Hi everyone,

I met Sofia when I was volunteering at her school in Honduras in 2019. The education system in Honduras is very underfunded, with huge classes in the free schools and no resources, and the only hope for children to achieve an education is to attend one of the feepaying schools. When I saw the state of these feepaying schools, I was shocked - there were crumbling buildings, one broken printer and a handful of very old books, and not a lot else. I decided to try and help and was told that Sofia's family would struggle to keep her in school. I visited them at home and found a one roomed house made of corrugated iron, with Sofia, her mum and brother living there, and her disabled cousins living in an adjoining room (photos below).

Since then, I have stayed in touch with the family, giving Sofia and her younger brother some English lessons over video call when the schools closed during the Covid pandemic and fundraising for her school fees, medical fees and to buy the family a laptop for the few years since.

And so I'm asking once again for your help in keeping this very determined student in school for another year. Sofia had this message for everyone who has supported her in the past (translated from Spanish):

"I do not have enough words for how grateful I am for your unconditional support that you have given me all these years. I deeply appreciate the support you have given me. I hope that God continues to bless you greatly. Friends, I will continue to strive to continue this excellence as it is deserved."

The absolute best thing about doing this each year has been that we've been able to help Sofia and her family not only with the financial support but also with knowing that there are people a very long way away who care enough about spreading some luck and love that we come together again each year to do this. I love that it is a communal effort as it's so much more meaningful!

So I thank you all so much for once again supporting Sofia with me!

Ciddy