HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM EL PROGRESO!
Dear Friend of OYE,

800,000 youth in Honduras neither study nor work. In Spanish, they are known as the "NiNis" - ni trabajan, ni estudian - and are among the most vulnerable populations of Honduras. Without opportunities to study or work, youth are increasingly vulnerable to violence and exploitation, especially young girls.


 

OYE gives at risk Honduran youth a reason to stay in Honduras and empowers them to fight for a better future for themselves, their families and their communities. You make this work possible.

 

Even after spending three years in Honduras, the natural beauty of its endless green hills, the richness of its culture, and the warmth and humility of its people never cease to amaze me. Unfortunately, Honduras is also a country of desperate poverty and unrelenting violence. For these reasons, unprecedented numbers of youth arrived at the U.S. border this year seeking refuge and opportunity. As more children and youth lose hope, it is crucial to invest in programs that educate and empower Honduras' youth to stay and turn their country around.

 

Will you continue your support of this life-changing work?


If you wonder about our power to transform young lives, look no further than the Rodriguez brothers. For Alex (18) and Rey (19), attending high school was never a guarantee. Each year, it became increasingly difficult to pay for books, supplies and uniforms. Three years ago, the costs of education became too much to bear, forcing the brothers to drop out of high school before completing the 9th grade. They became 2 of the 800,000 "NiNis": young, poor, neither working nor studying.  Like so many of their peers, their lives could have easily taken a different course: joining a gang or making the dangerous journey north.
Alex painting his first canvas... what talent!
Rey scored 10 goals at the Copa OYE soccer tournament, leading the OYE boys team to victory!

Instead, Alex and Rey walked through OYE's doors for the first time this April and discovered a renewed sense of purpose and belonging. They have since become active participants in OYE's Arte La Calle art program and have proven themselves to be inspiring youth leaders and valuable contributors to OYE's diverse community-based actions. At OYE, young people often discover and develop talents they never knew they had.


With the financial support of OYE scholarships, the brothers will be returning to high school in February, the start of the 2015 school year.

As we evaluate the applications of next year's potential scholars, we are struck by their resiliency, inspired by their drive to succeed and moved by their stories of struggle and loss. This reminds us of why we do what we do and drives us to find a way to reach even more youth. But we need your help.


 

Because of your support, over 500 young Hondurans have benefited from the gift of education. With your continued support, that number will only continue to rise.

 
This year's promising group of potential scholars.
Two of this year's high school graduates on the big day!

As you contemplate your end of year giving options, remember the Rodriguez brothers. They are only two of the hundreds of thousands of Honduran youth who are seeking the opportunity to overcome difficult circumstances. For only $50 a month or $600 a year, you can grant a young person - a future youth leader - the gift of education in a country where over 35% of youth drop out before finishing high school.

 

The entirety of OYE's work is dedicated to breaking cycles of poverty and empowering young people to become agents of change and contribute to the positive transformation of Honduras. In an area where so many have failed, OYE's mission endures.


 Honduras' future rests in the hands of its many youth. We invite you to donate today to provide opportunities to Honduran youth who choose to stay and build a brighter future in and for Honduras.
TO MAKE A DONATION, YOU CAN:
  • Send a check made payable to "Organization for Youth Empowerment" to 3351 18th St. NW, Washington, D.C., 20010.

On behalf of all of us at OYE, we thank you for your loyal support and wish you and your families a very happy holiday season.

 

Sincerely,

  

Amanda Hall

Development Coordinator

 

P.S. To all of you who have already made your year-end donation, we are so thankful!

 
STAY CONNECTED

Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter View our videos on YouTube