NPH Honduras

We hope that you have been introduced already to our Mission and the NPH philosophy. If not, please visit our website or pick up a brochure in our main office.

Rancho Santa FeSince November 1985, NPH Honduras, has provided a safe and nurturing home for up to 600 children of all ages. Children are referred to NPH by word of mouth, through government agencies, or local parish priests and nuns. The NPH social worker investigates and follows up on cases, which must fit certain criteria. The children must be poor and their mother must either be deceased or have abandoned them. The child’s father and other family members must be unable to care for them. All brothers and sisters younger than 16 of the same mother must join NPH together.

ProgramsNPH’s educational facilities include Montessori, primary, and junior high schools. In addition, the children learn a trade at one of the seven vocational workshops. All children must pass trade certification exams before they can graduate from the NPH home. The vocational education program is also available to youth of the neighboring communities, which often do not offer more than primary school education.

After completing secondary school, NPH asks its youth to give back one year of service to our family, called Año Familiar. This is one of the core ideas behind the philosophy of NPH. If the youths have the aptitude and desire to continue with their studies, NPH sends them to high school in the capital or in other locations. To attend university with NPH support, the young adults give back two more years of service.

Here at Rancho Santa Fe, we have two special houses: Casa Eva, a home for 10 elderly, abandoned grandparents, and Casa Pasionista, a hospice belonging to the Order of Passionist priests which provides shelter and care for up to twelve adults in the terminal stages of AIDS. NPH also operates Casa de Los Angeles, a home for 15 severely disabled children, in Tegucigalpa.

HousingVisitors are welcome to stay with us at the Ranch for periods of one to two weeks. Depending on availability and the size of your group, we will arrange accommodations in our Visitor Center (San Cristobal) or one of our small guest houses (casitas). We will provide you with sheets, blankets, and other necessities, although you may not have hot water.

Ranch Life

All children and young adults live with their peers in group homes, called hogares, according to age and level of development and maturity. Casa Suyapa, the only co-ed house, is for children up to the age of seven or eight. Older children live in one of eighteen other houses, moving to other hogares as they mature. In addition to their schoolwork, all children are responsible for chores appropriate for their age. The youngest children sweep and pick up litter, while older children wash all of their own clothes, help in the upkeep of the home, manage all of the cleaning, and help out in the homes of their younger brothers and sisters. They often also have responsibilities collecting firewood or working in the Ranch gardens or kitchen.

Typical Day

5:30–6:00 AM up & dressed6:00–6:30 AM breakfast6:30–7:00 AM cleaning chores7:00 AM leave for school7:30 AM school classes10:10 –10:40 AM school recess10:40–1:00 PM school classes1:00 PM return from school1:30 PM lunch (in hogars)2:30 PM chores3:00–4:00 PM study time4:00–5:00 PM chores5:00–6:00 PM free time6:00–7:00 PM dinner & homework8:00 PM bedtime

(2:00–4:00 PM older youths in workshops)

All of us at Rancho Santa Fe warmly welcome you to our home. We invite you to participate in the life of our community during your stay and we hope that you will make connections that remain strong after you return home. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, and please let us know how we can make your visit meaningful and comfortable.

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FoodAs a guest of the Ranch, we invite you to eat meals in the main kitchen (cocina) or with the children in one of their hogares. Bring a plate or bowl, cup, and silverware with you.

Mealtimes:Breakfast 6:00–7:30 AMLunch 1:00–1:30 PM (2:00 PM in the hogares)Dinner 5:45–6:30 PM

If you are eating at the kitchen, circle around to the backside of the building and enter through the metal door in the corner. Present your dish to the cooks and they will serve you. There are tables to eat at in the kitchen, or you may bring your food back to your room or casita.

WaterAll water here at the Ranch is chlorinated, though only some is filtered. Outside faucets painted blue provide potable drinkable water but we recommend that you drink only purified water which is provided during your stay.

Snacks, Juices, & SodasIf you want something to eat or drink between meals, here are a few nearby possibilities:

Main front gate (portón) purified water, juices, and bottled sodas

Kitchen (cocina)ask during meals-larger bottles of cola or other soda

Warehouse (bodega, right next to the kitchen) soda

School & Vocational Workshops(escuela y talleres)sodas, juices, chips & plate of the day

ClothingYou may wonder what to wear while visiting us. In most cases, your common sense will be all you need, but some idea of how others commonly dress may be helpful. Hondurans in general take pride in their clothing. Teachers, secretaries, and other professionals at the Ranch dress carefully in slacks or skirts, pressed shirts or blouses, and shined shoes.

Children wear clean school uniforms with few if any wrinkles, along with sturdy shoes. No one is barefoot. Out of school, jeans and casual but clean shirts/tops are common.

For Mass or special events, many girls wear pressed jeans, skirts or dresses. Boys often choose their better T-shirts or dress shirts to go with slacks or jeans.

While walking around the Ranch, neat shorts or jeans, clean T-shirts, and sandals or casual shoes are almost always fine. If you are planning to spend time inside the school classrooms or clinics, long pants or skirts are a good idea. If you head into Tegucigalpa, you will feel less conspicuous if you avoid shorts and overly casual clothing. NPH maintains a policy not allowing short t-shirts and low waist pants that show the belly and bellybutton.

With the Kids

Spending time with the kids is the best way to learn what NPH is all about. During the day, a visit to the school (escuela) or the workshops (talleres) is a good way to observe and meet children. If you arrange it with an instructor, you may be able to attend a class or workshop. Perhaps the best way to share in the lives of the kids is to spend time with them in their group home (hogar). Good times to visit are after 5:00 PM, when many kids have free time, share supper with them, and help getting them ready for bed.. Please introduce yourself to the houseparents (tios or tias) when you first arrive, and ask whether it is a good time to visit and how you might help out. Some kids will have homework or chores to do.

Saturday mornings, you can join the kids as they do Ranch chores, like cutting grass, hoeing fields, hauling firewood, working in the kitchen, or sweeping. Catholic Mass is currently at 5:00 PM Saturday at our Chapel “San Jose” the amphitheater on the way between the Ranch and the boys’home, El Buen Pastor. Sundays allow time for relaxation, and sometimes there are special events planned, including picnics, swimming, trips to nearby towns, and dances.

Getting to and from Tegucigalpa

Buses traveling toward Tegucigalpa pass the front gate frequently, approximately every half hour, until about 4:45 PM. They are almost always yellow school buses and they are privately owned. Raise your hand to indicate that you want them to stop.

The fare to Cerro Grande, a suburb just above Tegucigalpa (where you’ll get off to transfer to a colectivo taxi), is 12-15 Lempiras. The fare is not collected by the driver, but by another person who walks through the bus collecting your money. The ride to Cerro Grande will usually take from 30–45 minutes.

Get off at the large second DIPPSA gas station in Cerro Grande (Zona 4). Cross the road and walk one block downhill to the first street, where you’ll find colectivo taxis, which take 4 passengers, charge a flat rate of 9.5 Lempiras per person, and drop you close to the center (centro). The drive takes about 10 minutes.

From the centro, you can ask where to find colectivo stands that send taxis to other parts of the city. If you’re going far from the center (especially if you’re with 2-3 others), you may find it almost as cheap to take a direct taxi. Negotiate the price before you get in; 60 or 90 Lempiras should get you from Cerro Grande to the malls or outer areas.

To return to the Ranch, find your way back to Cerro Grande and catch a bus which stops by the tree-shaded snack shop just north of the DIPPSA station. Late afternoon buses are often packed and will pass right on by, forcing you to

wait a long time before you can squeeze onto a later bus. The last buses leave around 7:00 PM. As you get on, it’s a good idea to tell the driver’s assistant that you’re going to “El Rancho” or La Venta. Watch the small white kilometer signs and be prepared to walk forward when you spy the Ranch gates just before the 36 kilometer sign.

Please do not hitchhike. We have good reasons for asking you not to hitchhike. Drivers, of the car you’re in or the cars coming at you, are often unskilled, erratic, and go too fast. Even a minor accident can cause riders in the backs of trucks to be tossed out, leading to serious injury or death. We care about you and your safety. Please know that we do not assume responsibility if you choose to go against this advice.

Within Walking Distance

To do a little exploring, try following some of the Ranch roads or paths up into the hills or along the creek which feeds the water reservoir (posa). For good views of the Ranch, the road behind the main office ascends past the water storage buildings and up into the hills. The road that leads away from Casa Pasionista winds around some of the farm fields and will lead you up a hill. If you walk for 30–40 minutes, you will come to the handful of houses that make up the village of Tamal y Queso. Another option is to head out the main gate, turn left, walk along the highway for about 5 minutes, then turn right at the road that leads into the old town of La Venta, about 20 minutes down the road.

Caution –Very Important

It is natural to share what you have with others less fortunate. Please remember that the most precious and important thing you can share is your love and attention. We need to be fair to all kids, so we ask that any gifts you consider giving can be used by an entire group (like a soccer ball or books). We also want to decrease the possibility that children start seeing visitors and guests for what they have, rather than for who they are. Also, many of our children come from situations with very few resources. They can be curious and fascinated by your possessions. Please lock your room at all times, and do not invite kids into your room unattended or without permission of their tios or tias. The kids know that. NPH maintains a policy that no adult can be alone with a single child in any of the guest rooms.Also children are permitted in the common areas of San Cristobal, such as the kitchen and meeting room.

Email and phone calls

We have satellite internet at the Ranch in a small building located in front of the administrative office. Please speak to the visitor cooridnator for access. Also if you are in the capital there are plenty of internet cafés, even one in Cerro Grande that is less than a minute walk from the bus stop. The cafés charge 20–15 Lempiras for an hour of internet connect time, and 2–6 Lempiras per minute for international calls. For short international calls using a calling card, you may be able to use the phone in the Ranch office.

Medical Help

The Ranch has two clinics. The External Clinic, serving the needs of residents from outlying towns, and operates Monday through Friday in the mornings. The Internal Clinic, infirmary, and pharmacy, located near the main office, serve the needs of the Ranch community, including the children, staff, and volunteers.

Hours are 7:00 AM–7:00 PM. If you need medical attention, please go to the Internal Clinic during normal hours and talk to the volunteer medical staff. For emergencies, 24 hours a day, find someone with a radio or call the clinic extension (729) or the gatekeeper at the portón (715).

Work and ResponsibilityNPH philosophy in action

When we got our first tour of the Ranch, I was expecting to see little children playing and older children doing chores they weren’t too happy about.

We were all so surprised to find children who were half our age doing harder work than we ever do. They had huge smiles on their faces when they saw us and huddled up near the cracks to see our faces. We didn’t want to leave since they were so cute. The children didn’t seem to care if the work was hard; they just enjoyed being together.

Later, I saw many boys in Buen Pastor raking leaves and sweeping the paths. I saw girls from ages 8 to 16 mopping the floors in their hogares. The older girls worked in the kitchen and the tortilla house. Every place we went, there were children working. They all know that their work keeps the Ranch running, they take pride in keeping their home a safe, nice place, and they always put a little fun and silliness into their work just to make it seem easier. At home, I help my mom because I have to, but the chores I have are few compared to the daily work at the Ranch. I know we came home with a great appreciation for our lives and a more open mind about working.

Monica Kaplan, U.S. visitor

We hope you enjoy your visit with the children and us.

For further questions or concerns please see the Visitor Coordinator.

Do you want to share your love of NPH? Help spread the word by visiting our website or taking brochures or a DVD with you.

Please ask the Visitor Coordinator or the Home Correspondent.

www.nph.org

HNPH

Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos

onduras

Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos Honduras

Casa de Los ÁngelesCalle Sonia RS-7

Colonial Los AlmendrosTegucigalpa, Honduras

504.236.7320

HomeRancho Santa Fe

Carretera Nueva a Olancho, Km 36Departamento de Francisco Morazán

504.224.0573

Tegucigalpa OfficeColonia Cerro Grande Zona 4

Bloque 5, Casa # 2206Comayaguela, M.D.C.

504.224.0203504.224.3684 (fax)

Mailing AddressNPH Honduras

APDO 3223Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Centro America

info.hn@nph.orgwww.nphhonduras.org

Casa de Los Ángeles

A home for orphaned and abandoned children.

Our MissionNuestros Pequeños Hermanos International, A.C.is a charitable organization serving poor orphaned, abandoned or other especially needy children with homes throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Our mission is to provide homes in which the children receive food, clothing, health care and education in a Christian family environment based on the principles of unconditional acceptance and love, sharing, work and responsibility.

NPHI is committed to assuring the best possible care for those children through direct programs, through service to other care-givers and support organizations, and through direct engagement with the community in which the children live.

A worldwide community of donors, staff and volunteers enables NPHI to help the children become caring and productive citizens in their countries.

NPH HistoryIn 1954, a boy was arrested for stealing from the poor box of a small church in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The young priest in charge, Father William Wasson of the United States, was unwilling to press charges against this “thief.” Instead, he asked for custody of the boy. By year’s end, there were 32 children in residence and Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH), Spanish for “Our Little Brothers and Sisters,” was born.

Since then, NPH has given more than 15,000 children that same second chance — the opportunity not just to survive, but to thrive. Rancho Santa Fe in Honduras was the second NPH Home to open, back in1986. Today NPH also has homes in seven other countries: Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru and The Dominican Republic. Overall, we care for over 2,800 children in a loving, secure environment.

BrochureCA EN 02-0928.indd 1 9/28/2006 8:46:08 PMCasa hogar para niños y niñas en riesgo social.

HNPH

Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos

onduras

Apadrine un NiñoUsted puede apadrinar un niño o una niña de cualquier edad en NPH. Agregado al apoyo financiero que provee, su padrinazgo también da comienzo a una relación personal con el niño, la cual es invaluable para su autoestima y desarrollo social.

Conviértase en un Padrino o localice la oficina más cercana a Usted en: www.nph.org o en Honduras marca 224.0203.

Conviértase en un VoluntarioNuestro programa internacional de voluntariado, envía individuos calificados, matrimonios y familias para apoyar al equipo y niños que viven en los hogares de NPH. Para más información y obtener una aplicación, visite nuestra página web en: www.nph.org

Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos Honduras

Casa HogarRancho Santa Fe

Carretera Nueva a Olancho, Km 36Departamento de Francisco Morazán

504.224.0573

Oficina en TegucigalpaColonia Cerro Grande Zona 4

Bloque 5, Casa # 2206Comayaguela, M.D.C.

504.224.0203504.224.3684 (fax)

Direción PostalNPH Honduras

APDO 3223Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Centro America

info.hn@nph.orgwww.nphhonduras.org

Nuestra MisiónNuestros Pequeños Hermanos International, A.C., es una organización caritativa sirviendo a niños, niñas y jóvenes que viven en circunstancias difíciles en América Latina y el Caribe.

Nuestra misión es proveer a los niños desamparados, protección, comida, ropa, cuidados médicos y educación en un ambiente de una familia extensa-católica, basada en los principios de la responsabilidad y la formación espiritual académica y recreativa.

NPHI esta comprometida a brindar el mejor cuidado posible para aquellos niños a traves de sus programas directos, a traves del servicio de otros educadores y organizaciones de apoyo y a traves de un compromiso directo con la comunidad en donde los niños viven.

Una comunidad mundial de bienhechores, personal y voluntarios apoyan a NPH para ayudar a los niños a convertirse en ciudadanos productivos, que sirvan con voluntad a nuestra Honduras.

Historia de NPHEn el año de 1954, un niño fue arrestado por tomar la caja de ofrendas de una pequeña iglesia localizada en Cuernavaca, México. El joven sacerdote que estaba a cargo de la misma, el Padre William Wasson de nacionalidad estadounidense, no quería presentar cargos en contra del niño. Contrario a lo que se esperaba, el Padre Wasson solicitó la custodia del niño, la cual fue concedida. Al final de ese año, ya habían 32 niños en la residencia y es así que nace Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH).

NPH les ha brindado a más de 15,000 niños la misma segunda oportunidad. Honduras, fue el segundo hogar de NPH en abrirse en el año de 1986. Hoy en día, NPH también cuenta con mas hogares en siete países: Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haití, Nicaragua, Perú y la Republica Dominicana, brindando atención integral a más de 3,000 niños y niñas en un ambiente seguro y lleno de amor.

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