Shots were fired. The teacher was on the floor bleeding before anyone knew what had happened. Then kids scrambled, some under their desks, some out the door to the other classroom. The shooter was gone as quickly as he came, leaving behind a seriously wounded teacher, a bullet hole in the roof and 60 emotionally disturbed 1st through 6th graders.
The incident happened in April of 2015. But what was it all about? The authorities think it was a case of mistaken identity, a gang member confusing the teacher for someone else. The teacher survived and was sent to the US as a refugee.
The school opened in 2007 as the result of the vision, willpower and teamwork of the parents, students and teachers. It was built in their own neighborhood with many hours of volunteer labor. The purpose was to eliminate the dangerous 1 kilometer walk the students had to make every day on a busy highway to reach the nearest school. The school was to be a new place of community … of safety.
Since the shooting, 2 teachers have been hired and 2 have left out of fear that something similar may happen again. For the final 3 months of classes in 2015, 1 teacher was trying to handle all 6 grades. That was an nearly impossible task for her, but she did her best. Some of the children still suffer trauma and have missed many days.
Because of a generous donation from Sarandi Manufacturing and other friends, the school was able to hire a watchman for the 2016 school year, which began on February 1. He will be on site everyday while classes are in session. The director says there is such a change in attitude and confidence this year; in the students, the teachers and the parents.♦
Rural Honduras 