Our team in southern Honduras recently received official recognition that validates what we’ve believed all along: lasting educational change requires more than just building classrooms—it requires transforming entire communities.
At the Education Forum hosted by the Departmental Directorate of Education of Choluteca, nine organizations working to advance education in the region came together to share their programs and progress. For School The World Honduras, led by Country Program Manager Alicia Salgado, this forum became an opportunity to showcase not just what we do, but how we do it differently.
The School The World team didn’t attend this forum alone. They brought along a school director, a parent, and a student from El Chaparral, Pespire—one of the communities where our programs are active. Together, they presented at both a panel discussion and an institutional booth, sharing the real-world impact of our work with education officials, fellow NGOs, and community partners.
“The team specifically asked me to share this news,” Alicia told us after the event. “It was a moment of great satisfaction and pride for them to represent the organization and see their hard work and dedication recognized.”
The Departmental Director of Education for Choluteca—the highest local education authority in the region—visited the School The World booth during the forum and expressed his deep gratitude for our work. His recognition was specific and meaningful. He didn’t just acknowledge our presence in the region; he highlighted exactly what makes our approach unique.
Working with the whole community, not just the school. The Director praised our tripartite model—the way we create formal partnerships with municipalities, community leaders, and teachers. This isn’t just about getting everyone to the table; it’s about building a support system that outlasts our direct involvement. We design our programs so that communities can sustain the progress long after we’ve moved on.
Investing in parents, not just students. Our parent training program caught the attention of other organizations at the forum. While most NGOs focus their efforts directly on children, School The World takes a different approach. We train parents to become active partners in their children’s education. This strengthens family commitment to schooling and dramatically improves student retention—addressing one of the root causes of why children in rural areas drop out.
Why does this matter? Because a child’s success in school doesn’t happen in isolation. When parents understand how to support learning at home, when they see education as a path to opportunity, and when they feel equipped to advocate for their children, everything changes.
Building infrastructure that transforms daily life. The Director also recognized our work in teacher training, classroom construction, and playground installation. These might sound like separate initiatives, but they’re part of a comprehensive vision. In rural communities across the Department of Choluteca, many schools lack basic facilities. A safe, well-lit classroom changes how effectively a teacher can teach. A playground gives children the physical activity and social development opportunities that are critical for learning. Quality teacher training ensures educators have the tools to make the most of improved facilities.
To date, School The World has worked with 28 rural schools with active programs in the southern region of Honduras. We’ve built 55 classrooms in hard-to-reach communities—including 12 classrooms and 2 restroom facilities in Choluteca specifically. We’ve installed 21 playgrounds across the region, 10 of them in Choluteca. Each number represents children who now have better learning conditions, teachers who have better working environments, and communities that have better educational infrastructure.
Committing to the most underserved areas. Perhaps most importantly, the Director acknowledged our unwavering commitment to working in rural communities experiencing extreme poverty. These are the places where educational challenges are most severe and where many organizations find it too difficult to work. But these are exactly the communities that need support most—and where sustainable, comprehensive programs can have the greatest impact.
One of the most powerful moments at the forum came from the community members who joined the School The World team. The school director, parent, and student from El Chaparral shared their own stories—their firsthand experiences of how education in their community has changed.
Community testimony carries unique weight. When a parent explains how training helped them support their child’s homework, or when a student describes what it’s like to have a real playground for the first time, it validates our work in ways that statistics alone cannot. Their voices strengthened the credibility of what we know to be true: real change happens when communities are partners, not just beneficiaries.
Receiving official recognition from the Honduran government is more than a symbolic achievement. It represents validation from the people who understand the educational landscape of Choluteca best—the local authorities who work in these communities every day.
This recognition also affirms that our model works. Development organizations often face pressure to show quick results or to focus on single interventions that are easy to measure. School The World has always resisted that pressure. We’ve insisted that sustainable change requires a holistic approach—one that addresses infrastructure, pedagogy, family engagement, and community ownership simultaneously.
The Departmental Director’s specific praise for these interconnected elements confirms that this comprehensive approach isn’t just idealistic—it’s effective. It’s creating visible impact in schools. It’s contributing to the holistic development of children and young people. It’s strengthening entire educational communities.
For the School The World Honduras team, this forum and recognition represent years of dedication, relationship-building, and hard work. For our supporters and donors, it’s evidence that your investment in comprehensive, community-driven education is making a real difference in some of the most underserved areas of Honduras.
As we continue our work in the southern region and beyond, this recognition reminds us why our approach matters. Education isn’t just about what happens inside a classroom—it’s about creating the conditions where learning can flourish. That means working with teachers, parents, community leaders, and local government together. It means building infrastructure and building capacity. It means staying committed for the long term and designing programs that communities can sustain independently.
The children and families of rural Honduras deserve nothing less than this holistic commitment. And thanks to the dedication of our Honduras team and the support of our donors, that’s exactly what they’re receiving.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the school director, parent, and student from El Chaparral, Pespire, who generously shared their experiences at the forum and helped bring our community’s story to life.