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Introduction
After two and a half decades of mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to power in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven for anti-Sandinista contras fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan Government. The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998...[more info]
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Geography |
| Location:
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Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua |
Climate:
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subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
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Natural resources:
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timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower
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Geography - note:
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has a long Caribbean shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast
[more info]
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People |
| Population:
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6,975,204 |
Nationality:
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noun: Honduran(s)
adjective: Honduran
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%
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Languages:
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Spanish, Amerindian dialects...[more info] |
Government |
| Country name:
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Republic of Honduras
short form: Honduras
local long form: Republica de Honduras |
Government type:
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democratic constitutional republic
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Capital:
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Tegucigalpa
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Legal system: |
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rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasing influence of English common law...[more info] |
Economy |
| Economy - overview:
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one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere with an extraordinarily unequal distribution of income and massive unemployment. |
Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 34%, industry 21%, services 45% (2001 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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53% (1993 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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coffee, shrimp, bananas, gold, palm oil, fruit, lobster, lumber
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Exchange rates:
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lempiras per US dollar - 18.206 (2004), 17.345 (2003), 16.433 (2002), 15.474 (2001), 14.839 (2000)...[more info] |
Communications |
| Internet country code:
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.hn...[more info] |
Transportation |
| Ports and harbors:
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La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela, Puerto Lempira
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Airports:
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115 (2004 est.)...[more info] |
Military |
| Military branches:
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Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force
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Military manpower - military age and obligation:
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18 years of age for voluntary 2-3 year military service (2004)...[more info]
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Life in Honduras
Life in Honduras is difficult. It is the second poorest country in the western hemisphere. For families caught in the jaws of poverty, there are no public resources available. Assistance is non-existent. Unlike here in the U.S., in Honduras, people born into poverty seldom escape a life of poverty. To be born into poverty is to live and die in poverty.
That is where Art For Humanity steps in. With help from donations, we are keeping children in school. Children in Honduras are not allowed to attend school barefooted. For this reason, we provide thousands of pairs of shoes to children who could not otherwise afford them.
Art For Humanity is also creating new jobs by creating new businesses in Honduras. We are helping people to build homes. We provide vitamins to pregnant women and nursing mothers. In addition, we are preparing to build a clinic in a community of approximately 20,000 people, and we hope to attract a cadre of U.S. physicians, nurses, dentist, dieticians, etc. who collectively would provide medical services. This will be our first clinic. With the generosity of our donors, we will build many...[more info]
Donations at work
  Because of our generous donors, families who have been homeless since hurricane Mitch in 1998 are building a new home on a small parcel of land. The land is small, the house is very modest but it is theirs. In other parts of Honduras, families who have never had a home for the first time will have one.
 Donations allow Art For Humanity to send at least five tractor trailer loads of humanitarian goods to Honduras each year. These 40 foot containers are filled with all sorts of donated goods people like you provide…..used shoes, clothing, refrigerators, bicycles, microwaves, books, school supplies, etc. For Christmas, we hope to send at least one 40 foot container filled with used shoes that have been donated.
Hundreds of students from poor families are being provided the means of attending school. For some it is a pair of shoes; for others it is money for books; for others it is tuition. Public schools are not free. Tuition is required.
 Donations are at
work in countless
ways...[more info]
Our dreams for tomorrow
The people of Honduras are kind and gentle and friendly people. We want to introduce a new future to the people of Honduras. We want to develop a series of schools which will provide and excellent education for children. These students would become the best educated people in Honduras, and they will learn honesty, honor, public service, national pride, business skills, responsibility and much more.
In this revitalized country of tomorrow, we want to create a 1000 new small family business. We want to help build a 1000 homes for a 1000 homeless families. A home will go a long way towards fostering stronger family life, a greater likelihood of children remaining in school, a healthier body, an investment in the community and a sense of empowerment. We want to support 100 good students from poor families to attend college in Honduras. The nation needs more educated people if it is to compete with its neighbors for the future that is coming.
Now, this is only a dream. But, we are working diligently to have it become a reality. With the assistance from people who express their care, the dream of changed lives will become real... [more info]
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Join our mailing list
To request Art For Humanity press releases for your publication or news broadcast, please contact us.
Because Art For Humanity is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, your donations are tax deductible. For your donations of cash or gifts in kind, we will gladly provide you with a receipt for tax purposes.
Since Art For Humanity is an all volunteer organization, there is no overhead for staff, offices, etc. All contributions go directly for the purpose of assisting the poverty-stricken in Honduras, the second poorest country in the western hemisphere.
Art For Humanity Core Activities
- Assist poor
families to keep children in school.
- Help poor families
begin home based businesses.
- Provide clothing
and household items for destitute families.
- Provide homeless
families a means of building their own home.
Current
Projects
- Artists are receiving art
supplies and their art is being sold here
in the U.S.
- Two families are
beginning shoe making businesses in their homes.
- Three students from
very poor families are studying in colleges in Honduras.
- Hundreds of elementary
and high school students receive short-term assistence.
- Two homeless
families
are buying land and beginning construction of their homes.
Art For Humanity Goals For 2008
- Assist five homeless families to build a home.
- Begin a college for the rural poor.
- Begin a mobile dental clinic.
- Build a water purification facility.
- Provide shoes, clothing and vitamins to countless poor families.
Unexpected
Results
One
of the results of this
effort was unintended and came as a surprise.
Art For Humanity is slowing the flow of illegal immigrants into the United
States. Families typically send one of
their young men to cross the boarder because of financial need. They’d
prefer
not to do so but, necessity drives them in that direction. Art For Humanity is
offering an
alternative. Families are now beginning a small business rather than
depend on
an illegal crossing.
Art for Humanity, Inc.
635 South 25th Street
Arlington 22202-2529
703-684-4635
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