Support Girls Leading Change in Honduras

Dear Friends,

Last week, on International Youth Day, we shared our 2021 Annual Report.

This brief report highlights last year's greatest achievements, summarizes our financials and recognizes the generosity of our community. It also features the stories and voices of young people.

Among them is Keyrin. She is a high school student and advocate for girls' rights in her community.

"Over the past three years, I have gotten to know myself and my community better—thanks to the girls and women who opened my eyes, walked with me and shared stories that sparked my need to see change happen. I now have the capacity, courage and conviction to fight for my rights and the rights of others."

Along with a group of her peers, Keyrin successfully advocated for the passing of a local public policy on comprehensive sexuality education. It finally passed just over a year ago, but has yet to be put into action. 

We recognize that real and lasting change takes time, persistence and a community of support. 

We are incredibly grateful for your continued support excited to embark on an exciting new partnership with Together Women Rise. Together we will equip more girls with critical knowledge, skills and tools to lead healthy, successful and choice-filled lives and advocate for change in their communities.

In appreciation,
Amanda

Links:

• 2021 Annual Report
• Our Website

Dear Friends,

"What passed?" you may ask. Let me tell you.

After several years of hard work and perseverence, the local city council finally passed the Municipal Public Policy on Comprehensive Sexuality Education, an initiative that - when fully implemented - will ensure that over 30,000 children and young people in our community have access to comprehensive sexuality education at school.

In 2018, with support from Rise Up and the Central America and Mexico Youth Fund,  OYE and a network of local health and education institutions and authorities came together to develop the first draft of the public policy. By that time, OYE had been facilitating youth-led sexual education workshops with 7th to 9th graders across several public schools for over three years and was looking for a way to expand and sustain this critical work. The first draft was presented to the city council in late 2019 and, after two years of persistent advocacy efforts led by empowered girls of the "Let Girls Lead" initiative, it finally passed this July.

While this is no doubt a critical step forward, there is still so much work ahead to put this policy into practice. Your gifts now and moving forward will support these efforts to ensure that children and young people - especially girls - have the knowledge, attitudes and tools to protect their physical and emotional health and well-being now and into the future.

In other news, it is that time of year that we open the application process for our signature scholarship program, which supports 100+ promising students each year - more than 60% girls and young women - to continue their education. In 2021, we welcomed 30 girls and young women to our scholarship program. For the upcoming school year, we hope to renew as many existing scholarships as possible and at the same time welcome new deserving and promising students into our community. Your support is essential to sustain and grow this program.

As we move into the holiday season of gratitude and giving, we encourage you to consider giving more generously and sustainbly. There has never been a better time to join our monthly giving community, the Adelante Circle, where every monthly gift directly supports a young person's education.

As always, thank you for your continued support.

In appreciation,
Amanda