RURAL SCHOOLS
Gaps in Education mean less opportunity.
According to the OCHA, Honduras has a staggeringly high adolescent dropout rate at an estimated 55% in 2022.
According to the World Food Program, about 22% of children under five in rural Honduras are stunted by malnutrition.
VHC is providing school lunches, hygiene training, and anti-parasite medicines to help keep kids in school and learning well
Our Work
The Volunteers for Honduran Communities’ rural schools program is dedicated to improving access to education and promoting health and nutrition among vulnerable children in remote and underserved areas of Honduras. Our comprehensive, community-based approach involves working closely with local partners and community members to identify and address the unique health and educational needs of each community.
We provide school feeding programs to encourage attendance and improve learning outcomes, while also promoting healthy behaviors and preventing the spread of disease through hands-on hygiene education. Additionally, we offer deworming medication to improve children's health and nutrition. Our program promotes long-term health and well-being among marginalized populations, including girls and indigenous children.
30
RURAL SCHOOLS
Rural and low income schools & orphanages receive school lunches
1825
CHILDREN
Receive education, medication, and healthcare from VHC Honduras in rural areas in 2025
212,000+
NUTRITIOUS MEALS
The nutrient fortified, hot cooked meals are provided each school year
Education and Nutrition Go Hand in Hand
Hunger significantly hinders the ability of students to concentrate and effectively learn in school, making our school feeding program a vital intervention. This program ensures that children in rural schools receive wholesome, balanced meals, crucial for their physical and cognitive development. Regular access to nutritious food at school not only addresses immediate hunger but also sets a foundation for lifelong healthy eating habits. Beyond sustenance, these meals also serve as an incentive for school attendance, thereby supporting both educational engagement and the overall well-being of children in these communities.
Health Education Empowers Children
Health education is especially important for children in rural Honduras, where access to medical care and resources is severely limited. Volunteers for Honduran Communities provides crucial information to school-aged children through education on vital topics including disease prevention, healthy lifestyle habits, and proper hygiene. This knowledge empowers these young individuals to take charge of their health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency and a focus on preventative care. Through teaching children about health, the Brigade not only improves overall health literacy but also motivates more individuals to proactively seek necessary care.
Anti-Parasite Medicines keep kids healthy
Health programming begins with a full regimen of anti-parasite / deworming medicines. Children living in rural areas, especially those who swim in rural water and live in less sterile environments are at higher risk of getting parasitic worms, which invade the stomach or gut. This results in reduced nutrient intake, diarrhea, chronic malnutrition, and fatigue. It also causes pain and discomfort, and often causes children to miss school. These simple and inexpensive pills, taken just once every three months, help children live a parasitic worm free life. And reducing the parasites reduces the incidence across the rest of the community by as much as 70%.
“The children benefit so much from the school feeding program. They have so much more energy and a better ability to concentrate, and they are excited to come to school to learn.”