Iceberg

During one of our recent capacity-building meetings with the grant recipients we worked on a project centered around the concept of an iceberg.

We showed the youth a copy of the picture shown above and asked them what they saw. Many of the youth laughed and said, ¨Ice in water, what do you think?¨

Laughing, we finally got around to discussing the theme of the iceberg for the discussion that day. We talked about how the majority of the iceberg is under the water and not visible to the eye while only a small percentage of the iceberg is above the water where people can see it. Using this information the youth began to draw parallels to how this situation is true for every group in society. How much of who we are as human beings is below the water where people can not see it.

The youth talked about how this concept is especially true for how youth are seen in society. Much of what society sees and thinks of the youth in Honduras is negative when really, the grant recipients explained, their foundation is full of positive and empowering qualities.

The youth split up and created their own iceberg drawings. Listing on the visible section of the iceberg what they believe is the way society sees them and listing on the part below the water who they really are.

Here are a few examples:

How society sees youth:

• Irresponsible
• Like we don´t exist
• Bums
• Insignificant
• Unappreciative
• Negative
• Spoiled
• Liars

Who the youth really are:

• Honest
• Intelligent
• Grateful
• Educated
• Patient
• Worried about others and the future of Honduras
• Respectful
• A good example for society

The youth ended the exercise thinking about ways in which they can demonstrate to others what is their true foundation as youth. The exercise was empowering for the grant recipients as they were able to vocalize who they really are and how they want to be thought of in their communities.

Who We Are Today/ Who We Want To Be

Last week, the OYE scholarship recipients spent an hour reflecting on who they are and who they want to be. We asked them to put these ideas onto paper. 

Here are a few of the collages that they created to represent themselves:

Wendy says, 

Who I am Today... Today I am a person full of opportunities. Now I am studying, which is giving me many opportunities. Last year I didn't study and I didn't have any of the same opportunities that I have now. For example, studying and working are two of the opportunities that have been presented to me, but of course I prefer to study because this will serve me well in the future.

Within 10 Years...I want to be a high school teacher. I want to have graduated. I want to be the director of a high school. There is so much I want to be, I can't even explain it all.

Today I am a student. I am looking for a better future for myself and my family.

Within 10 years I want to be done with my studies and moving forward. I want to have a family. I want to have a job and work with important people and people in need. I hope to have a house with all the necessities and that my family is happy.

Today I am studying General Sciences and Language Arts. I am a daughter. I have five siblings. Studying is very important for all young people, from very young to old.

When I am older, I want to be a professional and to help the people that are all around us.

Today I am a student. I am also an OYE scholarship recipient.

Within 10 years, I want to have a job in tourism. I also want to be an expert in English and other languages. I want to be the best student in my class and with OYE's support, of course that's what I'll be. Well, I want to get married, but without having kids until the time is right.

Focus Groups with the Grant Recipients

OYE's four month capacity-building program got off to a great start with two weeks of focus groups for the new grant recipients.

The focus groups were created to be an open space for the OYE team to listen to the students 

express themselves as individuals as well as hear what they want to do within OYE's program.
The fifty students are split up into small groups and come to one of three meeting times each week. The second week of the focus group OYE asked the students to tell us what issues in their communities were important to them. We asked them to think about the problems that they encounter and how they would work to change them.

We were extremely motivated by the answers and ideas that were expressed by the grant recipients and would like to share some of their thoughts with you all. Below is a combination of ideas presented by the three small groups:

1. Prejudice and Discrimination
2. Crime and Kidnapping
3. Prostitution and sexual exploitation
4. Corruption and lack of organization in the government
5. Education
6. Poverty and lack of resources
7. Ignorance
8. Exploitation of minors
9. Family disintegration
10. Drugs and Gangs
11. Physical and mental maltreatment
12. Sexually transmitted diseases
13. Environmental pollution
14. Immigration to the United States
15. Lack of recreational areas
16. Water treatment
17. Lack of work opportunities

The students then broke into small groups of four to five and chose one of the issues listed above. They worked together to create a short skit that they presented at the end of the meeting showing why this issue was important to them and their ideas on how to create solutions to the problem.

We are excited about seeing where their ideas and interests take us an organization.

OYE begins the 2008 Scholarship Program

The 2008 OYE Scholarship Program is officially underway. Let me catch you up to date.

In November 2007, OYE received 155 applications for only 50 places in the Scholarship Program. Our selection committee interviewed 80 potential scholarship candidates in December and on January 17th we completed our last home visit.

The 50 students who were selected to participate in the program deserve to be celebrated. Thus, on Saturday, January 26, 2008, OYE staff, the grand recipients, friends, and family members gathered at a local restaurant in El Progreso to recognize their accomplishments.

• Over half (62%) are young women
• Twelve are attending various universities in the El Progreso area
• Thirty-eight are middle and high school students
• They range in ages 11 to 31
• A large percentage of the students come from single parent households
• Four students were raised in a local orphanage, COPPROME
• All of the students are enthusiastic about their studies and making a difference in their community

I'll be writing back every week to tell you what it is like to be part of the OYE Scholarship Program. So check back frequently and feel free to share your thoughts and comments.