Jeanne in Utila

Children of Utila

Children of Utila is a non-profit organization established by two women who saw the extreme needs of the children of Utila and decided to do something about it. Our efforts focus on children at Centro Educación Básica República de Honduras.

Mission: Children of Utila exists to meet the basic needs of the children at Utila’s public school so they can get an education.

Vision: We fight every day for the Children of Utila to receive the best education possible at the public school. We stand in the gap between extreme need and resources that improve health, sanitation, and education. We know the children are the future of this tiny Caribbean island and education can transform a life to give them a chance to rise above poverty, illiteracy, and hopelessness.

Our teams are uniquely positioned to build real relationships with the children and teachers because of consistent and personal interaction. We have found this a key component in bringing relevant and timely solutions to current needs. Partnering with donors and volunteers, we strive to daily do for one child what we wish we could do for all children of Utila.

We told the kids to be goofy!

Objectives:

• Raise awareness and funds to provide resources for the children and teachers
• Advocate individual real-time needs as they come up
• Provide school lunches on an individual basis
• Provide school uniforms on an individual basis
• Coordinate volunteer activity

School Uniform Initiative:

Making sure the sizes are correct.

In 2012, we outfitted 92 extremely poor children with new school uniforms. They were able to attend school every day and not share a uniform with a sibling or cousin. The uniforms are purchased in La Ceiba, the closest port city on mainland Honduras to our little island. A complete uniform consists of a white shirt, navy pants or skirts, and black shoes. The price for a full uniform is about $32. If you add socks and undershirts, it is about $40.

School Supply Initiative: 

First grade boy is pumped to receive notebook and pencils.

We bought a supply of notebooks, pencils, sharpeners, and erasers from which we were able to dispense to students as needed during the 2012 school year. In 2013, we continue to supply classes and teachers with these essentials items. Teachers are always in need of dry erase markers and we keep them supplied. Our advocates bring many of these supplies with them in their luggage when they visit Utila, and that helps us maintain our stock for the school.

Pulperia on school grounds

We fed 14 children a hot lunch from August through November 2012. These children came to school hungry and had no lunch or money to buy lunch. In 2013, we have 33 students, roughly three from each class, who fall into our criteria. We are raising up sponsors now to help us accomplish this. It costs $1.53 per day or $42 /month to sponsor a child. As of March 1, 2013, we have 5 children sponsored. The children can order a hot lunch of 2 baleadas (burritos) or 2 pastelitos (doughy pocket filled with rice and meat and deep-fried)  and a topogio (juice bag). The children cannot order candy or soda.

School Library Project

The public school has never had a library. One teacher shared a vision she had of creating a room full of books where the children could hang out and read. We took her idea to heart and completed the project one year to the day it began.