And I think to myself, what a wonderful world!
So the coolest thing ever just happened. Last night Yappa, the first girl from Copprome to go to college and sort of the unofficial mascott of SHH because she's so sweet, funny, and hard working, CAME TO MY SCHOOL!!!!!!! We were all waiting for her at the CCC building and when the car pulled up with her, Shin and Cosmo (the brother and sister who started SHH) we all ran out screaming- it was like she was a rock star, haha. She stepped out of the car and was just engulfed in hugs- which is good because 60 degrees is freezing for someone from Honduras.
We took her in and all had dinner and flooded her with questions and gossip and I'm sure it was absolutely overwhelming for her becase there were about thirty of us that she knew plus a bunch of people she'd never met, all this English flying around, and she's in a totally new place not to mention country. But she just grinned and grinned- she's the happiest person I know.
Today she's going to come around to classes with some of us so she can see what it's like at an American University- she's a sophmore studying International Affairs back in Honduras. And the thing is that it's absolutely amazing she's in college at all- only 5% of Hondurans get a college degree, and it's always the wealthiest ones who can afford it. Orphans like Yappa are some of the most marginalized people- they usually end up living on the street not going to college and being a non profit organization's biggest celebrity. And they'd never get to travel to the US the way she is. Shin and Cosmo were able to get her a temporary visa so she could go with them on a speaking tour for the the 2008 Walkathon. Because this years walk is probably for the best cause yet and directly related to her.
SHH wants to build a transition home for the girls that graduate from High School and have to leave Copprome. Cause these girls have seriously never done anything on their own in their entire lives and to have the rug ripped out from under their feet- their entire support network and their 60 brothers and sisters just taken away- is devastating. Even Yappa, who was lucky enough to get a full scholarship and her own apartment didn't think she could do it- she'd never lived alone and was horribly lonely, scared, and overwhelmed. So having a women's transition home would offer not just the economic support, but the emotional support girls like her need. Plus they are going to raise money for college scholarships- ideally enough so that every girl at Copprome can go to college if she wants to!!!! They'll invest it in endowments so that it keeps earning crazy interest and any girl who ever goes to Copprome will have that opportunity!!! Just thinking about how awesome that would be sends my head spinning. Cause these girls- they are so damn smart, beautiful, loving. They have so much power that just needs to be tapped into. All they need is someone to say, "I believe in you" and I seriously think they could change their country. From their exposure to SHH and the social work it does with people in even more need than the Copprome girls, they are already developing a sense of community awareness and service that you almost never see in Honduras. It's amazing. I think with an education, most of these girls will dedicate themselves to helping others, not just themselves.
I know it sounds like I'm preaching or talking up the walkathon, but really I'm just so damn excited about Yappa being here that I had to put it out here. Later tonight I think we're taking her to see the Vagina Monologues (yeah woman empowerment!) and then there's a dance with a live Latin Band and we'll probably take her out for ice cream and to just hang out. I'm so excited! It's crazy that she's HERE!!! I'm just like WOW! You're supposed to be in Honduras, hahahaha! But if you do want to know more about the walk, it's April 19 and you can look at the website for more information. http://studentshelpinghonduras.org
And here's a picture of my girl! Isn't she beautiful???!!!!!
We took her in and all had dinner and flooded her with questions and gossip and I'm sure it was absolutely overwhelming for her becase there were about thirty of us that she knew plus a bunch of people she'd never met, all this English flying around, and she's in a totally new place not to mention country. But she just grinned and grinned- she's the happiest person I know.
Today she's going to come around to classes with some of us so she can see what it's like at an American University- she's a sophmore studying International Affairs back in Honduras. And the thing is that it's absolutely amazing she's in college at all- only 5% of Hondurans get a college degree, and it's always the wealthiest ones who can afford it. Orphans like Yappa are some of the most marginalized people- they usually end up living on the street not going to college and being a non profit organization's biggest celebrity. And they'd never get to travel to the US the way she is. Shin and Cosmo were able to get her a temporary visa so she could go with them on a speaking tour for the the 2008 Walkathon. Because this years walk is probably for the best cause yet and directly related to her.
SHH wants to build a transition home for the girls that graduate from High School and have to leave Copprome. Cause these girls have seriously never done anything on their own in their entire lives and to have the rug ripped out from under their feet- their entire support network and their 60 brothers and sisters just taken away- is devastating. Even Yappa, who was lucky enough to get a full scholarship and her own apartment didn't think she could do it- she'd never lived alone and was horribly lonely, scared, and overwhelmed. So having a women's transition home would offer not just the economic support, but the emotional support girls like her need. Plus they are going to raise money for college scholarships- ideally enough so that every girl at Copprome can go to college if she wants to!!!! They'll invest it in endowments so that it keeps earning crazy interest and any girl who ever goes to Copprome will have that opportunity!!! Just thinking about how awesome that would be sends my head spinning. Cause these girls- they are so damn smart, beautiful, loving. They have so much power that just needs to be tapped into. All they need is someone to say, "I believe in you" and I seriously think they could change their country. From their exposure to SHH and the social work it does with people in even more need than the Copprome girls, they are already developing a sense of community awareness and service that you almost never see in Honduras. It's amazing. I think with an education, most of these girls will dedicate themselves to helping others, not just themselves.
I know it sounds like I'm preaching or talking up the walkathon, but really I'm just so damn excited about Yappa being here that I had to put it out here. Later tonight I think we're taking her to see the Vagina Monologues (yeah woman empowerment!) and then there's a dance with a live Latin Band and we'll probably take her out for ice cream and to just hang out. I'm so excited! It's crazy that she's HERE!!! I'm just like WOW! You're supposed to be in Honduras, hahahaha! But if you do want to know more about the walk, it's April 19 and you can look at the website for more information. http://studentshelpinghonduras.org
And here's a picture of my girl! Isn't she beautiful???!!!!!