Mission
El Hogar Ministries
El Hogar provides a quality education and a safe and nurturing home to children living in vulnerable conditions in Honduras. Its goal is to break the cycle of poverty so that its students can fulfill their potential as productive and independent Honduran citizens.
Sponsoring P&G Alumni
Sponsoring Alum: Richard Reycraft
35 years at P&G in Engineering in Canada, Venezuela and the United States
Richard has been involved with El Hogar since 2001. He is currently co-chair of the Canadian support entity, El Hogar Projects (Canada), a registered charity there.
Richard writes: “Beginning with my first visit to El Hogar in Honduras in 2001, I continue to be impressed by the staff and the enthusiasm and happiness of the children. I’ve visited tin shack homes, heard the sad background histories of the children, yet remain inspired by the hope for a better future in both the children and their families, based on the support of El Hogar. I have seen many children in very poor circumstances enter the program at grade one, then progress through the years to grow into such fine young people, graduating with a good education, some even returning as teachers, volunteers and advocates. I am delighted that P&G Alumni can help initiate this important step forward by pairing ongoing technical skill development with entrepreneurial skills to help make a better future for the youth and their families in Honduras.”
Young Electricians Program
The target beneficiaries for this project are young people in a market where practical job ready skills are a must. About 48% of people in urban areas and 60% in rural areas live in poverty; the youth unemployment rate is nearly 11%. Training in a technical trade, such as electricity, can open doors to reliable, in-demand work opportunities. At El Hogar, 12th grade students earn a certificate in electricity, enabling them to offer services such as electrical installation, appliance repair and maintenance, providing a meaningful income. This program will add a full year of entrepreneurial training for 12th grade students studying electricity. The tailored curriculum will cover budgeting, customer service, marketing, inventory management and business planning. Training modules will include sessions led by local business leaders and entrepreneurial experts. The goal is to enable students not only to be skilled job seekers but also job creators.
2025 Grant
The PGAF grant funds of $25,000 will be used to hire a part time program coordinator & an additional electricity instructor, to upgrade/supplement workshop tools, electrical parts and safety gear and to create a tailored curriculum. This dual focus on technical and business training will empower many as 132 students to navigate the complexities of Honduras’ labor market with greater confidence and opportunity, creating pathways out of poverty for themselves and their families. We expect that 24 entrepreneurial opportunities will be created, impacting 1000 family and community members.
Success Story
On a chilly February morning in Tegucigalpa, Diego woke to the smell of beans cooking on the fogón in his one-room home. His mother had already left to deliver tortillas, and his grandmother prepared breakfast for him. Today was Diego’s first day of fifth grade at El Hogar. At his old public school, learning was a struggle.
Classes were overcrowded, teachers handled multiple grades, and his questions were met with discouragement. He had begun to feel school wasn’t for him.
Walking to the main street with his grandmother, Diego waited nervously for the white bus with the sun logo that he always saw pass by. This time, it was his turn to get on it. Upon arrival at El Hogar, Profesora Karla, his new teacher, led the fifth graders to their classroom. Diego sat quietly, gripping his pencil, eyes wide. She recognized the worry on his face: students from a public school often arrived at El Hogar feeling behind and unsure.
At El Hogar, students receive individualized, compassionate support. Smaller classes, tutoring, and teachers who recognize each child’s strengths help students catch up academically and build confidence. Two afternoons a week, students like Diego stay for extra support, learning through activities designed just for them.
Within weeks, Diego began to change. Letters became words, words became sentences. Nervous silence turned to eagerness; he raised his hand, smiled at correct answers, and leaned in to participate. He discovered a talent for math, a love of geography, and even enjoyed reading novels in Spanish class. Unexpectedly, he found joy in drawing, expressing stories and ideas from his imagination. Learning was no longer frightening, it was something he looked forward to.
At El Hogar, education goes beyond academics. Teachers nurture confidence, celebrate small victories, and walk alongside each child. Diego, once hesitant and unsure, is now a student who sees possibilities where he once saw none. Like sunlight slipping through the cracks in his home, El Hogar illuminates his future, opening doors to opportunities he never imagined.
“Before El Hogar, school felt impossible. Now I see that I can learn, I can create, and I can dream bigger than I ever imagined.” – Diego, 5th grade