In less than two months, we will be leaving the comfort of our 8AM class for El Progreso, Honduras to  put our work into action.  I cannot wait to see the energy and passion of my classmates transfer into the field.  Lately, we have been working on several big things.  First off, we have been working on opening a bank account for our clients in Honduras.  Dan, Megan, and I often draft repayment plans that end in more questions.  Since we aren’t on the ground, we place a lot of pressure on our long-term volunteers to answer questions like, “What do we if our clients don’t have official identification?”  Sometimes it’s frustrating, because our work can only go so far without being on the ground. Laurie has been a true lifeline for Dan, Megan, and I to Honduras.  Despite our distance, we have managed to begin the process of opening up a bank account with Banco Ficohsa.  Due to Laurie’s hard research, we’ve discovered a bank that supports our project.  They would also allow us to wire money to Honduras through Bank of America without a wiring fee!  This account will be open to wiring loans and eco-bag profits.  Once Laurie returns from a research project on Honduran orphanages, she can officially open the account within a few weeks. 

          It will be strange returning to Honduras for just one week, after spending 10 weeks in El Progreso this summer.  I am still processing the things that I experienced and saw this summer.  I am mostly excited to see the women, particularly the women involved in the eco-bag project, “Esfuerza de Amor.”  It will be amazing to see the women working on a project that started in the summer.  I recently just got a shipment of new bags from a volunteer.  The women have really improved, and although there are still some flaws and glitches, I have faith in the forward direction of the project.  So far sixteen bags have sold in less than three weeks.  Ten more were recently given to Georgetown University to sell at a big SHH fundraiser, meaning this project will be exposed to a new pool of people.  I’ve been taking orders through sietebags@gmail.com, however most bags are sold face to face to family members, friends, and students.  

      I can’t wait to see the women again. Living in Honduras was difficult, but it was the connection I felt to women like Keyla and Carmen that gave me strength and motivation.  Even though I’m over a thousand miles away, my relationship with some of the women continues to grow (thanks to Skype).  The other day Carmen and I were talking about how she finally purchased her own cell phone with the bag profits (everyone in Honduras has a cell phone).  Before it was impossible for Megan and I to reach her, because her husband controlled the phone.  Now she has her own phone, which is a real sign of independence.  She kept emphasizing, “MY phone, not his, MY phone.”  We began talking about the role of husbands in Siete de Abril.  Often the men will travel to work in a near city or downtown.  Sometimes they don’t come home until late at night.  Women like Carmen are left with the labor-heavy duties of childcare and housework.  I can remember Carmen spending several hours just to cook lunch, and then several more hours to do laundry. 

       One issue we’ve been focusing on before we leave is security.  I am nervous about husbands like Carmen’s reacting to their wives’ financial independence.  According to my classmate’s research, it’s important to make the husbands fully aware of the loan process to avoid household conflict.  How do we ensure the women are safe, when they’re storing revenue under their mattress in a crime-heavy community?  The women will probably know the best answers with their knowledge of El Progreso and the community, which is why we’ll have an open discussion about their security this January.  Megan is currently working on a clients’ safety packet, while I’m working on volunteer safety with Dan.  While we want to be productive and flexible in Honduras, it is incredibly important to remember the realities of working in Siete de Abril.  I’ve drafted safety guidelines for our group.  We must always be in eye-sight of each other, preferably working in homes next to each other.  We will work in groups of three, in which at least one male is present.  Each group will always have a cell phone with an emergency contact list. These are just some of the guidelines Dan and I have been working on. We’re also in the process of securing a group van and a driver/local guide.  It’s important for us to imagine every possible scenario, in order to prepare and protect ourselves.  The problem is when you start imaging every possible scenario, you start to feel slightly paranoid.  I think La Ceiba is the only class in UMW history that requires you to purchase mace in bulk.  

   There are many thoughts and emotions that come with preparing for the field.  I cannot wait for the “first-timers” to see Honduras for themselves.  I am really excited for Erin and Melanie in particular, because they work incredibly hard for these women that they have never met, which really amazes me.  I think beyond Siete de Abril, it is important for people who have never been to Honduras to see Copprome Orphanage, Villa Soleada, and the Nutrition Center.  The kids at Copprome to the incredibly weak babies at the Nutrition Center are all connected to the cycle of poverty in Siete de Abril and Honduras.  I hope everyone, whether it is their first time or not, is left with a strong sense of connection and responsibility to the lives they encounter in January.  The face to face relations our class will form, will become La Ceiba’s fuel and inspiration for the next six months.

Rachel

Population 436 rip