Happy Holiday!

Entrega de Becas 2009

Every year OYE hosts an "Entrega de Becas" or scholarship reception to celebrate returning recipients and welcome new recipients to the family.

This year we are excited to have 60 returning and 15 new motivated youth. Some, such as Dunia Perdoma, who have been with OYE since it's founding in 2005 and others who are join OYE for the first time with lots of potential. The theme of the event was "Mi voz es Poder!" which means "my voice is power". Students got into the idea and shared their talents with us. Youth radio, OYE el Ritmo and Youth magazine, Jovenes presented their projects and plans for 2010. Youth also presented songs, a poem, and a dance number.

Dunia Perdoma with Director Luis Paredes.

Maria "Yapa" Reyes is another farmiliar face that joined OYE in 2005 with Dunia.

Students received the awards for academic excellence throughout the school year. Neris, 96%, with Ivelis and Erick close behind with 95.45% and 95.32%. They maintained high grades along with high levels of participation in OYE. We are so Proud of them.

Three students received awards for high participation in OYE; Cesar, Gelad and Yarli.

And the awards for individual growth throughout the year went to Gerald and Sandra.

OYE staff was joined by parents of founder Ana Ahern, Patrick and Patricia Ahern. Patricia is also an active board member and we are very grateful for her tireless support.

With this we move enthusiastically into 2010, and remember...

MI VOZ ES PODER.

Clip of the Week

Welcome to OYE's Clip of the week! We would like to share the sights and sounds of life in Progreso through the eyes of our volunteers, staff and students through short clips taken throughout the week.

If you read the last post you know a little bit about the application process. Are some short clips to give you and idea of the three steps.

1. Application 2. Student interview 3. Home visit

Application Process

The last month has been trying to say the least. We began our search for new scholarship recipients. It is a three-step process.

1) Review application: The initial step is an application that local youth fill so we can understand their history, economic support, family situation, aspirations and more.

2) Student interview: Students come to the office and interview with two OYE staff members. Here we learn more about the students and expand on the information they gave us in the interview.

3) House visit: During these visits we meet the family, see the neighborhood and really become close to the situation. It is in the home visits that one really sees the needs of these families.

This year we reviewed over 150 applications to fill 15 spaces. The beautiful but challenging thing about the process is that no one becomes a number; there are histories, families and dreams involved. We spent three days reviewing, discussing and scoring applications. That was the easy part.

The interviewing process is difficult because you look them in the eyes and hear their stories. This year we heard stories from 57 local youth. Some are of a "normal" childhood in a poor family and community but others open up to reveal abusive home situation, gang violence resulting in family deaths, forced prostitution and more...

Then these same students tell you about their dreams. Dreams to change the community support their families and go to school. It was enough to induce tears from three different staff members (not in front of the applicant of course).

After the interview process we took to the streets. We conducted 29 home visits. This process is even harder than the last. Many homes are up in the hills nestled into the poorest communities. In the most humble of homes Mothers would see us coming and send their kids to run buy a Pepsi. A small cup as an act of hospitality.

The situations were heartbreaking. Houses with walls built from discarded scraps of wood, old tarps and tires. Dirt floors. No divisions. One woman lived on a terrible plot of land that gets flooded every year, leaving them to camp on the side of the highway for two months. She worked 4 years to save up $423.00 to buy it.

These are our students, these are the youth who come to OYE anxious to learn and grow. 80% of there parents never went/finished high school and in OYE they will be encouraged to not only graduate high school but also pursue higher education. These are the 75 youth how will break the poverty cycle and encourage their peers to do the same.

As trying has this past month has been the rewards are immense and we are excited to see what these students will do in 2010!

Youth Magazine: Holiday Edition

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from OYE's youth magazine. Here is the cover of the December magazine, which includes traditional Honduran holiday recipes, a refection on holiday consumerism, and more.

Clip of the Week

Welcome to OYE's Clip of the week! We would like to share the sights and sounds of life in Progreso through the eyes of our volunteers, staff and students. Look forward to next weeks Clip of the week!

Here is more from OYE's youth magazine. The first few seconds show the calm before the storm as Yapa and Raúl, the Magazines youth coordinators, receive, count and begin to organize 1000 magazines.

Afterwards Yapa and Raúl distribute magazines to each of the youth in the magazine. If you can catch a glimpse the excitement makes it hard to maintain a line. Students jump at the chance to share the magazine with their friends and families.

What a good looking group!

Here are the writers of 'Jóvenes Revista' (Youth Magazine). What a good lookin' Group.




These 20 youth have published 7 magazines and reached out to thousands of youth in their communties.

Clip of the Week

Welcome to OYE's Clip of the week,! We would like to share the sights and sounds of life in Progreso through the eyes of our volunteers, staff and students.

Last week we got serious with planning OYE, writing projects and budgets for 2010. So we took a break during lunch and let off some steam....

I still can't believe I am posting this Clip of the week but I promised Luis I would. So, will I bring you the championship match from 2009 between Luis Paredes and Katherine Burdine...




And the redo after a debate over fair play...however...He is exceptionally strong and he does it all with a smile.




"Stay in school kids."
- The Champ, Luis Paredes

Evaluations, Team building and 2010 planning

This week we closed down the OYE office in order to reinforce, re-examine and plan ahead. We invited local professionals who have worked within the Progresan community for many years within social services, education and youth outreach. With their guidance along with our director, Luis Paredes, the OYE staff examines all the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to our projects. It was uplifting to see the progress we made in 2009 and look ahead to the potential of 2010! Big things coming up in OYE!!!



OYE Team plus Juan Luis aka El Padrino (the Godfather)




We even took come time to celebrate Leo's 20th birthday!

Graduation season!

The Honduras school year runs from February to November meaning this time of year is full of graduations. Last weekend I attended four different graduation ceremonies. It was and incredible experience to see OYE’s 8 graduates cross the stage.

Each time I was filled with pride. These students, who I have come to know and love over the last year, have achieved the impossible, and with honors.

These students excel within OYE, their notes are high and they have become highly responsible young adults. So, it should not have been a surprise as I heard then called to the stage time and time again to be recognized by their communities. What and incredible thing! With the support of OYE these youth were able to achieve their potential.

Each of these students has demonstrated marked changes during their time in OYE. It was a powerful thing to realize that without the support of OYE’s scholarship there would have been one or two less seats in all of these graduations.

Here are our 2009 graduates, each graduated with Honors for GPA, best conduct or both:

Wendy Yessenia Cardona
Marleny Lizeth Romero
Iloany Josselin Eber
Gerald Omar Velásquez
Wendy Rivera
Keyla Esperanza Rosales
Leyla Castañeda
Neris Ávila

These are 8 excellent students, and we are so incredibly proud of their achievements and the leaders they have become.




This is Keyla with her diploma. She is graduating from El Perla, the largest public school in Progreso. It is also the only graduation ceremony that had robes. Look how proud she is!




Leyla, Kat y Kelya after the graduation in El Perla.

Graffiti Workshop

OYE was invited to a local Graffiti Workshop at La Fragua. A Mexican street artist named Pancho taught students basic stencil skills and spray techniques. A majority of the participants created aggressive political stencils or classic Che Guevara cut outs. OYE students separated themselves to push their techniques and create a four-color stencil. They created their own version of OYE's famous mayan design created in 2007 by David Otero.

Check out the video below to see them in action.






Click here for more photos.

For higher quality check out the Youtube Link

¡Oye el Ritmo celebra en grande!

¡Oye el Ritmo celebra en grande!

It seemed like a normal meeting in the OYE office…..but I opened the door and boom! All of the scholarship students from OYE el Ritmo united and ready to celebrate my birthday, which they have been planning for four weeks.

The office was converted into a party full of colors, a pinata, dancing, candy, games, cake and food that they made.

I want to say thank you to everyone for the love shown and tell them that the time spent with you has been my reason for being in OYE, you don’t know how you fill me!
Thank you for your smiles and daily lessons, I feel that, with you, I am learning many new things in my life! You are the best! And the party was incredible and inspired for me.

I am proud and satisfied with the work you have created and all that you have acheived in these months in OYE el Ritmo.

I am Melissa Quijada, OYE el Ritmo…adelante!

Check out the photos here


Parecía un día normal de reunión en la oficina de OYE…pero abrí la puerta y buum! Estaban todos los becarios del grupo Oye el Ritmo reunidos y listos para celebrar mi cumpleaños, que venían planeando cuatro semanas antes.

La oficina se convirtió en una fiesta llena de globos de colores, piñata, baile, dulces, juegos, pastel y comida hecha por ellos mismos.

Quiero agradecer a tod@s por el cariño mostrado y decirles que el tiempo pasado con ustedes ha sido mi razón para estar en OYE, no saben cuanto me llenan!
Gracias por las sonrisas y el aprendizaje de cada día, siento que estoy aprendiendo junto a ustedes muchas cosas nuevas en mi vida! Son los mejores! Y la fiesta fue increíble e inesperada para mi!

Estoy orgullosa y satisfecha con el trabajo que han desarrollado y todo lo que han logrado en estos meses de estar en el programa.

Yo soy Melissa Quijada, OYE EL RITMO…adelante!

Mira Los fotos a Aquí

Clip of the Week

Welcome to OYE's Clip of the week! We would like to share the sights and sounds of life in Progreso through the eyes of our volunteers, staff and students.

Check out the space that our students call home.

Welcome to OYE's offices.



The "OYE mural" was painted in 2007 by David Otero, brother of founder Justin Otero.

The "Mi voz es Poder" mural was painted in 2009 by James Madison University Students, designed by Kat Burdine

The Radio Sound booth was built and painted by George Washington students in 2009.

Look forward to next weeks Clip of the week!

OYE el Ritmo: Listen now.

As we promised you can enjoy OYE el Ritmo in your home. Our students have been working hard and are now broadcasting over the Internet. Due to the cost of airtime OYE el Ritmo is transmitting through the Internet. As you can see from their show they are working hard to uplift, educate and inform their peers. We are working hard to get them on local radio stations so tha ALL their peers and communities can hear this great message. Until then locals, high-schools, OYE international community and you can tune in and listen to OYE el Ritmo youth radio just click onto the link on our homepage

Today and tomorrow the newest edition will be playing every hour on the hour. Then we will be returning to our regular programming. Every week day a 10:00 am (central) followed by music and more fun updates from OYE!




Also, be sure to tune in fridays when we will be sharing all our past shows.

click on Join the movement to support OYE el Ritmo.

Entrega de Becas

As we get ready for our Scholarship reception, where we celebrate OYE students work and invite new students to the family, we look back on last years "Entrega de Becas"

Here is a video of the words of wisdom pass on to our students by Founder, Ana Ahern, Director, Luis Paredes and two youth leaders.


Entrega de Becas 2008

Clip of the Week

Welcome to OYE's Clip of the week! We would like to share the sights and sounds of life in El Progreso through the eyes of our volunteers, staff and students.

This week we are focusing on the radio program, OYE el Ritmo. The clip below was taken last Friday in Radio Progreso, a national show seen by many as the voice to the people. OYE students worked together the last few months selling raffle tickets and working to raise money for some radio equipment that they need to continue recording, namely a microphone and speakers. Radio Progreso invited OYE el Ritmo to hold the raffle live on their show. The young woman with the braids is Yarli, she is the student coordinator of the radio and comfortable with the mic. The young man speaking is Gerald; this is his first time on live radio and gets a little nervous...

This was an important step for OYE el Ritmo. Not only were they able to gain experience at a major radio station but also raising money to buy their equipment strengthened bonds and instilled pride in the work they are doing. Enjoy this weeks Clip of the Week.




We are just so excited about Clip of the week here in the office that we thought we would spoil you this week and give you a second! This Clip features Melissa Quijada, the radio coordinator and Oscar one of our students.




Stay tuned for the next Clip of the week.

I invite you all to come to my country

Hello, My name is Javier Duarte. Currently I am a volunteer in OYE and a student at UTH studying International Business. I was 17 when I first met Ana Ahern, Jessica Mockrin, and Justin Otero. They had an idea to help kids in my city El Progreso, Yoro, Honduras. I loved when they said they were planning to this, and I was there to help in whatever they needed. In fact, I was one of the first scholarship recipients in OYE. The idea was simple, collaborate with the community and create leaders. This is what they are doing today. They are helping youth- guided by the vision to create young leaders.

I stopped my studies for three years and moved away from OYE a little from 2006-2009. In Febuary of 2009, I rejoined OYE and the growth had suprised me. I had not expected so much. However, I couldn't ask for more.

In my case, I have learned to communicate with volunteers. People who teach you about other cultures and how to value your own and yourself. I have made groups of friends with the volunteers who come to collaborate with OYE. The truth is it has been a wonderful experience, It facinated me to spend time with James Madison University and George Washington University. I will never forget these people; they will always be in my heart. I also hope to know more and share my country with them.

Like I said the experience in OYE has been one of the best years of my life. Wherever I go now in El Progreso you make relationships with people who know OYE. The families of the scholarship students are fighters who give so much to that their children can live better. I have enjoyed getting to know everyone involved in OYE and making my country better.

All of this has made for a very rich experience. It is through sharing with diffrent people, and diffrent experiences that I learn more about my country. The doors in El Progreso, and Honduras are always open for our friends to visit and explore, together with OYE, new Horizans.

Personally, I invite you all to come to our country and share this beautiful experience- You will want to stay here. I promise.


-Javier Duarte

OYE Staff member featured

Last month I was able to spend some time in the states visiting family, friends and a few universities. During my visit at Augustana College I was invited to share my experience with the student newspaper. Last week they published the story, read the opening or click on the link below to read the whole thing.

"In May 2008, with a degree in her hand and a dream in her mind, Augustana alumnus Katherine Burdine stumbled upon the Web site www.idealist.org, an online directory of non-profit jobs and volunteer opportunities.

Two months and two short e-mails later, Burdine packed her bags and boarded a plane to El Progreso, Yoro, Honduras to volunteer with the Organization for Youth Empowerment (OYE, pronounced oh-yay, which means "listen" in Spanish).
Having traveled abroad before, Burdine was excited for another adventure.

"It was kind of this strange, spontaneous thing," she said. "But I knew I wanted to do some sort of volunteer work, and I knew that I needed to have an adventure. It was never really questioned why."

Speaking little Spanish, Burdine spent her first month in Honduras in a village learning the language. After 30 days of intensive study, she headed to her new home.

For Burdine, El Progreso, with a population of about 100,000, felt more like a small town than a big city. By day, the center of town thrives with open-air markets and commerce. By night, the vendors retreat back to their home communities, which can be several miles away, Burdine said.

"It's brilliant," she said. "I love my little town..."


See the whole article at The Mirror, and Kat Burdine.

Thank you Megan, and the Mirror for posting this story!

Clip of the Week

Welcome to OYE second clip of the week. This video was taken by OYE staff while driving through the center early one morning. Throughout the day these streets are packed with pedestrian traffic, cars and vendors. When you first arrive in Progreso it can be one of the most confusing, and overwhelming places. However, after spending a little bit of time there, these 10 square blocks become a treasure trove of fresh produce, cheap clothing, hilarious interactions and brilliant adventures.

El Progreso - Blast from the Past

At first glance El Progreso seems like a bustling labor driven city. A place where you´re just as likely to pull up next to a horse drawn cart at a red light as you are a luxury SUV. On the corner where pioneering old ladies have sold their tortillas for decades you now find them sitting in bunches in front of one of the city´s Pizza Huts. This is El Progreso, Honduras. A city that experienced its glory years as a country club resort for the top executives of United Fruit. This was years ago, in the 50´s and 60´s, when the lawns were manicured and the royal palms lined the central boulevard. Back when the rest of Central America didn't have a rail system or airports, El Progreso did. Of course the famous strike of 1954 saw over 60,000 workers marching across the Puente de la Democracia and into El Progreso demanding fair wages and workers rights. They even secured a national holiday in honor of their courage and conviction, 1st of may is now called Labor Day in Honduras. Indeed history has left its mark on El Progreso.

The Progreso and Honduras of today is a bitter contrast to the days when it was better known as the Banana Republic. Times are rough, unemployment is up and jobs are scarce. However, while the economic crisis continues to sink deep into the veins of the world´s commerce, it seems that over the past few years El Progreso has experienced steady growth. The past three years alone have brought a brand new beautiful UTH University, a new MegaPlaza mall and a new Antorcha supermarket. Each development bringing with it jobs, investment, and opportunity.

Without so much as the blink of an eye, one could cruise right through El Progreso and not even notice it. At first glance it seems like an uneventful city with not much to offer the casual visitor.

However, there is a shining star in town. A place where youth from across the city join forces to unite under a common cause. This place of course is OYE. After mere seconds of hanging out downtown in the OYE offices you are instantly greeted by any number of teenagers who pass through the doors everyday. Ask them why they are here and they will tell you with a big smile that they love OYE. They are OYE scholarship recipients. Ask them about their dreams and hopes for the future and they will fill the air with responses like; teacher, doctor, engineer, computer programmer, OYE STAFF!!

Within OYE´s doors lies the future of El Progreso. The future of Honduras. They are the next generation, the ones that are getting ready to take charge and lead. If you ask them how they will accomplish this they will tell you; Because my Voice is Powerful. Mi Voz es Poder. Look, it says so on my OYE shirt they will say, for everyone to see. They will tell you that they already know that true and real change will only come when we commit ourselves to giving back to our communities. My Voice is Powerful. My name is Justin Eldridge-Otero and I am a proud member of the OYE family. I invite you to come experience OYE in Honduras and see what REAL change looks like.

Magazine update: October Issue

This month OYE students released their sixth magazine! This issue is exciting because we were able to hold off printing until the qualifiers for the world cup finished and Honduras is going to South Africa!! The whole country is a buzz. People are still celebrating in the streets and singing as they walk to work. Inside the cover there is a two-page spread of the event and an article written by Leonardo Mendoza explaining his emotions and excitement that night.

Check it out soon in PDF form on-line to look in side and see what kids are talking about these days.

Clip of the Week

Welcome to OYE's Clip of the week! We would like to share the sights and sounds of life in Progreso through the eyes of our volunteers, staff and students. Look forward to next weeks Clip of the week!



Hola from Patty in 2 de Marzo.

This quick clip is of a girl, Patty, waving and hiding behind "la pila" in her back year. A pila is a cement washing basin and wash board. They are used for pretty much everything, from bathing, to washing clothes, to storing water when there is none. You will be hard pressed to find a house without one!

In their words...

Check out OYE's new video on YouTube!
just follow the link below and hear from Students about their time in OYE!

OYE video 2009

Enjoy!

Poem by OYE Student

This is a poem that one of our students wrote last week, he asked us to place it in the magazine because we wanted others to know how special OYE is to him.
Look below for the translation.

OYE is a beautiful family
Where you laugh and enjoy
OYE has been my best experience
And I will always carry it in my conscience

OYE is the best present
One that you should know to care, value
But more than all know to appreciate it
And carry it in your heart.

OYE is my spring
OYE is my gentile prairie
When you are in OYE
You feel like you are walking on green emeralds.

When in OYE you think
Offense does not matter
When in OYE you speak
you say beautiful words.

OYE is goodness
OYE is charity
OYE is sincerity
OYE is truth

OYE is real
OYE is ideal
Because for mi it's very special

OYE is like a song
Where you write all of your inspiration
OYE is my sensation
OYE is my heart.

OYE will be here
Always for you
OYE is affective
OYE is your friend

OYE is an organization
That listens
To the youth of this country
Who live in a constant battle.

Poem written by
Cesar Augusto Santos

________________________________

OYE es una Familia Hermosa
Donde se ríe y se goza
OYE ha sido mi mejor experiencia
y eso la llevaré siempre en mi conciencia.

OYE es el mejor regalo
el cual debes saber cuidarlo, valorarlo
Pero sobre todo saber apreciarlo
y en tu corazón cargarlo.

OYE es mi primavera
OYE es mi gentil pradera
Cuando en OYE andas
Sientes que caminas sobre verdes esmeraldas

Cuando en OYE piensas
No valen las ofensas
Cuando en OYE hablas
Dices hermosas palabras

OYE es bondad
OYE es caridad
OYE es sinceridad
OYE es el verdad

OYE es real
OYE es ideal
Porque para mi es muy especial

OYE es como una canción
Donde escribes toda tu inspiración
OYE es mi sensación
OYE es mi corazón.

OYE estará aquí
siempre para ti
OYE es afectivo
OYe es tu amigo.

OYE una organización
OYE escucha
La juventud de un país
Que vive en constante lucha.

Poema escrito por
Cesar Augusto Santos




Cesar and Gustavo at OYE el Ritmo anniversary concert.

Check out the septimber issue for more poetry by Cesar.

Festival de la Baleadas

This year OYE volunteer, Melissa Quijada, held the first annual Festival de La Baleada.

The baleada is a typical Honduran food that was invented in the northern coast of Honduras. It is a widely celebrated and delicious dish. Thus the perfect image for Melissa's event. Who’s' goal is to create events the uplift Honduran culture, music and art. There was local art, food, incredible local musical talent such as: DayZ, Montuca Sound System, Lita Garifuna, JCD y Franoman, eating competitions and much more! It was a huge success and OYE was there to take part in it all...




Staff and Students set up the OYE booth before heading out to enjoy the festivities. In the booth we shared information about OYE, sold t-shirts and magazines.



This is the 2009 slogan, Mi voz es Poder- My voice is power. On the back of the shirt all of OYE's program logo's are displayed.



This shirt sold like hot baleadas! On the back is says, "Con Huevos, Porfa." OYE left the events with only a handful left so if you are interested check back in about three week!



OYE staff and Students also made this photo op for people to remember the concert and OYE.



This is during one of the many baleada themed competitions that happened throughout the night. Check out OYE's two star representatives, Amer and Ruben were mere bites away from winning the whole competition!



Montuca Sound System stole the show with their smooth fusion reggae style.



Sandra gettin' real with JDC.




This event was a huge success. We are so proud to have been a part of it and can't wait to dance it out at the second annual Festival de la Baleada!

August magazine: Crisis en Honduras

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"OYE is an organization working to support education and empower youth to create positive change in their communities. In the name of our students and the employees, we call for reflection during this moment when our country is so polarized. We ask for respect for different opinions, call for the respect of human rights and the freedom of expression for all whether they are in support or against the current situation."

This is the message that OYE would like to share with it's community this month. Students and staff worked tirelessly to leave personal opinions aside and present a photographic history representing both sides of the situation. We hope that this can serve as a tool in the community to show what has happened in the country in the last few months. The issue includes a non-bias timeline of events, photos from all sides, and spaces reserved for people to write their own memories and reflections.

It is our hope in OYE that the community will respect the opinions and rights of all, to work together and resolve the unrest in the country.

This is about 10%, whew we did a lot in a week.

"OYE is building a community and not just that it's building a community of leaders that will continue to grow and expand their community...I think OYE has it right. We can't live in the future anymore than we can live in the past. We must live in the now, and the youth are not the future they are the present. We are the present. As the present we need to do everything to build our community, share our values, and capture and provide opportunity...I really appreciate the time I spent with OYE, and I think I could go on for pages about the things I learned and what I took away from the organization, the country, and more than anything the people, but I think this will give you an idea how important and stimulating I found the trip.

I really can't stop thinking about what I saw and learned in Honduras."

The first looks at El Progreso. The group hit the town with OYE kids to get their barrings.

Can we build it? YES WE CAN!

What would an afternoon be without a nice cool Super Jugo?

Bachatta, Salsa, Marange....no it is Julianne working her killer recorder solos in the office.

Shopping for groceries in El Centro.

Visiting local schools and examining the education system.

Then playing soccer with 200 kiddies!

Window....WOOHOO.

An introdution into the Honduran deaf community with classes and all!

ADIOS PROGRESO! ADIOS LAS GRINGAS!

This is a true story...

"This is the true story... of six friends... who chose to come to Honduras...work together and have their lives changed... to find out what happens... when people stop living mundane... and start getting real...OYE Honduras."

A few months ago a few acquaintances decided to travel together to Honduras to learn about the situation and make a difference. Last week, they came together to support OYE, specifically it's radio program. The visionaries changed a small corner of OYE's offices into an incredible sound booth for our Radio program. Together with the students and staff these volunteers worked daily to create a sound proofed box in the corner which will provide our students with a safe professional space to broadcast their ideas and use their voice as a powerful tool in their community.

The week wasn't all work of course. They became close with OYE students who gave them tours of El Progreso's center, markets and showed them first hand their city. The explored Honduras's natural beauty by playing in local waterfalls and visited the beach's to the north of Progreso. They also helped at the Nutrition Center, played soccer with the winners of COPA OYE, and much much more!

There was so much to experience this week that I will leave it to them to tell you, check back this week to hear about their experience in their own words.

It is with pride and excitement that OYE can announce that these six acquaintances have become family and have joined OYE to continue fighting poverty, and empowering at-risk youth.

Here is a quick look at the constructin of OYE's new sound booth:

The first few nails were laid under Oscar's watchful eye.

The walls finally went up on tuesday!

Next step, window and the begining of the sound proofing!

Big step, here is the finished product, door with mural extending the mural from JMU, and another mural insipred by Edoardo's original artwork for OYE el Ritmo.

We had a big party to celebrate the inaguration and got to record with all the students! It was truly a triumph and the product of a strong community working together.

The Challenger!

"The Challenger" is a monthly challenge proposed by OYE staff to see what individual or which youth group can sell the most OYE youth magazines. 

When the magazine prints, the challenge it thrown.

This month the challenge was simple. In June, Kat Burdine, OYE staff member sold 17 magazines on the streets in two hours. If everyone in the group (Radio, Magazine, Soccer...) could sell more than 17 we would have a pizza party for that group.  

When we told the Radio group about it they took off! They organized themselves into two small groups and flew through the parks and market. However, in two hours between the ten of them they only sold 120...50 short of their goal....

HOWEVER, they sold 4 publicity spots which is way more than 50 Magazines. So, we went for Pizza!

This is a picture of the OYE el Ritmo radio group at Pizza Hut enjoying a Victory Pizza!!! 

(or what's left of it...)

OYE Shoppe

Support OYE, 15% of every purchase supports OYE scholarships!

buy unique gifts at Zazzle

OYE gets twitterized

Here in OYE we have a lot things happening, A LOT! So, to keep you updated on all our programming, opportunities, volunteers and recent happenings in Honduras we decided to be twitterized.

Twitteried- The joining of a social network called, Twitter, which allows for constant flow of information and electronic intimacy. 

If you are a twitterer feel free to follow OYE at oyehonduras. If you have yet to be twitterized and are overwhelmed by the concept forget you ever read this post. Just look at the right hand column, because our updates are posted there.

This doesn't mean we will stop writting blogs or sending newsletters. In OYE is it our goal to keep you as informed as possible. 

You can almost smell the Baleadas, right?!

T-shirts and more...

Have you ever noticed that the OYE team has the coolest shirts around? Do you find yourself green with envy every time you read OYE el Ritmo on your friends chest? 

Fret no longer, OYE has a new way to shop!  With our new on-line store you can sport your favorite OYE T's in your home town and support youth in Honduras! 15% of all purchases made through our shop go directly to  scholarships.

 OYE has posted it's classic line drawn by the talented Mr. David Ortero and we will soon be posting "OYE Bling", "OYE el Ritmo" and many new designs.

Join the movement. 

Get the gear.

At the OYE shoppe.

Remember 15% of all purchases go directly to OYE's scholarship fund!

COPA OYE championship

As many of you have seen and heard Honduras is in the mist of a political termoil.  We are all safe, but pretty frustrated with the situation.  The air is full of hope and fear. As we watch and wait we are aware that for these youth OYE is all they have, because do to strikes in the education system schools have been close for the last two weeks. Thus, we continue with youth projects and activities. The most exciting by far is the championship of the COPA OYE soccer league.

Here are some pictures from the day.

The Women's final- La Perla vs. Chevez

Men's final-La Perla vs. Holy Spirit

There was standing room only at Gol Sport, and not much of it.

Chevez wins the girls cup with style.

La Perla, Men's league winners, celebrating after an intense game with Holy Spirit.

 To see more photos from Copa OYE visit, COPA OYE photos.