Honduras Mission Update - 4/16/10

So, after the initial planning, I have dedicated my time to persuading my parents that this trip would be a fantastic experience for me. They have many reservations, mainly due to the instability of Honduras and the fact that I would be traveling alone or with only one companion. However, I finally managed to convince them by presenting the topic coolly and giving thorough explanations to all of their questions. They are assured that I will have the money as well, because I finally got a job at Panera. So now that I had my parent's approval, I sought the approbation from Mr. Hieser and the school. Ms. Kirk already agreed to be my advisor, so I wrote up the following proposal to Mr. Hieser:

"Honduras Service Trip 2010

Matthew French

I propose a six-day individual CAS project to collect donations for Orfanáto Pedro Atalá in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It is possible that Chandler Mitchell will be accompanying me.

Residence will be provided with the Betanco family of Tegucigalpa. Mafer Betanco and her two siblings are students at the American School of Tegucigalpa. I stayed with her family during the school exchange trip to Honduras in 2009.

The planned dates are May 27, 2010 to June 1, 2010. The planned flight currently costs $410 and is run by TACA Airlines. It is possible that the return flight would not arrive until the morning of June 2.

To fund the trip, I plan on working to pay for the flight and my personal expenses. I would need Sturgis’ help in fundraising for the orphanage. The first facet of the fundraising endeavor would be the collection of donation items from willing students and teachers. Suggestions for items are as follows:

§ New clothing

§ Blankets

§ Basic medicine and first-aid materials

§ Baby formula (powdered)

§ School supplies

§ Diapers

§ Games and toys

Ideally I would collect about two* suitcases full of donations like these. The second facet of the fundraising endeavor would be monetary collection. This would be executed by means of bake sales in the school or simple donations from students and teachers. Money raised in this way would be used ONLY to either buy supplies for the orphanage in Honduras, give directly to the orphanage, or pay for shipping of donations collected in the US that exceed the capacity of the two* suitcases.

Besides the distribution of collected items, activities at the orphanage may include an English lesson, the painting of a mural, or simple playtime with the kids.

* Four suitcases if Chandler accompanies me.

Honduras Service Trip 2010

Tentative Itinerary

May 27th – en route to Honduras

May 28th – American School of Tegucigalpa graduation

May 29th – collection and purchase of donation items, further organization, American School of Tegucigalpa prom

May 30th – Orfanáto Pedro Atalá, distribution of donations, playtime with the kids

May 31st – Orfanáto Pedro Atalá, mural painting

June 1st – return home"

He reviewed this proposal and happily accepted it under the condition that I was doing it as CAS, which I obviously am. So now my plan of action is to work as much as possible and begin to plan fundraisers, clothing drives, or other sorts of activities to accumulate donations for the orphanage. I'm so happy that I persevered with this idea, challenged myself with intense planning and propositions, and now the trip is becoming a reality.