Delivering Bread to the Little Ones of the Streets in Honduras with Bishop Emiliani of San Pedro Sula Diocese
 

The Proniño Foundation

The Proniño Foundation has established a four-phase program in order to rehabilitate the children of the streets.

Phase 1 of the program is designed to make contact with the street children, provide for some of their basic needs, and begin a trusting relationship. The main vehicle for this was the Patio Soup Kitchen, which was a kitchen and patio built in the city to feed the children and provide them with some education. Over time, a mobile soup kitchen was created and used to feed children in other towns and cities outside El Progreso, much like the Meals on Wheels programs in the U.S.  This program is also not in use at this time.  The new feeding program is the Delivery of Bread to the Little Ones on the Street which is operated by the Catholic Bishop Emiliani of San Pedro Sula.  (See the information below)

Phase 2 is designed to begin the children’s rehabilitation by providing them a place to live in Las Flores Rehabilitation and Detoxification Center. A child can choose to enter Las Flores Center, where he/she will be sponsored by a donor in the U.S. Children stay in Las Flores Center for three to six months while they recover from their glue addiction. While there they also receive an education, medical care and counseling by full-time and volunteer staff.

Phase 3 is designed to provide for all the children’s basic needs, provide them an education, teach them vocational skills and begin to give them more responsibility. Once the children are ready, they can move from Las Flores Center to La Montaña Home and Educational Center, located on a picturesque mountainside in El Progreso. While living at La Montaña, the children will receive an education, vocational training, dental and medical care, spirituality, and will also be involved in many activities, including sports, gardening, and taking care of animals. At this stage, the children are also asked to help in many of the operational tasks necessary to maintain their home, including regular chores in addition to their schoolwork.

Phase 4 this future program is designed to give the children more independence and prepare them for life outside the center. Once ready, the children will be able to move into a shared house with a house parent and other children until they are 18 years of age, while they continue their education, learn vocational skills, and possibly begin to work and learn to manage money. Unfortunately this phase will take about $200,000 to complete and it may take many years before it can be implemented.

The Proniño Foundation and Humanitarian Interfaith Ministries have come a long way since their inception in 2000. Phases 1, 2 and 3 are complete and successfully in operation. Currently, the Flores Rehabilitation and Detoxification Center and the Mountain Home and Educational Center house approximately 50 children. Much of this progress was accomplished through the generosity of the people in Western Pennsylvania and the time and efforts of volunteers that have participated in mission trips to Honduras to assist with the construction of the program.

More information on the Proniño Foundation in Honduras can be found at www.streetkidshonduras.org and www.pronino.org.

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Delivering Bread to the Little Ones of the Streets in Honduras

Fr Joe Maurizio & Fr Saturino giving out food vouchers to older children who live on the street

In 2004, HIM began a new, innovative project with the Catholic Diocese of San Pedro Sula to provide assistance to homeless children. Working directly with Auxiliary Bishop Msgr. Romulo Emiliani Sanchez and Padre Saturnino, the "Delivering Bread to the Little Ones of the Streets" project works to feed young people living on the streets of San Pedro Sula. The project functions by providing vouchers, not money, for food to young people who redeem them in the local marketplace. In this way, the project is ensuring that resources are going toward purchasing food.

Additionally, this project works in conjunction with the Proniño Foundation by identifying children that are likely in need their services, including housing, education and rehabilitation. "Delivering Bread to the Little Ones of the Streets" project is financially supported through HIM and administered by Padre Saturnino of San Pedro Sula.

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