Today was an incredible day...and boy did we learn a ton. We learned that we had no idea just how bad the educational system in Honduras was. By 2nd grade, 90% of the kids are failing...even some of the teachers do not know how to read or write. But we also learned that there are amazing people who spend years of their lives down here trying to make a difference....for no pay at all. That is dedication and pure love.

During that time, she has collected over 20,000 books and lends them out to the kids and adults, like a library. She has a "Book Mobile" that travels all over the island taking books and learning materials to children and schools, because the people can't afford to get back and forth to her.
We told her that we were looking for opportunities to serve, and before we knew it, she had a list of a bunch of things we could do to help; creating learning materials, helping to tutor kids in Math and English, being in charge of the library in the afternoons, reading to the children, going out in the Book Mobile...and for me a massive construction project...turning her old dive shop into a new library and consolidating all the desks and materials from 2 or 3 buildings into 1. This would entail building shelves, workstations, learning pods, tearing down a wall or two, and working on some floorboards in the dive shop. Needless to say we stumbled into the mother load of service projects and opportunities!! We could spend our entire time working here, and really make a difference in the lives of children at the very core of their need...education. I walked away with such an admiration for this woman and all of the painstaking hard work she is doing...expecting nothing in return. She brings in enough in grants and donation $$ to hire two local teachers, and pays herself nothing.

In my mind's eye I could see what this place had once been. I later found out after talking to other people that it had once been one of the premier resorts on the island. No more. Her whole focus was now on getting more kids to come to her center after school, and integrating into the existing schools to help the education process improve.
Unbelievable. Talk about building a legacy you could be proud of.
I think we will plant our flag with Ms. Cam and see what good we can do for the children of Roatan. They are so happy and full of energy and laughter, and I think the kids will get a huge sense of fulfillment from teaching them and becoming their friends. Look for more to come!!
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