Every Share Helps!

Luz Mila Castro Velasquez, a 16 year old girl from Honduras, grew up surrounded by extreme poverty, still can't believe that dreams do come true. But I know from experience that there are always good people who can help make sure these wishes are fulfilled, as a Canadian family has recently done for Luz Mila.

After nearly a year and a half, with the help of many close friends and colleagues who all wanted to see this amazing young girl's dream come true, Luz Mila arrived in Canada on December 3, 2010. Brought to Canada to continue her dream of attaining the best education she can, with the hope that with this, she could break the cycle of poverty she was born into. This is the story of a girl who has survived incredible hardships as a child and yet has always fought with determination to one day become a school teacher and help other kids just like her.
We heard about his amazing experience by Daniel Collins, Executive Director of All Access Volunteers, a Canadian volunteer organization who work in partnership with many grassroots non-profit organizations throughout Latin America.
Daniel wrote to me after arriving back in Canada with Luz Mila. He said, "I would like to share an inspiring story and
incredible determination..." We called immediately to Vancouver to speak with him, eager to hear more of this incredible story. As excited as a proud child of a large
achievement, he told us that everything began in 2007 when he traveled to Honduras as a volunteer teacher with the NGO 'Helping Honduras Kids'.
"I'm not a teacher by trade, I majored in business management at Ryerson University in Toronto, but I loved working with children, "he explains.
Upon arriving in Honduras in October of 2007, his passion was ignited quickly, and what originally was a four month committment, soon turned into a year working in a tiny one-room schoolhouse on the side of a mountain off Honduras' Caribbean north coast. 
"There I met this girl, then 13 years old, named Luz Mila Castro Velasquez, who would soon change my life forever, "he says while maintaining the excitement in his
voice.
Luz lives in the mountain town of La Ceiba, an 8 hour drive from Tegucigalpa, the capital of the country. Collins says that the house of the family of Luz Mila is nestled on top of a mountain in the Pico Bonito mountain range. It is a modest wooden house with a tin roof, where she lives with her five brothers and sisters, her mother Lorerna and her father José.
For years, the morning began at 3 am, when together with her brothers and sisters, they took care of morning chores before setting out, often barefoot, down a tiny dirt path carved out of the side of the jungle mountain at about 4:30. The trail would eventually lead them to the "Jungle School". Established in February of 2007 by 'Helping Honduras Kids' this school provides free education and a daily meal for more than 90 students each day. The students come from all over the impoverished mountain range. 
Often on empty stomachs, they walked two hours to school, her younger brother with a gun his hands on alert for the possibility of encountering prowling jaguars in the early morning darkness.
Collins says the only thing that ever stopped the Castro family from attending classes was a torential downpour during the rainy season, as the dusty jungle trail would become dangerous and impossible to traverse. At school, Collins was not only impressed by the persistence of Luz Mila, but also her leadership and the example she set for her younger classmates. She excelled in academics, and graduated at the top of her grade 6 class in 2009. Unable to attend highschool as it would add another hour to her already extreme two hour trek, she jumped right into teaching at the start of the following school year in February 2010. 

Collins went on to describe; "The past academic year, from February to November 2010, Luz continued to go to school, but this time as "teacher" of the kindergarten class. I saw in her, an insatiable desire to learn and I knew that she understood that the education was the ticket to take her out of the poverty in which she was born."

Becoming a teacher was not only something Luz Mila was passionate about, but it could be a way she could contribute financially to her family and help other children like her.

Moved by his growing relationship with Luz Mila, her family and the rest of the children of the school, Collins returned to Honduras in 2009, this time with his girlfriend,
Lisa, to work exclusively with Luz Mila.
"After school, we taught her English. We would bring her to the city to stay with us on weekends to immerse her more in the language. We would watch television and go to the movies, all in English" says Collins.
In April 2009 before they returned to Canada, Collins and his girlfriend decided to talk to Luz Mila and her parents to tell of their intent to help Luz Mila fulfill her dreams by assisting with her continuing education.
"Our goal was to bring her to Canada to continue high school and eventually, college or university.

He went on to state; "However we needed the blessing and consent from her parents."

Thrilled at the thought their eldest child could have such an opportunity, they agreed without question.
"There, began a process of almost two years to bring this wonderful girl to Canada, "says Daniel.
And on December 3, 2010, that dream came true.
Luz Mila has come to live with Gord and Cathy, the parents of Daniel Collins, who are now Luz Mila's legal guardians while she is her continuing her studies in Canada. They will serve as her host parents at their home in Binbrook, a small town near Hamilton, Ontario. Luz will soon be attending her Grade 8 class at St. Matthew's Catholic Elementary School in January, where she can begin to prepare to enter Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School, in Hamilton, where he will begin classes in grade 9 in September 2011.
 

Luz arrived at the start of a Canadian winter, and didn't waste any time getting aquainted in the snow. She has now been to places like Niagara Falls and even attended a hockey game. So far she's adapted faster than expected to her new life here and has already made many friends. Although she accepts that she misses her family, especially her mother, with the assistance of Helping Honduras Kids, they will occasionally communicate via Skype.

Luz Mila hopes to return to Honduras one day to be the teacher that guides other kids like her, in their quest for a life filled with opportunities. 
 

You can help ...
Access All Volunteers (AAV) volunteer placement organization, created with the vision of helping prospective volunteers find volunteer opportunities throughout Latin America. With partner organizations across Central & South America, AAV will assist individuals looking to volunteer an opportunity to do so within a multitude of areas. Projects include building, teaching, health care, environmental & wildlife conservation, community development and working with children.
 

For more information about their projects and the progress of Luz Mila, contact the Director of AAV, Daniel Collins at: info@allaccessvolunteers.com or by calling 1-800-779-2528.