In March 2021 the Connect Global team was able to continue implementing new strategies as we assume the financial and logistical responsibilities of a school, Las Huellas Del Maestro, which as of April 1st, 2021 has 172 students as a part of expanding our ongoing commitment to education and care for children.
At Connect Global we believe that education is key to success and educators are an essential part of that success.
Connect Global promotes education initiatives, scholarship programs, and provides other sustainable resources when and where we can in order to support those who educate children.
In March we told you about the brand new expansion of these education initiatives here in Honduras and how honored we are to be taking on such an auspicious opportunity. Worldwide there are millions of children who have gone a year without in school opportunities to gather with their classmates and teachers.
Our teaching staff and directors at Las Huellas Del Maestro in San Juan Pueblo have done their very best to ensure that our kids have the tools and resources available to them so that they do not lose any amount of their educational progress.
It is our desire and the desire of our teachers to make a more reliable connection with our students as they continue to learn. While we are still prevented from large student gatherings in person we are aware how imperative it is for the students to have a reliable way to join their classes virtually each day. With the support of a few partners we have been able to provide 31 new tablets so that the students who were the most vulnerable and at risk of dropping classes could continue.
“It is our desire and the desire of our teachers to make a more reliable connection with our students as they continue to learn.”
Connect Global continues its mission to value and promote those who are making an impact here in Honduras.
Over the course of the first 6 weeks of this new endeavor of assuming the leadership responsibilities here at Las Huellas Del Maestro we quickly identified one educator who exemplifies our values and shows clear markers of the type of leader we need to partner with us during the next chapter of the school.
Maria De Jesús Merlo Romero is someone who clearly cares for the current well being as well as the future of Las Huellas Del Maestro. She has invested her time, leadership, and expertise into the school for 10 years and was most recently in the position of Director of the Secondary school (6th - Graduate).
On March 24, 2021 Connect Global Co-Founder, Danielle Mendoza had the honor of promoting Maria to the position of Superintendent of Las Huellas Del Maestro. In attendance were the Honduran Leadership of the Connect Global team Jorge Amador, National Director and Janeth Montoya, Maternity Home Director, Tatiana Guiss, translator and volunteer, as well as the full staff of the school.
The roles and responsibilities of superintendent are great and represent an amazing opportunity to grow our school and position Las Huellas Del Maestro as one of the premier educational institutions in the country. Maria has led her team well and has been a fantastic example of grit and determination in the midst of pandemic, hurricanes, and economic instability. We are confident she will infuse the entire school with her unique brand of hard work and spirit of excellence.
Danielle Mendoza, Co Founder of Connect Global stands with Maria De Jesús Merlo Romero, newly appointed Superintendent of Las Huellas Del Maestro in San Juan Pueblo on March 24th, 2021.
Las Huellas Del Maestro has a lot of work to do in fulfilling our education initiatives here in Honduras
Distance learning was a new concept for many teachers and students around the world but Las Huellas Del Maestro did what they could to still meet the educational milestones for their students and against many odds had the honor of seeing 24 students graduate at the end of 2020.
To start off this new school year the teachers have found many strategic ways to connect with our returning students amidst an ongoing mandate to not meet in person. Programs and Apps like WhatsApp and Google Classroom are a part of their daily teaching schedule.
Many Students have still found it hard to connect because of the lack of tech devices and the scarcity of wifi and or cell service. As we have mentioned, Connect Global has been able to help aid in this year’s new virtual format by providing tablets to students in need as well as a few other items such as webcams and cables to ensure the teachers have the tools they need to connect virtually to our students.
We are grateful for the support we have received in order to get the tools needed into the students hands and there are still opportunities to partner with Connect Global to make these technology infrastructure investments.
Newly appointed Superintendent, Maria De Jesús Merlo Romero being interviewed by the local news station concerning continued virtual education in the midst of the ongoing pandemic restrictions.
Here is how You can Help
As we have shared in the past, one of the main ways Connect Global has been able to serve La Ceiba and the surrounding communities with measurable impact is through our advocacy for education. Our executive team has supported education in Honduras since before Connect Global was founded, and we have a special group of partners who have chosen to Give With Us towards this initiative since the 2017 school year.
In order to partner with Connect Global most effectively through this great endeavor we have defined 2 ways in which you can help:
Pray With Us - We need your prayers. This is a big job and we have just gained 24 team members and a large property here in Honduras. We need wisdom and strategy to make this great school even better!
Give With Us - This school is a huge undertaking. We are working to win back each student that was enrolled last year and we are so close. We are looking for monthly partners to help us finance the Education Scholarship Fund, as well as with strategic investments to help us with infrastructure such as building maintenance, desks, computers, and clean water.
We are grateful for your support and look forward to seeing how we can partner together and make Las Huellas Del Maestro the best Education option for students in San Juan Pueblo and across Honduras!
Simple and easy ways to support teachers and their classrooms is by donating school supplies through Connect Global