Giving children an education in Honduras

5 June 2008

Lionsantonio was working on a rubbish tip two years ago but all that changed thanks to a co-operative group set up by CARE.

Before the co-operative group was set up Lionsantonio couldn't go to school as his family couldn't afford it. 15 per cent of people in Honduras live on less than 50 pence a day and 40 per cent of the population are under 14 years old.

Having to guard his mother’s belongings while she worked on the tip was part of his every day life. "I didn't like going to the garbage dump because it was dirty, stinky, and hot. Now I don't have to go, I am happy, and I can play football with my friends."

Lionsantonio is one of seven children who his mother has to provide for, Lionsantonio's farther died in a car accident when he was an infant and it left only two breadwinners in the family. The family live in a one room house with no beds, they all sleep on the floor and when it rains it floods.

In a good day, Lionsantonio's mother, Dora makes 80 lempiras (approx £2) but on a bad day it can be as little as 20 lempiras (approx 50 pence)and the school costs 300 (approx £8) lempiras per year for tuition plus 170 (approx £6) lempiras for security at the school. The fees don’t include money for a uniform or shoes.

Dora joined a cooperative group that enabled her to develop her ability to make money through the trading of recyclable waste with a micro-entrepreneurial approach.

"The life of my family was better when I joined the cooperative because I had more income and my children didn't go to the garbage dump anymore. We had more money for food and school."

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