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Stories written by Shelley Callahan

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Visiting the Pearl of the Orient Seas

Our Director of Development travels to the Philippines

For many years, I have looked forward to the time when I would be able to visit our affiliated sites in the Philippines. My knowledge of the country has been limited to what I would hear on global new stations relating to politics or natural disasters, and without ever having visited, I knew little else about this nation consisting of over 7,000 islands. But as with all the other countries I have had the privilege […]

A Caring Home for Abused, Neglected, and Orphaned Children

At the Maria Reyna Home, students are offered support after graduation

Children living in poverty are enrolled in our sponsorship program for many different reasons directly related to their situations at home — or in some instances, their lack of a home. At the Maria Reyna Home in Honduras, girls from the local community who have been abandoned or are orphaned live full-time at the home, attend public and private schools, and thanks to their caring sponsors, are supported up until graduation from high school. But, […]

A Shelter for the Poor in Honduras

El Refugio Welfare Center is crucial for survival in El Progreso

In 1998, the deadliest storm in Central America’s recorded history caused nearly 12,000 deaths in Honduras and Nicaragua and devastated the small town of El Progreso. Because of the destruction, the local community created the El Refugio (which means “the shelter” in Spanish) Welfare Center to help children and families in need receive resources in the aftermath of the storm. Last year, our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, visited El Refugio, and found that […]

Giving Children Space to Learn

La Recolección School helps with overcrowded schools in Nicaragua

After leaving Costa Rica in the fall of 2022, our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, traveled to Nicaragua to visit the two affiliated sites that we work with in the country. Today, we hear from Luis about his trip to the La Recolección School, where sponsored children are provided with a safe and spacious place to get an education. Learning about our affiliated site “La Recolección is a semi-private school run by the Sisters […]

On to Higher Education in Nicaragua

At Casa Betania, students are university bound

After leaving Costa Rica in the fall of 2022, our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, traveled to Nicaragua to visit our two affiliated sites in the country, the first being the Casa Betania Center. Today, we hear from Luis about his meetings with our volunteer coordinator, our sponsored children, and their parents during his time there. A Visit to Boaco “Casa Betania is a community center with an after-school program and a medical clinic […]

Teaching Skills to Students and Parents in San Jose

Marta at the Costa Rica Center is helping families earn extra money

In this edition of Stories of Hope, our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, concludes his trip to our Costa Rica affiliated sites with a visit to the Costa Rica Center in San Jose. The beginning of the center “This center is located in the northern part of San Jose. It is run by a woman, Marta, who is also our volunteer coordinator,” said Luis. “Marta used to work at what was the Costa Rica […]