Fall 2017: Heartbeat and Annual Report Fall17 Heartbeat | Page 10

Making Friends
in Honduras
Marie Regala (left) in Honduras
with her sponsee, Mauricio.
(below) A Sacred Heart student
connects, in Spanish, with her
pen pal in Honduras via video.
By Marie Regala, Teaching Assistant, Academy 2
At Sacred Heart Schools, we work to create a social aware-
ness in our community that impels us into action. Not only
do we try to instill that awareness in our students but, as
educators, we also strive to live it in our own lives. One way
that I have been able to do that is through my work with
The Children’s Home Project (TCHP), a non-profit organi-
zation based in Phoenix, Ariz., that seeks to increase the
love, safety, nourishment and hope in the lives of children
in Honduran children’s homes.
My own awareness was heightened in January 2016 with my
first visit to Proniño, a children’s home located in El Progreso,
Honduras. At Proniño, they provide basic education and a
safe living space to around 40 Honduran children who have
faced a variety of personal hardships.
What is a “children’s home”? It is not an orphanage, because
many of the children do have families. But due to severe
poverty, abuse, neglect and other challenges, these young
people were living on the street at some point and are now
being cared for at a Children’s Home. At Proniño, they have to a different kind of childhood. Additionally, working with
a roof over their heads, receive three meals a day, attend Spanish-speaking students and teachers gave them a glimpse
school and get the support they need to grow. With that into a global world where not everyone speaks English.
said, these youth are not most people’s image of typical
6-18 year olds. Some of them have gone through more life- Being a part of TCHP’s mission has transformed me. As a
altering experiences than most of us will ever face in a supporting sponsor, I have been able to help ensure that the
lifetime. But the one thing these children need the very most food, clothing, education and mental health support for
is the same as every child: they need love. Becoming aware the children I love so dearly continues. I have been paired
of that truly changed my life. with one specific child and am a reminder that there is some-
one who loves him, is thinking about him and supports his
While each trip to Honduras has been special on its own, growth. My relationship is unique in that I know the children
last fall I was able to bring the spirit of The Children’s Home that I sponsor personally, and those relationships are ones
Project to Sheridan Road by having my 2nd grade students that I deeply cherish.
become pen pals with the children at Proniño. They wrote
letters throughout the year, created posters and presenta- Every interaction and every trip is special and expands my
tions in Spanish that described their pen pal and finished knowledge. This is a world that is new to me, a world that
with a Skype session. Throughout all of these exchanges, my I am learning about every single day. This awareness makes
primary goal was to increase awareness. I wanted to give me a better person and a better teacher. This world chal-
the students here at Sacred Heart a chance to learn about lenges me and breaks my heart while also filling me with so
another side of our world, hoping that would open their eyes much joy. This world is like nothing I knew before, and forever
will be a part of me.