AMIGUITO OF THE WEEK ~ Wilmer

Wilmer is the cutest bundle of energy you will ever meet! Most days you can find him sporting his signature smile - as wide as his muscles can stretch and flashing his big front teeth. He has a talent for climbing things. He can scale a tree in no time at all. Wilmer is very loving and gives some of the best hugs at Amigos. He lives here with his older brother, Elvin (age 11), and is in 2nd grade at the Amigos de Jesus school. Learn more about this cutie below:

1. Birthday: January 12th (age 8)
2. Member of the Amigos de Jesus family since: 2013
3. Favorite class in school: Art.
1. Why? I get to draw cool things like cars.
4. Who is your favorite teacher? Miss Maddie.
5. What is something interesting you learned in school recently? We learned the parts of the body and we played a game called "Simon Says" to learn them.
6. What do you like to do in your free time? Play soccer, play with Hot Wheels cars ('carritos' in Spanish), eat snacks (especially Cornflakes and ice cream).
7. What do you want to be when you grow up? A racecar driver.
8. Who are some of your friends at Amigos? My brother Elvin, Jesuan, Pablo, Kevin
9. What is something you are thankful for? Miss Emilia (2013-14 volunteer) because she loves me very much.
10. What is your favorite part of Amigos de Jesus? Fr. Dennis because he gives us mass so we can learn more about God.
11. Favorite type of music: Worship songs
12. Favorite color: Blue
13. Favorite food: Pollo Rey (a popular fried chicken chain in Honduras)
14. Favorite movie: Jonas and the Whale

Wilmer with Miss Emilia in 2014

AMIGUITA OF THE WEEK ~ Dulce

Dulce embodies her name...she is very sweet! Her maturity and quiet, yet sure, sense of self show through in the way she naturally takes on a motherly quality with the younger girls in Hogar 1. She also has a very strong faith! Dulce lives at Amigos with her older brother Jeison (age 15) and her younger sister Mayra (age 11). Last week, she finished 6th grade at White Dove Christian Bilingual School (the Honduran school year goes from February-December). On Friday, she was in a musical at her school called the Story of Queen Esther. She did a great job as a dancer!

1. Birthday: May 1st (age 13)
2. Member of the Amigos de Jesus family since: 2012
3. School: White Dove Christian Bilingual School (A bilingual school about 30 minutes from Amigos. We now have four students in 6th an 7th grade at that school (students who aged out of the Amigos school, but who show a special interest in English). Different from the Amigos bilingual school, all of the teachers at White Dove are Honduran, but speak both English and Spanish).
4. You go to a bilingual school. How many of your classes are taught in English and Spanish? Science, Math, English, and computers are taught in English. Spanish, social studies , and art are taught in Spanish.
5. What is your favorite class in school? Science. I like learning about how things work - animals, people, plants, etc.
6. What is your favorite thing you learned in school last year? The dances for my drama presentations (like the Queen Esther musical on Friday).
7. What do you want to be when you grow up? A doctor. I have wanted to be a doctor ever since I was little. I want to be able to cure people who are sick.
8. What are you most thankful for? I am thankful for Amigos de Jesus. They have shown me what a happy and loving family is.
9. What is your favorite part of Amigos de Jesus? Soccer. Soccer is my favorite sport and here there are always other people to play against or with me.
10. What is your favorite type of music? The song "Sweet Dreams are Made of These" by Marilyn Manson
11. Who is your biggest role model? I have a lot of role models at Amigos! 
1. Adoni (the first child from Amigos to graduate university) - He is humble and has shown us all that we can be someone. When he came here, he was very young, and now he is an adult who has graduated from university. 
2. Amy and Wilson (the on-site directors of Amigos) and Suyapa (the on-site lawyer of Amigos) - They have given us a chance at a new life. If they had not brought us here, we would not have all of the love we have now.
3. All of the kids at Amigos - They have taught me how to get along with everyone.
12. Favorite colors: Black, blue, red
13. Favorite foods: "Arroz chino" (fried rice), horchata, atol (a Honduran drink similar to horchata), and Mexican tacos with lots of chile.
14. Favorite movie: Movies about Bible stories (especially the Easter story and the part where they hit Jesus and Mary stays by his side, and the Christmas story). Also, scary movies.

Dulce in her musical on Friday (in the brown cloak)

The full group. Dulce is on the right.

Before the big show!

AMIGA OF THE WEEK ~ Anita Robbins

Anita Robbins has been an incredible support system to the Amigos family for many years now. She has played so many different roles with helping out in the U.S., from organizing donations, hosting the Amigos children for the annual U.S. trip, to developing the Stepping Stones project. Anita's energetic attitude and passion for the Amigos family has earned her the nickname "Loca" amongst the children at the Hogar. 

You can learn more about purchasing a Stepping Stone here:

1. Name: Anita Robbins

2. Occupation: Realtor

3. Hometown: Malvern, PA

4. How did you first hear about Amigos de Jesus? I heard about Amigos de Jesus from Fr. O'Donnell in 1994.

5. How did you become involved with Amigos de Jesus? Father asked me to help with the 1st Annual 100 hole Golf Marathon, which I did.  Then shortly after, I began sponsoring a child.

6. Have you visited the Hogar? Yes, I've been to Amigos five times and will visit again this January! 

7. What is one of your favorite Amigos de Jesus memories? I have so many wonderful memories but I would have to say having the opportunity to meet the boy I've been sponsoring for 10 years on my first trip down to Honduras was pretty special.

8. Why do you like being involved with Amigos de Jesus? Being involved with Amigos de Jesus has been life changing for not just me but my family as well. Getting to know the children so well that they give you a nickname (Loca) is the best feeling ever. To be welcomed by them with the most beautiful smiles and hugs is priceless. Watching them grow, from the most horrific situations to amazing success stories is indescribable. All of this and so much more is why we call Amigos de Jesus, "family."

9. What are Stepping Stones? The stepping stone project is an idea to create a "path to the Cross." Friends are encouraged to purchase a stone of a loved one, a special occasion or simply as a friend of Amigos. On your way up to the cross you will be able to see each stone with the names of loved ones; the people a part of the Amigos family. 

On my last visit, this past June, Wilson and some of the guys helped me make it happen. don Mito, one of the Amigos groundskeeping staff, made a form for the concrete, the boys in the welding shop made the Amigos stamp, and there you have it. We made 26 that trip and when I come down in January we are making more.

AMIGUITO OF THE WEEK ~ Jesuan

Jesuan is gentle and quiet. He has been part of the Amigos de Jesus family for almost seven years and at 17, he is one of the oldest still living with us at the "hogar." In January, he will start his third and final year of colegio (the equivalent of 9th grade) in Macuelizo before beginning "bachillerato" (high school).

1. Birthday: December 3rd (age 17)
2. School: Instituto Técnico Luz del Valle
3. Favorite class in school: Physical Education. I like learning new sports like basketball and volleyball. (Outside of school, the kids almost exclusively play soccer).
4. What is something interesting you learned in school last year: The history of Honduras and the "conquista" of Christopher Columbus.
5. What do you like to do in your free time? Read, play cards with Pat (long-term volunteer Pat Kluesner), and play chess with Fr. Dennis and other friends.
1. What do you like to read? Fantasy stories, stories about religion, and Captain Underpants.
6. Who are some of your friends at Amigos? Juan and Alejandro
1. What do you like to do with them? I like to listen to Alejandro sing and Juan always helps me. He lets me borrow things I need to go to school.
7. What are you most thankful for? For the chance to go to school and the fact that Amigos is showing me the right path. I'm also thankful for the people that support Amigos and give me everything I need, and for the volunteers that come and help us.
8. What is your favorite part of Amigos? The cross. I like the forest around it and the view of the whole valley.
9. What is your favorite type of music? All of the songs by my friend Alejandro. 
10. Who is your biggest role model? Adoni (who a few weeks ago became the first child from Amigos to graduate university). He has showed me that we all are capable.
11. Favorite color: Green
12. Favorite food: Everything, but especially chicken and "tajadas" (fried plantains)
13. Favorite movie: Bruce Lee

AMIGUITA OF THE WEEK ~ Michelle

Michelle is spunky, full of energy, and always looking for the next way to "be like the big girls." She has a laugh that is contagious. She is 11 years old, resides in Hogar 2, and is in the "Vencedores" group of Special Education at the ADJ School.

See below for more of her cute interview. Our hearts melted at what she wants to be when she grows up!

1. Age: 11
2. Favorite class in school: Math
1. Why? I'm learning many things, like adding.
3. Who is your favorite teacher? Profe Vilma and Profe Fernanda
1. Why? They give me a lot of work and they take care of me.
4. What is something interesting you learned in school this week? Reading.
5. What do you like to do in your free time? Color, draw, play marbles, play jacks
6. What do you want to be when you grow up? A "madrina" (adult caretaker at Amigos).
1. Why? Because the madrinas take care of other people.
7. Who are some of your friends in the hogar? Kenia and Denia
8. What is your favorite part of Amigos? Kenia because she has long hair and is pretty.
9. Who is your biggest role model at Amigos? Alejandro because he is very nice.
10. Favorite song: "Nota de Amor" by Wisin, feat. Carlos Vives and Daddy Yankee
11. Favorite color: Blue
12. Favorite food: "Arroz chino" (fried rice)
13. Favorite movie: Frozen

AMIGOS OF THE WEEK ~ 2015-16 BECA Volunteers

The Amigos de Jesús school is staffed by 3 groups of volunteer teachers - Honduran volunteers (be on the lookout for their feature soon!), the Amigos de Jesus long-term volunteers (who were featured a couple weeks ago), and this week's "Amigos of the Week" - the BECA volunteers.

A little background....BECA @ ADJ

It's hard to talk about the BECA volunteers without first giving a little background on BECA. The BECA (Bilingual Education for Central America) program began at Amigos just two years ago, aiming to provide high quality bilingual education for the kids of Amigos, as well as kids from the surrounding community. Traditionally in Central America (and Honduras), bilingual education has been a privilege reserved for the wealthy. BECA's mission is to make bilingual education accessible for all people. It has been incredible to see our kids, some of the most marginalized in Honduran society, gain access to this type of education and become truly talented bilingual speakers.

The traditional Honduran education system is built on repetition and memorization, and, due to many last minute governmental and administrative changes, school schedules can be unpredictable. The BECA program has allowed Amigos to provide not only a consistent and structured schooling system, but also a system focused on teaching critical thinking and on meeting the individual needs of each student (something especially beneficial at Amigos given the diverse backgrounds of our kids).

BECA's well-trained teachers and quality teaching systems have greatly increased the prestige of our school over the last two years.

BECA Set-Up

In its first year at Amigos, the BECA school consisted of Kindergarten ("Prepa") to 2nd grade. Each year, we have added an additional grade, following our oldest class. Today, the BECA school goes up to 4th grade, with 18-25 kids per class. In most classes, about half of the students come from Amigos and half are from the surrounding community.

The Teachers

There are five classroom BECA teachers - one for each grade - as well as a resource teacher and an administrator. This year's group of BECA teachers is enthusiastic, patient, talented, and most of all, fun! It has been a pleasure to have them living and working with us. 

Click here or on the pictures below for links to their bios on the BECA website.

Christina Gennaoui
"Prepa" (Kindergarten) teacher

Jessica Rosa
1st grade teacher

Sean Kelly
2nd grade teacher

Michael Cheung
3rd grade teacher

Stephanie Fore
4th grade teacher

Emma Pampanin
Resource Teacher

Liz McCarthy
Administrator