Connect Global at The Honduran Foundation for Kids with Cancer

Fundación Hondureña para el Niño con Cáncer

Honduran Foundation for Kids with Cancer

The sole purpose of this foundation is to provide free treatment to over 3000 children in Honduras who are currently battling cancer. Simple. Not Easy. With understaffed hospitals, and a lack of adequate medical supplies, the foundation truly has an uphill battle. They nonetheless spend every day fundraising, and fighting to treat as many children as they can. Once a child is diagnosed with cancer, the foundation is available to them, free of charge, until the battle ends. Everyday, from all across Honduras, parents bring their children to one of the Foundations 7 clinics. 

The Local clinic here in La Ceiba is staffed by ONE individual, Tesla Welcher, who is in charge of scheduling treatments, local fundraising, and any other tasks that come her way. 

One such task was converting her one room clinic into two by creating a wall that would allow the chemo treatments to have their own room separate from other children and their families as they await treatment. She asked CCI Church and Connect Global to help her complete this task. We happily agreed to help her and started work in March. 

Our work crew created a block wall with sliding window panes which will enable the treatments to have their own room which gets this clinic much closer to the high standards that the foundation demands for the children they help. Safety as well as comfort and aesthetics are all of high importance for the foundation. Just because treatments are free to patients does not mean they should receive anything but the best. 

The Connect Global team made final touches to the room by painting and giving the chairs and floors a deep scrubbing. We got the room back up to par just before the week's round of patients came in. Our team was able to share ice cream and playtime with the kids as well as hear the stories of two of the Foundations patients. 

We are so proud of the work that this foundation does and look forward to partnering long-term with Tesla, and the others who work tirelessly furthering the mission.  

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Connect Global at DINAF in La Ceiba Honduras

Connect Global Team at DINAF in La Ceiba

Connect Global April Team in front of DINAF in La Ceiba Honduras

Connect Global has been introduced this year to Dirección Nacional de la Niñez y la Familia (DINAF)  a community organization charged with the enforcement of the protection of children, adolescents, and families. They are the front line of child abuse, adoption, fostering, and family counseling. The local branch in La Ceiba has a school with the capacity of 90 and serves between 30 and 40 families a month though free counseling, light medical treatment, groceries, and daycare for working parents. 

The school currently has around 30 students, and between 5 and 10 preschoolers. 

Javier Mendoza, Mayor Carlos Aguilar, Director of Dinaf Rosa, and Travis Moffitt. 

Rosa, the director, has been great contact and has been able to guide us as we jump in and help. 

The Bathrooms at DINAF were unsanitary, hazardous, and in need of consistent running water.

In March we began the renovation of two bathrooms that were in very bad shape. The water was not running, the pipes were strewn across the room, and open drains caused not only a danger to little feet, but an overall health hazard to all. 

We also noticed that the kids area was in need of new dining tables for the cafeteria, a new medical table for their nurses station, and several pieces of school furniture needed refurbishing. 

The Connect Global team that arrived in April, was able to jump right into the renovations, and made a huge difference to the place. Sanders, Paint brushes and Mr Clean in Hand, the team made light work of the children's furniture, bathrooms, and medical area. 

Our team, and network of churches, individuals and local businesses made several monetary and physical donations including Medical Supplies, School Supplies, a new Medical Exam Table, and NEW School lunch tables made by a local craftsman and business owner, Oscar Canales. 

I am so proud of the team and their efforts. I am also grateful for the several local and international partners that came together to make the start of this partnership a success. Special Thanks to: Open Arms Church, Revival Temple, Joshua Nations, Oscar Canales, JIlma Molinero, CCI Church La Ceiba, Life Community Church, Dr. Oviedo, Smart Copy Honduras, and Luis and Juana. 

The team was joined on one of the work days, by the Lady Lee Foundation of Honduras, and the Mayor of the City of La Ceiba, Carlos Aguilar, to complete the donations and gifts. 

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"[DINAF is] a new paradigm of child protection consisting of a decentralized governance with the participation of churches and NGOs engaged in the care of children" - Creación de DINAF para atender a la niñez y adolescencia -

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Thank You

Part of the Connect Global April Team riding through La Ceiba. 

Thank You to all who volunteered, donated, and traveled to make April's trip a success.

We are truly grateful for your willingness to be a part of this mission. 

Our team consisted of volunteers from 4 different states and several different churches and organizations. We received donations from dozens of individuals, businesses, churches, from both the US and Honduras. 

Everyone who put their heart and soul into this week long venture can rest knowing that their efforts are a part of a growing network of Honduran and US partnerships all working together to improve situations here and around the city of La Ceiba Honduras. 

Posted by Brooklynn Eccles on Tuesday, April 14, 2015

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