ASJ-US Team
Welcome Statement/Justicia Fall 2024
October 10, 2024
ACOMPAÑAMOS
Walking alongside each other for a more just society.
Dear Friend,
It is with great joy that we bring you another edition of our Justicia magazine.
As we work to build a more just society in Honduras, we get to witness so many incredible stories of resilience and justice in community.
One of the values we strive to practice is “Acompañar,” which means to walk alongside each other. Our work is done in partnership with a team of brave Hondurans seeking justice, peace, and systemic reform in Honduras. It is an honor for us to walk alongside our partners, community members, and supporters. We also
strive to inspire people around the world to seek justice in their own contexts.
The stories you will find in this edition all share that common sentiment of “Acompañar.” We hope that as you read, you will be inspired and challenged to join us in seeking justice and walking together. (See stories below)
Blessings,
*The names of program participants included in these stories have been changed to protect their privacy.*
Walking alongside Isabel
ASJ works to strengthen the public education system in Honduras. Public education in Honduras faces many challenges, including poor infrastructure, outdated teaching methodology and curriculum, and motivation challenges for both students and teachers. Given that over 2 million Honduran children
depend on the public education system, our ASJ team has dedicated itself to advocating for improvements to this system that will benefit those children who most need it. Our team not only advocates for national reform
but also walks alongside the communities we are advocating for.
One of those children is Isabel, who is
currently in fourth grade at her local
elementary.
Walking alongside each other
Seeking justice is a road better walked with community. That is why our work is done
in partnership with brave Honduran brothers and sisters who are passionate about improving systems in Honduras. That is why we “acompañamos” (walk alongside).
That is why we invest in vulnerable communities to equip Honduran youth and families to build stronger futures.
Answering some additional questions from our summer webinar.
Over the summer, we were grateful to connect with our community of justice
seekers in the US through our webinar “Café & Conversación.” We were excited to see so many of you and to hear from our guest speaker, Jessica Pavón who is the director of communications for our ASJ- Honduras team.
During the session, Jessica shared her invaluable insights on strengthening democracy, the importance of free speech, and the critical role of citizen participation
in building a more just society. Her passion and dedication to justice in Honduras shone through, making for a truly memorable experience.
In this edition of Justicia, we are highlighting our value of “Acompañar,” and we also want to invite you to check out our other values.
We recognize we are broken individuals who make up an imperfect organization. Therefore, we are grateful to have so many incredible supporters who hold us accountable and encourage us to carry out these values to the best of our ability.
You can read more about our values through our website:
Earlier this month, The Banner published a story written by Our Shared Ministr y by Karina Guevara and Elmer Salinas . The authors showcase the work that ASJ-Honduras is doing to help and support students in Honduras. Karina and Elmer tell the story of Genesis Garcia, an 8-year-old, whose family struggles to find consistent jobs. "Genesis Garcia Baquedano is 8 years old and lives with her older brother, Anderson, and their parents in Honduras. Her parents work hard to support their family. Genesis’s father is a painter who struggles to find consistent work, and her mother is a street vendor who spends long hours away from home." According to Karina and Elmer, although Genesis is a good student, she was struggling with reading, writing, and math. This is where the ASJ-Hondurans' program, Strong Communities , comes to be a blessing. "Through God’s grace, Genesis and her family were able to join the Strong Communities program facilitated by World Renew’s local partner, Association for a More Just Society (ASJ, because the Spanish translation is Asociación para una Sociedad más Justa). Through the program, Genesis attended academic support sessions, where she impressed her tutors with her perseverance and enthusiasm. Now, Genesis’s teachers praise the program for the significant progress Genesis has been making at school." We are blessed to be able to help kids like Genesis and her family to be able to achieve their dreams and goals. You can read the full story HERE and learn more about the ASJ-Honduras Strong communities program HERE
Highlights from our 25th Anniversary Celebration in Grand Rapids, MI
MY EMPTY VILLAGE / HOW IMMIGRATION AFFECTS A COMMUNITY (by Sara Pineda)
Young Hondurans have stepped up for democracy (by Blanca Stephanie Elvir)
Reflecting on 25 years of seeking justice together (by Jo Ann Van Engen)
From the Executive Director
What does paused international aid mean for ASJ?
Something Worth Waiting For
Will you walk with us for a more just society?
The beauty of doing justice in community
