YMCA MUN Press Blog

Students Still Helping Honduras

Last year at the 2010 MUN conference, guest speaker Shin Fujiyama spoke to the entire conference about his nonprofit or

organization “Students Helping Honduras.” Fujiyama began his organization as an undergraduate and explained how he raised over a million dollars to help impoverished children and villages throughout Honduras. Fujiyama left such an impact after his inspirational speech that many delegates from the conference signed up to join him in his volunteer work abroad.

Samantha Slattery was the lucky winner of the raffle for an opportunity for a chance to go Honduras over the summer free of charge. Slattery, now a senior at Red Bank Catholic, says that the projects she participated in included visiting underdeveloped communities such as Siete de Abril where she helped women construct eco friendly bags. She also helped with the construction of an orphanage where she helped run a camp for children who did not have the privilege to go to school on a regular basis.

K.C. Schmitz a delegate from Dulaney was one of the many delegates from last year’s conference who was inspired by Fujiyama to go to Honduras herself and help out. Schmitz explained that her most memorable experiences all had to do with enjoying the company of the local children on the work sites. Although Schmitz spoke zero Spanish, she was still able to understand the people through their expressions. Schmitz and Slattery agree on having the experience of a lifetime and both plan on returning to Honduras on a service trip next summer.

For more information about getting involved with Students Helping Honduras visit http://www.studentshelpinghonduras.org/about

- Gigi Gonzales