OYE Documentary: Cipotas Empoderadas

Please enjoy the 10-minute documentary Cipotas Empoderadas: Stories of Transformation of Young Honduran Women, by Richard Lakin. Many thanks to Richard, who spent three weeks in Honduras filming the lives and stories of OYE youth. To hear what Richard has to say about the piece, please read below.

Commentary by Richard Lakin:


This is the story of four extraordinary young women. It’s easy to slip into hyperbole when writing an editorial like this, but “extraordinary” is the appropriate description. Occasionally you come across people who make a lasting impression on you, and that was the case with OYE scholars Neris, Rosa, Sandra, and Oriel during my three-week visit to the Organization for Youth Empowerment in El Progreso, Honduras.

Neris’ diminutive physical size (well under 5′) and infectious laugh belie her personal intensity and her desire to complete her education. Often in my travels, I see some pretty tragic circumstances. Neris, however, has a positive family environment and lives in one of the most beautiful areas that I’ve ever seen. Campo Monterrey is deep in the plantation region of Honduras. We drove an hour and a half through miles of banana, sugarcane, and palms (used to make palm oil) to her family’s modest home that is also a convenience store. Surrounded by tropical greenery, there is the sense of an idyllic family life. Nonetheless, attending public school is not a given in Honduras. It takes money, as well as transportation from the isolated community where Neris lives. Thanks to her family’s support and a scholarship from OYE, she is on her way to a business career.

Rosa is shy and unassuming, her voice cracking because she was a little nervous being interviewed. Due to her family’s economic circumstances, she was not planning on attending high school and was headed for a life of very limited opportunity. Thanks to her mother’s perseverance, and financial support from OYE, both Rosa and her brother are able to continue their education and break the cycle of poverty that is so common in Honduras. Rosa is very focused and is excelling in her studies. A rooster adds its voice to Rosa’s mom’s interview. One of the things I remember most about the trip is the daily chorus of rooster crows that started with one and then swept across the town for miles. You miss it when you leave El Progreso.

Sandra is a pragmatic realist who had considered leaving Honduras due to the lack of opportunity. I’ve conducted a lot of interviews with, and about youth who have been characterized as “at risk.” Sandra is the first student that I’ve ever heard discuss the stigma of such a characterization from her own viewpoint. Having witnessed much gang violence, she was tempted to just give up, but now she’s attending college and has a personal agenda of assisting her family to find a better life.
Oriel’s original posting on our blog was our most visited entry, and was shared all over the world. She is all sweetness and light. Her mother had passed away just a few weeks before our visit and she had assumed the responsibility of raising six younger siblings. Despite her grief and her newly acquired responsibilities, she had the time and energy to participate in an event to raise money to end hunger in Africa. The determination in her voice when she discusses setting an example for her siblings is very memorable, and I knew that it would be last words of the documentary as soon as I recorded it. When you’re having a tough day, think about Oriel’s upbeat demeanor.

These four young women are just a few of the youth who are transforming their lives and their society through participation in the Organization for Youth Empowerment program. I hope you will find inspiration in their stories, hit the share buttons, and contribute financially to assist them in their important work.

-Richard Lakin

DeAngela's Dish: Social Change through Media and Film

OYE volunteer and film-maker Richard Lakin visiting Rosa Yorleni Sevilla, OYE Scholar, and her family

During this week's DeAngela's Dish, we're interviewing Richard, co-founder of 18 rabbits digital media. 18 rabbits promotes social entrepreneurs, international development, educational institutions, NGOs, corporate social responsibility, non-profits, and community outreach projects through a strategic program of multimedia and internet distribution.

Richard mentioned that after working with OYE six years ago that he always had a desire to come back to Honduras to work with OYE again. He mentioned how impressed he was with the work OYE accomplishes with such few resources. Richard also said OYE is the “most effective” NGO he has seen in action. OYE staff members are actually out in the community helping to effect change in the lives of Honduran youth, which he found impressive.

Richard plans to chronicle and analyze a social media project to raise the visibility of OYE. Children in Honduras will participate in the campaign through their own facebook accounts and other social media venues. The project has been going for about two weeks and seems to be getting attention from many people across the world. The project has definitely created quite a buzz in the OYE office.

So to the interview!

D: What are some of the goals you wish to accomplish working on this project for OYE?

R: I would like to help raise global visibility for OYE which will hopefully lead to more funding sources and develop an “open-source social media strategy.” Last but not least I'd like to create a template for other small organizations to be able to use by chronicling the process with OYE.           

D: How do you feel about the work you have done thus far on the project?

R: The project has been successful in that is has received “hits” from over 70 countries.

D: Have you run into barriers since you started your work on this project?

R: Yes, and the one that is most intriguing is the reluctance of professionals around the world to offer suggestions as to how this project can be made better or what good things the project has done thus far. There are experts across the world that could and/or should be offering more suggestions.

D: How do you think OYE has changed since you last worked with the organization?

R: It is difficult to answer this question because the last time I was here (six years ago) I was only here three days. I was able to observe but so much; I will say that OYE is the “most effective” NGO I have seen in operation. Its’ effectiveness caused me to have a desire to come back and work with them again.

D: What has your experience been like working with OYE staff?

R: I admire OYE staff, volunteers, and members of the executive board, who are out in the “field” doing work. I remember filming Ana Luisa, and at the time she was very sick. She was recovering from Malaria. Ana Luisa’s story is a prime example of what individuals see when they come to OYE. Staff are actively involved and engaged in the change process for Honduran youth, no matter the circumstances.

Although this was a short interview it was a pleasure getting to interview the person who is behind this fascinating initiative. Richard Lakin seemed surprised when he first heard of being interviewed, but he humbly and thoughtfully answered the few questions. He also shared how many views (hits) the website has received today (66).

R: And I haven’t even posted anything new today. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn seem to be the places in which most people view the project.

After reading this blog please be sure and check out the blog. 

DeAngela Alexander is an OYE intern and student at Mary Baldwin College.