For my birthday this month I am making donations to two organizations I learned about while on my recent trip to Honduras. While in Roatan, my husband and I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of two American couples–one that runs Casa de Ester, which is a safe house in the capital city of Honduras for teenage girls who have been victims of sexual abuse; and the other that are board members of the Adelante Foundation, which gives micro-loans to women in Honduras.
According to the Casa de Ester website, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America, with 65% of the population living below the poverty line. One out of three girls in Honduras is the victim of sexual abuse by the time she reaches the age of 12. Sadly, many young girls live on the streets. The country’s lack of resources and personnel leaves the police and the government virtually helpless to protect these girls who are in need of a safe haven from poverty and abuse. The girls living at Casa de Ester are provided with strong academic, spiritual and life skills programs to prepare them to successfully live independently one day.
The Adelante Foundation has been empowering Honduran women since 1999 by providing small loans to very poor women so they can start and grow their own small businesses. Over time, the women use their profits to buy better food for their families, improve their homes, buy medicine when necessary, send their children to school and save for the future.
How you can help:
Similar to what I did with the memorial contribution to the New Light Campaign last year, for the month of April I will donate 100% of the profits of the remaining Yoga Room t-shirts I have on hand in the studio. From now through April 30, please consider purchasing one of these organic, locally-printed t-shirts for only $25 and help me support these two worthwhile causes. There are only a handful left, so get yours soon!
