in the lurch when the project was terminated. Like Habitat for Humanity, these building projects all involve sweat labor by the occupants of the homes. The construction also involves the supervision by the professional community of masons for technical support with construction and placement of re-bars, foundation dig outs, cement work, and roof construction. What is needed are funds to purchase the completion components and a coordinator to see that the funds are properly spent in a wise and efficient fashion. I am personally the coordinator and will be responsible to see that the funds are properly spent, and will file a final report with pictures with the GVN Foundation when the project is completed. I will also support my own transportation to and from the U.S. as well as room and board when in Honduras.

I know many wish to be able to physically go to a place like this community and become directly involved in hands-on efforts to help. However, not everyone can get away to do such work. By donating to this project, you know that your funds are going to an excellent cause, and your funds will be properly spent since I will see that this is the case. It will be like you were there since photographic documentation of the building efforts will be provided. If you ARE able to travel to Honduras, wonderful. I will be on-site to assist you in your building efforts!

Make a donation

If you are willing and able to support this project, please note that your donation is tax deductable since GVN is a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. You will be sent a receipt. Also, please know that I will never be aware of who donated nor how much was given. These items are solely the responsibility of the GVN Foundation and yourselves. For those who donate, the GVN Foundation will provide you with documented progress and pictures when the project is completed. 90% of your donation will directly reach Honduras. The remaining 10% will be used to cover GVN Foundation's administrative costs.

Thank you for your consideration! ~ Ray Seidler