The name of the organization was selected to honor two children who died much too young: Javier and Gema Lara of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Javier (September 9, 2003 – August 2, 2006) was a vibrant little boy whose life had just begun when a serious heart condition took his life. His parents were saddened by his early death, but chose to honor his life through service to their neighbors and community in place of grief and depression. After Javier died, they continued to care for their other two young children Gema and Andres.
Two years after the death of Javier a similar heart condition took little Gema as well (February 3, 1996 – April 17, 2008). Only a few months prior to passing she had been taken to a specialist in Honduras and was given a clean bill of health. Only after it was too late was her condition discovered. The Child Help Fund was designed to generate funds to help Javier and Gema’s brother Andres receive proper diagnosis and treatment to avoid the early death that took his brother and sister. While striving to accomplish that initial objective, the Child Help Fund has since expanded to aid other children who manifest a need. Indeed, the Child Help Fund no longer focused on the medical needs of one child, but helps many disabled, abused, abandoned, or neglected children suffering in poverty.
Our Mission
The Child Help Fund exists to organize resources to benefit children in Honduras and surrounding areas by:
*Providing responsible financial assistance for necessaries and medications;
*Promoting education through mentorship and targeted tutoring;
*Recruiting medical and dental professionals for in-country service;
*Supporting other worthy non-profit organizations in Honduras;
Depending on the report, Honduras consistently ranks in the top three most dangerous countries in the world, excluding war zones (note: this is on account of its incredibly high per capita murder rate); and San Pedro Sula is the epicenter due to the pervasiveness of gangs and drugs. For this reason is is difficult to get volunteers to risk their lives – particularly skilled medical/dental professionals (especially since there are ample opportunities for medical missions or “brigadas dentales” in nearly every other impoverished country in the world which have a much safer environment and/or more stable governmental systems).
This is a call to action for the courageous. The children of Honduras need brave men and women to leave the comfort and security of their homes and serve in this particular place. WE NEED YOU.
For anyone who has ever visited the country, Honduras is a beautiful place with the most kind and gracious people on earth. Los Catrachos are famous for their generosity notwithstanding their economic poverty – and indeed they are rich in spirit and love. The people of Honduras are industrious and hard working but often lack even the most rudimentary education and/or organizational skills needed for success in business or personal finance; and the result is that the most weak among them usually suffer: the disabled, abused, abandoned, or neglected children. There are some religious groups with good intentions that offer resource aid, humanitarian service, and/or proselyting – and while these initiatives are good, it is vitally important to avoid “hand-outs” so as to discourage entitlement mentality or dependence. The Child Help Fund is dedicated to teaching the principles of self-reliance. The Child Help Fund does not give material resource assistance to adults but instead focuses on education and mentorship to teach responsible stewardship and self-reliance (reserving material resource assistance to disabled, abused, abandoned, or neglected children only – and with a specific plan to eventually transition away from the need for material resource aid before adulthood).
But this is a goal that will take time, money, and human capital. More volunteer mentors are needed and financial means to support their efforts. Indeed, generations of Hondurans have lived in poverty for generations and it is not realistic to believe that measurable gains or outcomes will manifest over night.
BUT WE MUST TRY.
Please Help Our Cause
$20.00
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will fund our mission.