Poverty can be eliminated with an investment in the education of future generations

As the number of children living on Honduran streets continues to increase, so does the need for constructive programming to engage these children in skills-based training activities. With this goal in mind, CAMO has pledged its support to the technical school which has re-opened its doors to reach out to young men and women by providing a work-skills curriculum. The program trains participants in various trades including:

  • Culinary Arts
  • Masonry
  • Electrical Tech
  • Carpentry
  • Welding
  • Sewing
  • Computer Skills
  • Cosmetology

In 2004, CAMO was asked to intervene and help with the failing trade school. Up until that time, the school had an ineffective board of directors. CAMO found top leaders in Santa Rosa for the board, became temporary president of that board and increased the student body from 0 – 700 students. CAMO continues to sit as a permanent board member at the school. After reforming the board, CAMO took it upon itself to do a campaign to acquire donated equipment specific to the different trades. To date, the trade school continues to graduate over 700 students each year.

The construction of the adjacent women’s shelter by way of an adjoining door also allows recovering women to access trade courses as well. Such education empowers women to support themselves, strengthening them to escape their situations of domestic violence.

IMPACT:

Between 300 and 1000 people are attended annually in the courses and workshops.  These students are able to have a profession which allows them to make a living and provide for themselves and their families.

Project: Expansion of trade school of the existing facility.

Due to the gradual growth of the ETAOO student population and in order to expand the capacity of its facilities, in 2017 was designed the project to expand the facilities, which included the incorporation of two new buildings workshop classrooms and remodeling of the Main Building. During the first phase carried out between 2017 and 2018, around L. 4,511,000.00 (approximately US$ 191,704.56) were invested from public and private funds donors from both Honduras and the United States, included Fundación CAMO. During the second phase, the construction of the Annex Building was carried out, executed by the Secretaría de Estado en los Despachos de Desarrollo Comunitario, Agua y Saneamiento (SEDECOAS), with a value of L. 5,000,000.00 (approximately US$ 208,521.60).

Currently, the expansion project has already been carried out at 60%, but the following construction and connectivity works remain ahead, in order of priority:

 

 

 

 

 

The installation of the new transformer bank and the central electrical connection panel is the highest priority. This installation will allow the safe and efficient supply of the electric fluid required by the classrooms of the three buildings and their smaller modules. The “electricity and data room” will also house the new charging center of the main building and the central server or communication transmission center for the corresponding distribution of data / internet to the rest of the buildings.

Every contribution made to the development of this project is crucial to achieve the goal of having ample, safe and well-equipped educational spaces that guarantee an innovative and quality educational offer for Western Honduras.