The Market Children Program
Every year of Schooling improves a child's life's chances.
We are changing lives for generations to come.
This program is based in Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras, with a population of over 1 million. Over 60% of the population live in poverty and many work casually in the public markets or eke out a living on the local landfill. They cannot afford the cost of sending their children to school. As the children become teenagers, many drift into gangs or join dangerous caravans to become illegal migrants to the US.
The Rotarians of Tegucigalpa, together with your help, are breaking the circle of poverty by educating these children under the Tegucigalpa Market Children Program. In recent years, we have sponsored approximately 450 students annually and we are making a big difference in their lives.
School is free in Honduras, including the public University, and yet many people cannot afford the cost of uniforms, shoes and school supplies. Your donations provide the supplies they need to go to school and the support to be successful.
The rates to sponsor a child for 2025
- Primary School Student Kindergarten to Grade 6 $300
- Secondary Student to grade 7 – 12 $420
- University Student $585
You can change the cycle of poverty!
Sponsors Like You Changed these Lives!
These young people have graduated from University and are working as engineers, accountants and healthcare professionals. We met them on our 2024 Inspection Tour and they expressed their gratitude to the program and their sponsors. They are all the first in their families to go to college.
The Students are Grateful!
Many students write thank you letters to their sponsors
The program is administered by Alternatives Y Oportunidades (AYO) – a Honduran NGO controlled by Rotarians from 4 Rotary Clubs in Tegucigalpa. Their philosophy is to look after the whole family. Every parent who has a child in the program is obligated to take courses in parenting, preventive health, nutrition, family planning and family violence.
Kids belong to youth clubs that give them a sense of belonging to a larger community. The program opens their eyes to new possibilities, and youth leaders teach the Rotary 4 Way Test and provide pier tutoring to kids struggling in school. The pass rates of our sponsored students is 98%.
HELP Honduras has an agency agreement with AYO which outlines the responsibilities of both partners in all programs. Each year, (excepting during the pandemic) a group of our Directors and volunteers traveled to Honduras, to review the past year’s activities, photograph the children, and plan for the future. Travelers are responsible for their own expenses and all donated funds go to the program.
AyO Staff meeting with the
HELP Honduras Inspection Team
HELP Honduras Inspection Team
Sponsor a student
Change a family's life!