Educate 50 Kids with Disabilities in Honduras

Guillermo is one of the original children that formed part of the Cangrejal Special Education and Health Program (CSEHP) back in 2010. Son to a single mother, Guillermo has epilepsy and cerebral palsy, which cause physical disabilities particularly affecting mobility in his legs and feet. He has also demonstrated global delays and learning disabilities. With Un Mundo's help, Guillermo received major surgery in 2012 on his foot and leg, elongating his Achilles tendon which has helped him walk better and improve his body balance. He recently completed 5 years as a project participant, and has made significant improvements through his participation in the CSEHP, particularly this past year.

After 4 years studying at the school for special education, at age 13, Guillermo entered the 1st grade in a traditional school in his community in 2014. This year he has mastered basic reading, writing, adding, subtraction, multiplication and division, well beyond the level of his fellow students. Being in a traditional school has transformed Guillermo’s social skills and drastically increased his self-esteem. He is more extroverted and relates better with others. In fact he has become very popular with other students, especially due to his advanced intelligence and maturity, and is often called upon to tutor and help other classmates. In return other students help him mobilize himself around the school grounds, help him when he falls, or accompany him to his house. Guillermo has also discovered he has many artistic talents, learning to draw and paint very well. He had the opportunity to take a music class with Un Mundo in 2013, which was a special experience, given his passion for singing. With this new level of acceptance in his community and excelling academically, Guillermo has gained a new level of independence as he moves into his teenage years, walking himself to school, running errands for his mother and making new friends.

Un Mundo's Cangrejal Special Education and Health Program (CSEHP) has a three prong process to support children living with disabilities in Honduras:

1) Special Education. In 2014, Un Mundo recruited, trained and placed 5 volunteers in each local public school to support the teachers and students, and 14 Un Mundo students completed the year.

2) Health and Rehabilitation. Un Mundo facilitated access to annual medical exams, medications, and surgery or health treatment, and in-home rehabilitation visits, providing services such as physical and language therapy for 10 individuals.

3) Special Needs Association (SNA). The SNA has taken on an increased role this year, working closely with the volunteers and teachers as their children are integrated into the local public schools.

Dayana has been an active member in the Un Mundo Cangrejal Special Education and Health Program (CSEHP) in the Cangrejal Valley in Honduras since 2009.

Dayana has Global Delays, which can include problems with language or speech, vision, movement -- motor skills, social and emotional skills, and thinking -- cognitive skills. Often no cause can be found. Through her participation in CSEHP, Dayana has learned numerous letters of the alphabet and can write her name. She is speaking clearer, and has increased her knowledge.

Dayana entered the 2nd grade in the traditional school in her community in 2014. Her behavior in school and at home has improved and she has learned to help with house chores and care for herself. She has become more friendly and sociable, and has a lot of interest and talent in art and music.

Dayana has made additional advances this year. She has learned to recognize and write her first and last name, the first five letters of the alphabet, and knows the reading sounds ma, me, mi, mo, mu, pa, pe, pi, po, pu. She also has learned a song with the days of the week. In math, she can count from 5 – 9 and can write 1-3, and has begun to add using objects. She has learned how to identify and distinguish between humans, animals and plants. Since transitioning into the local school, her mother has noticed a significant difference in her self-esteem in her community and with children without disabilities. She used to be very timid and afraid to go outside or play with other children in her neighborhood, and was very non-verbal. Now she is now more comfortable associating and playing with kids beyond just her family, she is more talkative and expressive and more adventurous and is developing more independence.

Dayana said, “I love going to school. It is fun to learn new things, to be with other children and to sing.”

Un Mundo's Cangrejal Special Education and Health Program (CSEHP) has a three prong process to support children living with disabilities: Special Education, Health and Rehabilitation, and Parent Advocacy Network.