In Honduras, most people are fleeing violence, poverty and lack of prospects. 67.8 percent of the Honduran population lives in poverty, 52 percent of them even in extreme poverty. Added to this is the violent situation in the country: In 2018, a total of 3,682 murders were documented by the national police in Honduras, corresponding to 41 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. On average, this means ten murders per day. As a result, fourteen percent of the Honduran population already live in the USA as migrants.
Fighting the causes of flight and creating prospects for the future
Together with its project partner OCDIH (Organismo Cristiano de Desarrollo Integral de Honduras), AWO International in the province of Cortés in northwestern Honduras is trying to make a contribution to combating the causes of flight in the region with BMZ funds from the special initiative "Flight". The aim is to provide young people and young adults in the region with new perspectives for a self-determined life, particularly through educational and income-generating measures.
Our project partner OCDIH is trying to make it easier for young people and young adults to access the labour market through educational measures and specialist training. The Instituto Nacional de Formación Profesional (INFOP), a national training centre, is therefore an important partner for OCDIH in the realisation of this project. At a training centre in Potrerillos, participants in courses have the opportunity to receive training, for example as a carpenter, electrician or hairdresser. In addition, the young people and young adults are accompanied through their career entry. At the same time, OCDIH provides them with psychosocial support and assistance in the development of their life project, in which the young people reflect on how to shape their future.
A company of one's own as a perspective for remaining
220 of the young people trained in the training centre receive a small loan after presenting their business idea as part of the project. With a starting capital of 500 US dollars, the aim is to set up profitable small businesses and thus provide the young people with a livelihood for themselves and their families.
There are already some success stories to report: 22-year-old Oscár has learned tailoring at the training centre in Potrerillos. With the help of the small loan from OCDIH, he was able to buy a new sewing machine and make a name for himself with his creations throughout the region. People come to Oscár for festive clothes and suits. He is particularly fond of tailoring for beauty contests, where his designs have already won national prizes. His next big goal is to find his own restaurant for his tailoring - because the space in his living room is slowly becoming too small due to the many orders.
Marisol, who lives directly in Potrerillos, was also able to fulfil a dream through the project with OCDIH. The young woman had a job in a cafeteria, but found it too insecure. When the opportunity arose to set up her own business, she did not hesitate for a moment. Through a one-week workshop of OCDIH she learned the most necessary things for her own business. Today she runs a street stall in the city centre where she sells Pupusas (a Central American specialty). In a few years she wants to open another restaurant and create jobs for others.
These are just two of many examples. All young adults supported by OCDIH and AWO International have one thing in common: none of the young women and men thinks about emigration any more. Everyone is planning their future in Honduras and wants to be an important part of the community.
Young people give their demands a voice
The young people and young adults also become active in lobby politics. In local youth organizations and an overarching youth network, the participants deal with their rights and formulate their political, social and societal demands, which they try to introduce on the political stage. In this way the young people and young adults get to know democratic structures and give their rights, their wishes and their ideas a voice. An important part of their work is also to show other young people the alternatives to migration.
Projectinfo
| Project | Combating the causes of flight by supporting young people in Honduras through income-generating measures |
|---|---|
| Place/Region | Municipalities of El Caracol, El Triunfo, Buena Vista, Nuevo Mundo San Miguel, El Tule and La Sabana in the municipality of Potrerillo in the province of Cortés, Honduras and three districts of Potrerillos (city) |
| Partner | OCDIH (Organismo Cristiano de Desarrollo Integral de Honduras) |
| Target group | Teenagers and young adults (potential migrants) and their families from poor households in the municipality of Potrerillos, northwest of Honduras |
| Activities |
|
| Duration | 2017-2021 |
| Budget | 67.000 Euro p.a. |
| Sponsor | BMZ (Special initiative to combat the causes of flight) |
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