The Amigos School

 Written by: Joseph Starzl

Amigos' Volunteer 2012-2013

BECA Program Coordinator 2013-Current

I like to think that the development of the Amigos de Jesus Bilingual School in the past two years has mirrored my own personal growth during my time here. The first time I saw the school, still recently arrived to Honduras, the two most striking images were the library and the storage room. Both exemplified the untapped potential of the school—there was a ton of ‘stuff,’ much of it quite useful, but in neglected condition. The ‘storage room’ was a classroom filled with a labyrinth of desks, chairs, and forgotten things. The library was a more painful sight, with so many books in such a state of disarray. Both rooms were unpainted, lifeless grey walls magnifying their plight. There was certainly work to do.

I didn’t know then just how much time and work I would end up investing in this school. I was only a few months removed from my college graduation, still mostly concerned with my sweaty, bug-bitten, Spanish-struggling self. Amigos de Jesus, to me, consisted of a blur of faces, too many names of kids running hither and fro. I may have been overwhelmed, but the excitement of this brave new world kept me smiling and mispronouncing greetings to children whose names I probably mixed-up.

       

Already though, I was familiar with the BECA (Bilingual Education for Central America) organization. Upon arriving to Honduras I had spent two weeks in BECA’s summer institute, a training program for their teachers that was offered to the Amigos volunteers. The BECA folk were a savvy group, and I enjoyed both the training and the connections I made. I left the training grateful for the experience and completely unaware that I would return to work with BECA. More on that later.

 
Afterwards the Amigos volunteers, myself included, finally began our life at the children’s home. After an orientation and a few weeks to get a feel for the place, we were handed our job placements. I was to report for duty at the school, to co-teach a brand new Kindergarten class alongside the bombshell Bostonian, Meg Ryan. 

 My expectations were great. We rolled up our sleeves and tackled   the aforementioned storage-room, hauling furniture and boxes with more zeal than expecting parents moving into their new home. We bought paint, spilled the paint (Meg!), bought more paint, and finally revived our grey classroom with a more appealing contrast of blue and yellow. I remember proudly examining our handiwork, hands-on-hips in the most cliché of poses, soaking in my ‘success.’

 The first day of school soon arrived, and it took  me a full four seconds to learn that paint on walls does not a classroom make. Now, I’m sure those reading this who’ve been blessed to work extensively with small children will knowingly smile and wink when I mention the word ‘challenging’ in this context. As humorous as they are in hindsight, there’s no need to get sidetracked by all the anecdotes of my adaptation process to the steep learning curve involved in managing children. Yet what stands out to me most during those months was how I was so intensely affected on a daily basis: deeply frustrated with my failures; overly pleased with my successes; disturbed by the situations these kids were coming from; learning to love the kids and completely investing myself in them

While all my internal chaos unfolded the other members of my volunteer group were similarly  assimilating themselves into the school and home. We were a merry band of well-intentioned idealists, quite unqualified, but trying our best to learn as we went along. I’d be remiss not to highlight the assistance the Honduran staff offered at this point. I remember the principal, Edgardo Osman Quintanilla, walking into my classroom after a day in which the screams had been especially loud. He approached hands-in-pockets, with still something of a grimace on his face despite his efforts to put on an encouraging smile. The ensuing conversation contained some helpful advice, but more importantly it was a gesture of support that did wonders for my morale. Nevertheless, the grind continued.

Unbeknownst to me, the wheels were turning among the higher-ups as Amigos de Jesus and BECA were finalizing the plan for their partnership to found a BECA bilingual school at the children’s home. High-quality bilingual education in Honduras tends to be a privilege reserved for the upper echelon of Honduran society, but BECA began as an organization committed to bringing this quality education to those who most need it.
   Education can transform lives, but in Honduras a bilingual
education can open doors, too. This partnership promised to bring new opportunities to the kids living at Amigos—radical opportunities all too rare for kids who were orphaned or found on the streets, survivors who need and deserve a great education.  The partnership was formed. BECA would introduce their school the next calendar year.

    Back at Amigos, the Christmas season rolled-in. Meg and I reached the Christmas school-break eager for the respite, despite having settled into a manageable routine. We would be evaluated in our one-on-one meetings with Amy and Wilson, the Amigos directors, to address what our roles would be in the upcoming year. Annoyed at the few butterflies fluttering in my stomach when my turn came, I tried to make myself comfortable on their couch as I leaned forward to learn what plans they had in store.

    Big plans. Big BECA plans. That’s when I learned that BECA would officially be joining the Amigos family. It was December, classes would start in August, and Amy and Wilson asked if I would help coordinate a transition period at the school to prepare the kids for the change and help BECA set-up shop. I realized right away the significance of what they were saying. The service that BECA could provide, based on what I had seen before, would be a night-and-day upgrade to the school’s current functioning. Any big change has its risks, but I knew our kids would reap incredible benefits. I believed a BECA education would improve their lives. I still do, even more so.

   That meeting changed the trajectory of my service in Honduras. Whereas before I was focused on my personal and spiritual development, which is a perfectly good and sufficient reason to serve, I became singularly centered on the project that was the new bilingual school. Extensive English classes were introduced to prepare the kids for their bilingual education, thanks to volunteers Rachel Severino and Joseph Sarappo. Jen Clark picked up the good work Joe had started organizing the library. I began working with Fran Talavera, in-country director of BECA, to lay down the groundwork for August. Because there weren’t enough Amigos students to completely fill up the classrooms, the school would open its doors to a limited number of students from the neighboring communities. Public outreach became a unique part of my job, as I helped brainstorm and implement ideas on how best to drum up support and enrollment for the school.

       Along the way I applied to stay a second year at Amigos—this time with BECA, to continue working on the school. I needed to see the BECA-school operating with my own eyes. Every person who visits Amigos and spends time with our kids walks away foundationally affected, and this means something different for each person, but for me it was an obsession with this opportunity to leave behind something truly lasting. Thankfully, I was accepted for the position of Program Coordinator.

Things came full circle. Once again I found myself at BECA’s summer institute, this time as a BECA volunteer. I met the three teachers who would form the inaugural BECA-Amigos staff: Elena, Karena, and Ben, to teach Kindergarten, 1^st grade, and 2^nd grade (respectively). They were exactly the people we needed. All three were professional, committed and conscientious, experienced volunteers familiar with Honduras and with a passion to serve the kids of Amigos. To borrow a Space-Jam metaphor (am I getting away with myself here?), they’re the Monstars of teaching.

August 22, 2013. I was too busy scrambling around, attending to all the details that popped up on the first day of school, to reflect on what was an incredible personal moment. The BECA-school was a reality. Our kids walked (in lines!) to their classes, took their seats. Teachers launched into their introductions. I had witnessed and participated in the mountain of effort by so many people to make it all happen. Yet ironically, the culmination of such work merely marked the beginning. It was only the first day of school.

That beginning period, as students and teachers alike adapted to the new school, was predictably hectic. But this was a much more productive chaos than what I’d experienced before. A revamped discipline policy included the school’s psychologists, the padrinos and madrinas (staff on the ‘home’ side of the orphanage), and the classroom teachers in the process of addressing misbehavior. Communication between the home and the school, the two halves of our kids’ lives, improved. Resources were available now—that weren’t available before—to provide substantial, individual, support to students who needed the extra attention. New teachers and a new curriculum brought higher expectations for our students; gradually, buoyed by the belief we held that they could succeed, our students reached those expectations. And then of course there’s the English language learning, something that’s been an absolute joy to watch. A classroom being taught in a foreign language can be such an intimidating challenge, that to see our kids persevere, overcome their doubts, and grow has been nothing short of inspiring. I believe this experience will transform their self-image, and give them the confidence to tackle future challenges and adventures, to say nothing of the practical benefits of bilingualism. 

    Ultimately, I want to see our Amigos kids become leaders when they grow up: for their families, their communities, and their country. They have stories and perspectives that need to be heard, and my hope is that BECA helps make that a reality.

As the school has developed, so have I.  I found a family at Amigos that embraced me and loved me. I’m lucky for the opportunities I received to take on increasingly greater responsibilities, and for the patience of those around me as I struggled to meet those responsibilities. And I’ve been able to meet extraordinary, interesting people from all over the world during my time here, drawn to this remote corner of Honduras by our similar desire to serve. I hope some of their essence rubbed off on me. The best thing of all, though, is that I’m happy. That’s one of the nice benefits I’ve found about service: it can make you truly happy.

 

And before I write-off: kudos to current Amigos de Jesus volunteer Joanna Gardner for the incredible labor she’s put into the seemingly-Sisyphean task of organizing our library. It’s a bona fide book-lover’s paradise now. Definitely not the only thing that’s changed around here.

An Amigos Christmas and New Year

The months of December and January are notorious for being the busiest time of the year at Amigos de Jesus. Between the posadas, Christmas, New Year's and the Feast of the Epiphany it seems like the work is never-ending, but it is also one of the most magical and rewarding times of the year to be a staff member or volunteer here. The kids are out of school and excited for the upcoming celebrations, the home is decorated beautifully for advent all the way through the Epiphany, and there are endless activities planned to keep the kid's busy and entertained until school commences again.


We wanted to share with you a snapshot of how we spent our last six weeks together.

The Christmas Countdown Begins: 

In preparation for Christmas each year, the volunteers and American staff members of Amigos de Jesus reach out to family and friends to help fundraise enough money to purchase new clothing and gifts for Christmas Day and The Feast of the Epiphany, respectively.

As part of our Christmas Countdown we took pictures with the children on different days to get our supporters more enthusiastic about donating.

For 16 days, we reached out to everyone we knew and in the end were able to surpass our fundraising goal of $4,000.00. With this money each child received a new outfit for Christmas, as well as a gift that they would later receive on the day of The Feast of the Epiphany.

The process of the multiple photo shoots were also a blast and helped get the kids really excited about Christmas. Even the "too-cool" teenagers had fun. 

Thank you to everyone who helped make this Christmas and feast day unforgettable.

The Tradition of Posadas

A tradition commonly celebrated in Honduras is called Posada. This is when families and even towns reenact the coming of Mary and Joseph to the inn in Bethlehem.

Typically there are two groups in the celebration. The group that is outside (usually embodying Joseph and Mary) and a group within (the innkeepers.) The two groups sing to one another, one asking to be let in and the other refusing until finally they do give them posada - or a place to rest.

Then there is a small celebration and a snack or prayer service depending on when you celebrate. 

At Amigos we have the tradition of doing this each night for the week leading up to Christmas. Each dorm of kids hosts a night as well as the volunteers and school.

Our Young Men Serve The Poor On Christmas Morning

For the past few years our young men have taken the initiative to provide food baskets for seriously impoverished local families. They go out each year to hand out one hundred tickets that invite households to come to ADJ on Christmas Eve and receive a food basket that our children prepare for them.

The families arrive early in the morning and wait outside the gate as the young men and staff members put together a sign-in table and bring the baskets from storage. Out of curiosity, our children trickle towards the gate to watch. Greetings are exchanged and some of the children help to hand out cups of coffee to those still waiting.

 It’s one of those humbling moments to witness; our children serving others. 

Miguel, one of our young men in University coordinates this event with our staff each year. When I asked him his thoughts on the event, he said “It is an opportunity to give back just a little of what I have received from my home, Amigos de Jesus. I know that this is a blessing for these families and I like to see them smile.”

New Clothes for Christmas
In Honduras it is custom to give one another new clothes as gifts in lieu of toys and games. This year we added to this tradition by asking our oldest boys to help us with the process of giving to their younger brothers and sisters in the home. The young men set up the Christmas tree in the center of the dinning room, laying out all the gifts around it.

For our last Posada of advent the children walked from the school to the dinning room around 3:00 in the afternoon, singing traditional Christmas music as they made their way. After they sang the Posada song, the children entered and excitedly all found seats around the tree, surprisingly quiet.  

Once everyone was seated, the gifts were handed out one-by-one.  

Each child and teenager recieved clothes individually picked out for them.   

The Fiesta Followed by Fireworks

After all the children received their new clothes in the afternoon, it was time to get ready for the big Christmas feast and party. 

The dinning-room was set while the children got "guapo/guapa" for the night

We ate a meal prepared by a madrina and her mother-in-law. They cooked various types of pig meat, served with a savory rice and salad. All the kids were excited since we almost never eat pig.

After dinner everyone gathered in the chapel and Madrina Amy discussed the importance of Christmas and the coming of Christ. In celebration of his birth the kids all got stockings and sugar highs. After the short gathering in the chapel everyone made their way to the dinning hall that had been cleared for the dance party.

Some of the little kids stayed up as late as midnight.

New Year's Eve (Sorry, no pictures available) 

New Year's is celebrated with equal importance to that of Christmas. We enjoy a large and special dinner together and then have a dance party into the early morning of New Year's Day. Five minutes to midnight all of the children and staff (who were still awake) made their way to the soccer field where fireworks had been set-up as well as a figure that looks similar to a scarecrow - this is called AñoViejo - or the old year. A symbolic reference that would soon be destroyed to welcome in the new year. 

       The kids took the sidelines a safe distance away from all devices to watch. At midnight on the dot Padrinos Wilson and Antonio set off the fireworks. Ending the display with destruction of the old year. As is tradition here everyone gave one another a New Year hug, the party continued until one in the morning and then everyone made their way to bed. 

Celebration of the Epiphany

In much of Latin America including Amigos de Jesus children receive gifts not on Christmas morning, but on the feast of the Epiphany.

We reenact the journey of the 3 Wise Men who followed the star to find baby Jesus.  Our children dress as angels, Joseph and Mary and as baby Jesus.

 

   
Adoni and Miguel- two of our University Students- and Padrino Wilson played the role of wise men. 

Our children were told the story of the Wise Men and asked to reflect on what gift they will give baby Jesus this year.

"Care, respect and love" - Gerson David

 "The gift that I will give to Jesus, is to continue being a good person and to take the opportunities that I am given here at Amigos de Jesus" - Fernando

"Faith, peace, love. I will take care of everything that I am responsible for"  - Victor Lopez

They left these notes in front of the manger that was set up by the cross. The youngest kids colored in pictures of the wise men, while the older children wrote what gifts they would give him this year. 

-Meaghan Ryan 

Amigos de Jesus Remembers

        It is easy to be forgotten in Honduras.  Children come to Amigos de Jesus because they have been neglected, abandoned, rejected and left to survive on their own.  Our Oscarito was left alone to fend for himself when he could barely hold himself up or feed himself.  Others of our children have been abused in unimaginable ways while adults turn a blind eye to torture, incest, rape, starvation, and slavery.  Many of our children are born to children who never had a childhood.  Still more have wandered the streets, struggled to escape abuse, begged for food, or had their families torn apart by violence.  To be alive after what has happened to them is an accomplishment.  The fact that our children live life with a smile on their faces is an inspiration.  Someone once told Fr. O’Donnell that even more than their smiles is the brightness of their eyes – both their smiles and their eyes make them impossible to forget. 

       Yet our children do even more than smile.  They give.  They serve.  They share love, they offer prayers, and they actively seek to make the world a more humane and beautiful place.  Our children who our world almost forgot will never forget the people of our world.  

Six months ago the Lord decided that Oscarito had left enough of an impact to be remembered by and that 48 days of us pouring love into him was long enough; so our sweet angel was called to heaven where he watches over us.  If Oscarito had not found a home and a family at Amigos de Jesus, he would have died alone and been buried in an unmarked and forgotten grave.  Instead, we are building him a cemetery up on the hill behind the big white cross at Amigos de Jesus.  In the meantime his tiny body is resting at an overgrown, trash-ridden cemetery in the nearby community of Macuelizo.

        Oscarito’s grave is one of several bright spots in the otherwise bleak cemetery.  His dignified grave bears the marks of love of a large family, and the special touches of the 19-year-old who cared for him.  David comes home to Amigos twice a month from the city where he is in University.  He keeps Oscarito’s plot immaculately maintained, free from litter and brush and surrounded by plants and flowers.

       Our children know that Oscarito could have ended up in a forgotten, neglected grave.  They know that if it were not for Amigos de Jesus, they would have been neglected and forgotten too.  So they decided to do something to show that not only is Oscarito alive in the hearts of our family, but that they also have room in their giant hearts to remember others. 

Six months from the day we buried Oscarito the Amigos de Jesus family honored our angel by remembering people who have been forgotten.  Our oldest young men spent 5 hours hacking away at overgrown tropical brush, picking up garbage, cleaning off graves, and beautifying parts of the cemetery.

  Our girls spent a week collecting plastic bottles to turn into flowers and wreaths that they  painstakingly painted and arranged to put on graves.  The same garbage that had littered the cemetery was transformed into a beautiful symbol of love from our children. 

       We spent the entire afternoon of the six-month anniversary of Oscarito’s burial at the cemetery.  We admired the work of the older boys, we decorated graves with lovingly placed flowers, we walked together, told stories of people we have lost, and stayed close to each other.

At the end of our time at the cemetery David led prayer circle around Oscarito’s grave and we prayed to Oscarito and for the people buried in the cemetery, for the people our children have lost, and for the Amigos de Jesus family around the world.  Our children remembered.  Our children remember.

     There are so many people who make up our Amigos de Jesus family.  Our children do not forget you.  To all of you everywhere on behalf of Oscarito and our children, THANK YOU for their bright eyes, THANK    YOU for their smiles, THANK YOU for remembering. 

- Amy Escoto - Operations Director

If you would like to see more pictures from the day, please check them out on our Facebook page 
 

 

International Volunteer Day

Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but give yourself to humble tasks; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.   

 Romans 12:13-18

   
The children of Amigos de Jesus are blessed by the presence of volunteers who serve as teachers, mentors, surrogate parents, leaders, friends and role models.  We currently have 17 young men and women who serve Amigos de Jesus on a full-time basis as volunteers through several different programs.

Six volunteers make up the Amigos de Jesus volunteer community:  Ali, Emilia, Emma, Joanna, Laura, Pat; Meg is the volunteer coordinator; Jenn and Dan are serving as a couple; Ben, Elena, Jose and Karenna teach at our school through our partner organization BECA; Christopher, Geidy, Graciela and Viviana teach at our school through a volunteer program for Honduran teachers.  All 17 of these amazing human beings give of their time and energy to serve our children and allow us to offer countless opportunities to your boys and girls that we would not be able to offer without people who dedicate themselves to Amigos de Jesus while expecting nothing in return. 

December 5 is International Volunteer Day and the entire Amigos family gave a few hours to celebrate our volunteers who have given countless hours to our family.  We started with a prayer service where our children had the chance to understand how Jesus calls us to serve and how the volunteers fulfill the gospel through their work with our children.  Some of the things are children mentioned about the volunteers:

“They share works of love for us children who need it.”

“They are always helping us with any problems any of us have.”

“It is clear that they have Christ in their hearts and they live this by helping those who need it.”

“We can follow their example and the example of Jesus by praying and sharing what we have received- not just material things, but also the love and peace of God we’ve been given.”

“They live their values and share them with others and teach us to be good people in the future.”

“They are part of our family and treat us like they are our mothers and fathers.”

“They inspire us to look for ways to serve others in our community.”

“Everything they do is done with enthusiasm and a smile, even when it is difficult.”

After the reflection with the children, the volunteers were invited to sit at a special table and were served a dinner prepared in their honor- Pizza!- which was served to them by the children and other members of our family.  The dining room was decorated with their names and photos and reflections on why they were important. They were each given cards that the children and teenagers made for them along with a t-shirt. And as with many days of celebration, the night ended with a bit of dancing and our traditional prayer circle.

  

  

!MUCHAS GRACIAS! to all of the amazing volunteers who serve the children of Amigos de Jesus.