HONDURAS ENTREPRENEURIAL SCHOOL
Summary
The Church of God in Honduras is committed to serving both spiritual and physical needs of people in their communities through the Honduras Entrepreneurial School. This creative business school combines discipleship curriculum with skills-building trainings to empower youth and adults to thrive in the local communities where they are planted. This project walks alongside the entrepreneurial school in four unique ways:
1) To establish an on-site training laboratory
2) To develop online, distance-learning opportunities
3) To renovate current classrooms
4) To launch three micro enterprises
Cost
The total project cost is $17,150. This total amount is broken down into four categories:
1) Construction of on-site training laboratory: $6,900
2) Technologies for launching distance-learning opportunities: $6,900
3) Classroom renovations: $2,300
4) Seed funding for three micro enterprises: $1,050
Project # 42.40255
background
background
The Church of God in Honduras was birthed in 1972 by Philip Allen on the island of Roatan. The early Church of God in Honduras witnessed explosive growth, and by 2000, the church was operating an AIDS clinic, a food bank, and sending mission funds for ministries in Cuba. Today, the Church of God in Honduras has seven established congregations, three mission outreach programs, an elementary school, a counseling center, and a business school.
Several years ago, the Honduran Church of God purchased land in the city of La Ceiba to build a larger sanctuary, college, health facility and recreational center. The church property is located in the oldest neighborhood of the city, and the socio-economic status of their community is middle to lower class—with an average income between 10,000-15,000 Lempiras ($250-400 USD) per month.
STRATEGY
The business school, started in 2010, offers a one-year program, with weekly sessions, that helps members of the community develop, vet, research, and launch small businesses. Since 2010, the school has launched thirty businesses and has seen some grow so large as to hire sixteen employees. Of these thirty businesses, ten were started by graduates of the program and twenty by people influenced by the program. Approximately 160 people have completed the program, and another ninety have taken some of the courses.
Vision
Vision
Socioeconomic challenges push youth and adults to leave their homes in La Ceiba and seek employment elsewhere. The local Church of God thus established the entrepreneurial business school to offer alternatives to emigration by creating new, hopeful livelihood opportunities.
“…the vision is to extend and establish the kingdom of God by building a community of faith that focuses on forming the character of Christ, productivity and influence through education, business and health to create a better future for our country.”
Donny Allen
Leader, Church of God Honduras
PARTNERING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
PARTNERING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Now, the entrepreneurial school looks to expand their reach! This project walks alongside them in the establishment of a new training laboratory, distance-learning technologies, three micro enterprises, and classroom renovations. Learn more about each below:
ON-SITE LABORATORY
The establishment of an on-site laboratory will provide a supplemental, practical working space to the already existing theoretical classroom space. This space will be the hands and feet of the program, giving students at the school and workshops the space in which to put their ideas to practice. Funds from this project help to furnish the laboratory by purchasing the following items: lighting, a door, windows, a freezer, two shelves, a sink, kitchen utensils, and air conditioning.
SEED FUNDING FOR MICRO ENTERPRISES
The Honduras Entrepreneurial School is committed to seeing that students and graduates are equipped with both the skills and resources needed to successfully launch new businesses. Therefore, this project helps provide seed funding and three months of support for the following three micro enterprise start-ups: Popsicle Making, Natural Juice Making, and Homemade Bread Making!
DISTANCE-LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
The Church of God across Latin America is inspired by the impact of the Honduras Entrepreneurial School. Leaders from other countries across the region are requesting remote-learning opportunities. By providing funds for the purchase of the following items, the influence of the business school’s trainings becomes available to many more brothers and sisters globally: internet installation, microphones, a camera, a computer, lamps, chairs, tables, a whiteboard, and other utensils for the virtual classroom.
CLASSROOM RENOVATIONS
Funds from this project assist with painting and installing ceramic flooring in current learning spaces at the entrepreneurial school.
HOPE FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE
HOPE FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE
Celebrating Success Stories!
1. José came into the program with a fully operational body shop. However, because of financial mismanagement and a lack of understanding of how to put safeguards in place for his business, he was barely making enough to survive. By the completion of the program, he was able to achieve a stable income of nearly 10,500 Lempiras per month and even employs two others as a part of his business plan.
2. Jayce* makes a variety of great hot sauces as well as other related products. Their products, which are popular in many local stores, are now sold across the nation and even internationally!
3. Xpression, an art school, was launched by business school graduates. This unique school now serves over sixty students!
4. One graduate successfully launched Moderna, a credit union now serving residents of La Ceiba and its surrounding area.
*Names changed for confidentiality.
Future Plans
The Honduras Entrepreneurial School dreams of establishing a sales room where they can showcase the products of entrepreneurs who graduated from the school’s program. This unique market would both increase sales for past graduates and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs!
Evaluation
Ultimately success is a measured on an individual basis and looks like a mindset shift. Some people graduate from the program and don’t go on to start their own business, but the mindset shift resulting from the principles taught in the program provides all participants the tools they need to make positive contributions to family, congregational, and community life and contribute to grass-roots level societal transformation.
About half of the participants, though, are creating a new business within their community or are applying the new principles within their own contexts. While there isn’t a set period for follow up after the program, many stay in touch with the leaders and support communities for at least three years. The purpose here is to bolster stability and responsibility in business and community.
The leaders of the school see their work as planting seeds within the lives of the participants. Because of this mentality, the principles learned become principles shared. There have been a number of family members who catch the elements of the modules from participants who go on to start a business for the family.
Will you join Global Strategy in empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs?
Ways to make a difference
- Online—Visit this link.
- Check—Make checks payable to “Church of God Ministries” and specify “Honduras Entrepreneurial School - 42.40255” in the memo line.
For more information, contact Global Strategy Projects at 800.848.2464 or GSProjects@chog.org.
