Insight
Carolyn Barker-Villena, who authored this piece, is Covenant House’s senior vice president for Latin America.
Key Takeaways
Covenant House Honduras: We work from three locations: our main residence in Tegucigalpa, a program office in San Pedro Sula, and a safe house for abuse and trafficking survivors in an undisclosed location.
Impact on Youth: The youth Covenant House serves in Honduras are among the youngest across our federation, at just 12-18 years old, some even younger.
Issues: Many of the children we serve in Honduras are survivors of abuse, trafficking, exploitation, and migration.
During my recent trip to Covenant House Honduras, I witnessed the miracles that abound among the children we care for. These are miracles of joy and hope despite the unthinkable pain and trauma they’ve experienced.
That’s saying a lot, when you consider that in Honduras, our Covenant House residents are among the youngest across our entire federation, at just 12 to 18 years old; some are even younger.
In one case, the miracle is the smile of a 14-year-old girl, who, for years, had been used and abused for child pornography, but whose perpetrator was recently sentenced to 68 years in prison thanks to the work of our Covenant House Honduras legal team. Hogar Querubines, or Cherubs Home, is our safe house for children and youth who’ve been abused, exploited or trafficked.
In another case, the miracle is the laughter shared by a mother and daughter, who, not long ago, attempted the treacherous trip to the United States only to be deported and returned home to Honduras, where, on this day, they were receiving support and services from our staff in San Pedro Sula. While our main residence in Honduras is in Tegucigalpa, we have a program office serving youth and families in this northwestern city.
There is also the miracle of the Venezuelan brother and sister who lost their mom when she died suddenly from an illness in Honduras and who now are receiving love and care at our main residence while they await next steps.
And there’s the miracle of a young man who spent nine years at Covenant House Honduras after being rescued from the streets. Now in his 20s, he works as a barber, and he teaches barbering, too — a skill he learned at Covenant House. He has two children of his own, who, he says, will never be homeless thanks to what he learned at Covenant House.
Last but not least is the miracle of the dedicated staff at Covenant House Honduras. At one point during my visit, they talked about what motivates them. The answers were all so similar — a genuine desire to help Honduran youth have hope and a better future.
On my last day in Honduras, we celebrated 37 years of Covenant House working miracles in Honduras. It was yet another miracle to be surrounded by over 100 kids celebrating life through dancing, singing, drum-playing, clapping, chanting, playing soccer, and just, simply, being kids.
Covenant House also serves children and adolescents facing abuse, exploitation, and trafficking in Guatemala and Mexico. Learn more about our work in Latin America. And consider joining us in Honduras for our Sleep Out on Nov. 8.
