Over the past four years, as one school after another has been built or restored, Honduran children in remote villages have been able to study in decent surroundings.   Many are able to have nourishing meals where before there was little or no food to fuel their studies.  And, most unusual, some are attending kindergarten, often regarded as an unnecessary luxury in rural areas.

As Suse Jahns explained after a recent presentation at First Congregational, "You have to listen to people and find out what they want." 

Representing the church Mission Board and the many who have made individual donations and contributing substantially to the schools on their own, Suse and Hans Jahns find out what's wanted and needed through ODECO, a Honduran charitable agency.   (ODECO is the acronym for Organizacion para el Desarrollo de Corquin.)

The Process

Suse makes the village school process sound easy:  First ODECO engineer Edilberto Estevez takes her to the site for the proposed school or its renovation.   She makes sure the plans include her nine criteria for the project.  Finally, the money is sent to make it all happen.

Here are Suse's must-haves:

1.  The village has to own the land.

2.  The teacher must be in place.

3.  The roof is to be of ceramic tile.  At one very remote site, the villagers, children

     included, had to carry each tile some distance from the road, tile by tile.

4.  For safety, all wiring must be encased in the walls.

5.  A kitchen is to be included so that the mothers can prepare meals.

6.  There must be a "pila" – a water basin for washing dishes and clothes.

7.  Outside, there must be a playground, and,

8.  Restrooms with flushing toilets.

9. And surrounding it all, a fence, to discourage vandalism.

When each project is complete, Suse again visits to make sure the school meets her expectations – and receives a royal welcome from the villagers, who certainly agree with her reason for working on the schools:  

"Education is the most important thing you can give to the kids."