NPH Honduras Volunteer Handbook 2010

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Welcome & Introduction

On behalf of the NPH family, we extend you a warm welcome to Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, Honduras. As a volunteer, you have taken on a great challenge with immense possibilities for reward and growth. Volunteers have long been an important part of the NPH family. You have a tremendous opportunity to guide the growth and development of our cherished brothers and sisters. This is far from a simple task. In your time here you will probably feel everything from exhilaration to intense frustration. Although there is no clear path to success, there are a few things to keep in mind while you serve:

Be Flexible: There is a great deal of unpredictability and instability that is unavoidable in our operations. We must live within the ambiguity of partial freedom, partial power, and partial knowledge. Things will not always go well or the way you think they should. Try to see things from as many perspectives as possible and always remember the BIG PICTURE, that no matter what, our children are so much better off now compared to the situation from which they came.

Be Patient: Working with people in general and children in particular for a period of one year is like tending seeds but never seeing the fruit. You will never really know how much your words, actions and example have contributed to the growth of the children. Try to accept that things won’t move as quickly as you might like.

Be Positive: Everything has its good and bad points. Sometimes we all forget how much good is being done in the face of all the problems, both real and perceived. Do your best to see the good parts and you will find how much happier and productive you and everyone around you can be. This also means treating yourself and others well.

Be Creative: Find unconventional solutions to problems, and help create an environment in which the children’s talents are fostered.

Be Cooperative: Be willing to help out in whatever needs to be done, whether it’s your responsibility or not.

NPH Vision for its Volunteer ProgramThe vision of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos is to create an intercultural community based on Christian values such as the virtues of love, faith, and hope. The members of our community dedicate themselves to serve the NPH family with integrity, responsibility, humility, mutual respect, and generosity.

NPH MissionNuestros Pequeños Hermanos International is a Christian mission that strives to provide a permanent family and home for orphaned, abandoned and other at-risk children who live in conditions of extreme poverty. Our programs provide quality education, health care and spiritual formation with the goal of raising good Christians and productive members of their respective societies.

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A message from NPH International Director of Family ServicesWelcome to NPH Honduras. I am glad you have joined us. May you find happiness and success in all you do on behalf of our wonderful children whom we entrust to you in whatever capacity you will serve them.

Whether volunteering will be a satisfactory experience of growth or a frustrating experience of stagnation for you will depend largely on your desire to look for the good in what we all try to accomplish. The two key virtues that will make our volunteer program a success are a positive attitude and a deeply felt respect for all the members of our NPH community. We know from experience that volunteering with NPH is a challenge. There will be times of joy and laughter to relish, and ordeals to endure. Volunteering is a responsibility shared between you and NPH. We do want to make your volunteer experience memorable by attending to your needs. One way to help you with your needs and assist you in reflecting on your experience is through continuous communication. There will be regular volunteer meetings that will give you the opportunity to share your experience, your joys, and your frustrations. Also, look for help when you feel overwhelmed or need advice on a particular matter.

It is most important to us that you understand what a powerful role model volunteers are for our children and youth.

Throughout this handbook, you will find numerous references to the fact that what we do has a larger impact on the children than anything we say. Our mission to raise orphaned and abandoned children who often have suffered neglect and abuse is challenging. We need to prepare them to become productive citizens in an impoverished country with few opportunities. Many of our rules and norms are based on the fact that we need to guide our children through positive examples onto a clear path into their own future. You may or may not agree with the way we raise our children. However, while serving NPH we need your unconditional support in our way of raising the children. Adults in any family need to speak the same language if they want to be effective in raising their children. We need to be able count on you to help us fulfill our mission to help provide a family for our children who have suffered so much in the past and who have so much to give to their country in the future.

God bless you in your efforts to make NPH a better place.Sincerely,

Reinhart KohlerNPHI Family Services Director

NPH Philosophy

The mission of NPH is based on the philosophy of Fr. Wasson and centers on the following principles:

Unconditional love implies that the children, upon entering the family, cannot be adopted. This is an attempt to ensure that their time with NPH will be one of stability. As a family, we attempt to create an environment that fosters the growth of our children. Unconditional love also implies that the children are accepted for who they are. As members of a family and as Christians, we believe that every person is an individual of worth who deserves to be respected and loved for who he or she is. Unconditional love is also reflected in the way in which a person acts toward other members of our family and toward those whose beliefs or material circumstances are different from his or her own.

NPH’s objective is to help the children to feel loved in a manner that restores their dignity, hope and sense of security so that they can develop trust in their new environment, in other people, and in themselves.

As Christians, we believe that the individual is part of a community and that sharing moves the individual toward others. In a similar manner, the need to share helps the children to develop a sense of belonging to their NPH family.

Through responsibility and work, the children learn to value themselves for contributing to the community.

Furthermore, these two aspects of their lives aid them in forming habits that are necessary for their growth toward productive and independent adulthood.Academic, physical and spiritual education is essential for the children to become well-rounded adults.

Because NPH is concerned with the poor and because it operates with limited funds, those who are part of NPH live simply and modestly.

History of NPH

In 1954, an American priest in Cuernavaca, Mexico, took a street boy home with him. The child, claiming he needed money to eat, had robbed the young priest’s church box. Instead of testifying against the boy, the Father asked the court for custody.

So began the life work of Father William Wasson, and it flourished. By 1977 the Arizona native was the adoptive father of over 1000 Mexican boys and girls. Over the past years, the family of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos has grown to include over 3,000 Pequeños in the various NPH houses. Our Honduran home was legally incorporated in 1985. In May of 1986, the first children arrived at the doors of the new home. September of 1987 and May of 1994 mark the beginning of NPH’s homes in Haiti and Nicaragua. The homes in Guatemala and El Salvador were founded in 1996 and 1999. The Dominican Republic home opened in 2003, Peru in 2004 and Bolivia in 2005.

On August 16, 2006 our beloved Father Wasson passed away at the age of 82.

He will always be remembered in the hearts of every one of his children and all members of the NPH family.

Overview of Rancho Santa Fé

NPH Honduras currently cares for approximately 550 children and young adults from the ages of one to thirty. To be admitted to NPH, the children must fit the following criteria:

Their mother must have passed away or abandoned them with no hope for her return and their father must be unable to care for them.

All children must come from dire poverty with no relatives able to care for them.

All sisters and brothers up to the age of sixteen must be admitted together.

Upon their arrival at the Ranch, the NPH physician examines the children and a social worker places them in a group home with their peers according to age and level of development and maturity. The youngest enter Casa Suyapa, the only coed house, and they remain there until the age of eight or nine. As in all of the children’s homes (“hogares”), “tías” and “tíos” care for them.

After Casa Suyapa, the children move into single sex houses. From there, as the years pass, the children move to the homes for older children and young adults as they grow physically, mentally, emotionally and academically. The children take on responsibilities starting from a young age. In addition to their schoolwork, they must complete their chores. The youngest children begin with little jobs such as picking up litter or sweeping. As they get older, they move to different “hogares” and their responsibilities increase. They must wash all of their own clothes, help in the

upkeep of the home, manage all of the cleaning, and even take care of their younger “brothers and sisters” in the other homes. They often also have work responsibilities on the farm or in the gardens. After completing secondary school and after each subsequent program of study, NPH asks that each youth serve the family for one year. The type of service depends on the individual and the needs of NPH. Finally, if the children have the aptitude and desire to continue with their studies, NPH sends them to high school or university in Tegucigalpa or other parts of Honduras. Opportunities to study in Canada, Mexico, United States or other countries exist depending on the availability of scholarships.

The home, Rancho Santa Fé, is NPH’s main project in Honduras. It is located thirty-six kilometers northeast of Tegucigalpa along the highway to Olancho. The children study at the school which is located right on the grounds and has a preschool, kindergarten, primary and secondary school. There are also vocational workshops in which children can learn a full time trade. These workshops have a dual function—education and production.

There are two on-site clinics: one which takes care of the medical needs of the children and the other which provides medical care for people of neighboring towns and villages. A doctor, a dentist, several nurses, a laboratory technician and a psychologist take care of all aspects of the healthcare needs of the NPH community. We are currently in the final stages of building a surgical center to accommodate traveling surgical brigades.

Casa Eva (also known as Casa Abuelos, the grandparents’ house) is a home for the elderly which is located on the Ranch. It serves the needs of those who are weak or sick and who were abandoned by their families. This house was inaugurated on November 12, 1992 and currently provides care for approximately 7 abuelos.

NPH Honduras also has two facilities in Tegucigalpa. The first is Casa de Los Ángeles, which opened on February 4, 1991. This is a home for children with very severe mental and/or physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, encephalitis, muscular dystrophy, downs syndrome and other diseases. There are about 14-15 children who live in this home and are cared for by a small staff, including one volunteer, and several students studying at the high school level who live with the children. The students and staff provide for their basic needs and offer physical therapy, play time, and other means of general stimulation. The second facility is the Guardería Pasos Pequeñitos. Opened in 2005, Pasos Pequeñitos is a daycare center for single mothers of low economic resources. The center is operated by one employee, one volunteer and two year of service youths. Mothers are able to leave their young children, ages 1.5 to 8 years, during working hours and are offered workshops and meetings on childcare technique. Current capacity is 18 children.

NPH Honduras currently employs about 200 Hondurans and receives the assistance of about 25 volunteers who may come from anywhere in the world.

Daily Schedule: School Days

Casa Suyapa:The children wake up at 5:30 AM for showers and breakfast. The children ages four or five and older who are in kindergarten or first grade start school at 8:00 AM and are in Montessori classes until noon. The smallest children who are potty trained go to Montessori preschool in a classroom in Casa Suyapa where they are in classes from 8:30 to 12:00, with the smallest children taking several breaks or finishing early. At 12:00 the preschool children eat their lunch and then change into play clothes. Around 12:30 the kindergartners and first graders arrive for their lunch. The first graders eat lunch at school a few days a week

where they receive special tutoring. The afternoons are spent working and going in small groups to different places on the Ranch to play. Dinner is at 5:30, then shower and play time. Lights out is between 7:00 and 7:30 PM.

Boys and Girls in 1st through 6th Grade:The children wake up

between 5:00 and 5:30 AM depending on the home (older girls get up the earliest as they tend to take a long time getting ready!). They eat breakfast, do chores, line up for attendance, and walk to school with their tíos and tías to be there for classes at 7:30. They have a half hour recess where they are provided with a snack, and are dismissed at 1:00 PM. Upon arriving at their homes, they change into work clothes, eat lunch and do chores. The afternoon is divided into an hour for work, an hour for homework, and free time— which can be spent playing, doing homework, organizing their lockers, washing their uniforms and other clothing, or hanging out with their friends. Dinner is at 6:00 PM and time after dinner is for homework and relaxation. Bedtime is at 8:00 PM.

Boys and Girls in Middle School and Vocational Students:The day starts like that of the younger children. At 1:00 PM, however, they eat lunch in the workshop areas (middle school students eat in the workshops twice a week and the other days they spend the afternoon in their home) and continue working and studying their trade, as well as receiving math and Spanish classes, until 4 PM. They go home at 4, where they have an hour for work as well as time to do homework before dinner at 6. Their day ends the same as the days of their younger brothers and sisters.

Weekends

The weekend activities are planned usually on Tuesday afternoons by the tío/as, as well as the director on weekend duty. Mass is held usually on Saturdays at 5:00 PM. Other activities often planned for weekends include sports tournaments, outings to the local villages, dance parties, talent shows or karaoke contests, recreational games, and watching TV and videos. If you have any special activities planned for the weekend, please make sure that you get permission to execute them and that they are included in the weekend plans.

Casa de los Ángeles

Honduran and volunteer tío/as, as well as a doctor and therapists care for the children at Casa de los Ángeles. Several older children from the Ranch also live at the house and help with the work while attending high school in Tegucigalpa. The tío/as wake the children up at 6:00 AM, bathe them and feed them breakfast. At noon, the children are fed their lunch and put in their beds for a nap. At 3:00 PM, they wake the children and prepare them for therapy or play. During this time, the children are also given a snack. Dinner time is at 5:00 PM. The tío/as and students then bathe the children and put them to bed for the evening. At least one tía remains in the house throughout the night to watch over the children. Visitors are always welcome during the play and meal times. Even if a visitor or volunteer is unfamiliar with the routine, the attention that s/he pays to a child is invaluable.

Spiritual Life at Rancho Santa Fé

Father Wasson, the founder of NPH, was a Roman-Catholic priest. The Catholic faith shapes the spiritual practice of the people who live on the Ranch. Celebration of the mass on weekends, holy days and funerals and the celebration of various sacraments define the community as a spiritual whole. The weekly mass marks the only regular gathering of the entire community. We hope that in choosing to participate in our work you also want to participate in all general religious celebrations. Please know that we expect volunteers to attend general religious activities at the Ranch including participation on off duty weekends if you are at the Ranch. Remember the importance of the role model that you play as a significant adult in the children’s lives. While NPH strives to help its children develop spiritually, for many of the pequeños religion also adds organizational structure to their days. Our faith allows us to apply messages of Christian love and charity to living here on the Ranch. In this, the volunteers have a special opportunity to offer a powerful example of service to others, unselfish giving, respect and unconditional love. Being away from familiar routines and support systems taxes spiritual resources as well as physical ones, so where do volunteers find their inspiration? Whatever religious practice you are used to, things will probably be different here. Volunteers may find spiritual support in individual friends on the Ranch, in forming small spiritual support groups, or from some of the reading material in the Casa San Vicente library.

Working as a Volunteer: Vision & Purpose of the Volunteer Program

The volunteer program at NPH is a program of opportunities. Jon Sobrini said, “To have faith does not only mean to believe in the dignity of life but to create the possibility of a life in dignity.” The NPH Honduras volunteer program invites people of all ages and from all backgrounds to participate in the endeavor to create a life in dignity for destitute, orphaned and abandoned children in Honduras. We open this invitation to people who have the desire to be of service to the NPH community and to help us in whatever way they can to achieve our mission. Our volunteer program offers a wider range of experiences from unique friendships and life enriching cross-cultural encounters to work experiences rarely available in highly industrialized countries. Volunteers have the opportunity to work in the areas of childcare and childcare support, education, health care, farming, or administration. The concept of having volunteers is to support —not replace— our Honduran staff, as well as to give more individualized attention to the children. However, the possibility also exists in some cases for volunteers to take positions of supervision or guidance if they have the qualifications and are willing to make a longer commitment to our community. Ideally, the program will bring out the best in you. You have the opportunity to develop and to share your talents while serving others. It will also challenge and expand your limits to endure stress and to cope with the unknown and the unexpected. Especially for those who work directly in childcare, the demand on your emotional giving will be very high, and you may miss the intellectual stimulation you may be used to from your home environment.

The benefits of a volunteer program for the NPH community are many. Volunteers are often highly trained and skilled individuals whom NPH otherwise could not afford or find in Honduras. They bring fresh ideas and perspectives that help meet the challenges of our daily operations. However, it is equally as

important to understand that volunteers need to respect NPH norms and rules and our way of doing things. We know what we are doing, even though it may seem old fashioned and inadequate to you, because what we do has grown from an experience of many years in many different settings.

You have accepted a long-term geographical separation from your parents, brothers, sisters, and friends in order to become a part of our family. You bring with you a missionary spirit, a desire to give of yourself and to serve to the best of your abilities. Such a spirit is contagious and reemphasizes for paid staff the importance of our work. Finally, the importance of volunteering in general is that one person can make a difference. At NPH Honduras, your loving care for a child may influence him or her to change his or her attitudes and to set out on a positive path in life. As one pequeño once said, “Every kind act we receive will help us to turn our lives around.”

The drawbacks of being a volunteer are the flip side of its strengths. People who are highly educated or skilled are often very opinionated. They may believe that they have all the answers. Unaware of our limited resources, culturally different ways of doing things, or the long evolution of certain approaches to our work, volunteers may demand in an imposing way that NPH and its staff change its working approach in whichever field the volunteer serves as an aide. In addition, some volunteers tend to believe themselves superior to the local people because they have received a better education. These two situations can become difficult to handle when they are compounded by the zeal of the missionary spirit. Volunteers will certainly be accepted more readily by our local staff if they work side by side with them. Try first of all to understand them, and respect NPH’s structure and regulations just as the staff has to do.

Commitment & ExpectationsOf a Volunteer

NPH Honduras normally has between 20-30 volunteers filling a variety of different positions. The degree of interaction with the children can vary significantly between volunteer positions. However, in whatever we do, we are all working for the benefit of the children. You may find yourself asked to fill a position in which you have little to no experience. This is more common than you might think. The work we do here is very “NPH-specific” and requires a great deal of self-training and orientation. Your new work and responsibilities will no doubt be filled with new challenges and experiences.

Once we have accepted you we count on you to fulfill your time commitment. Remember that when we invite you to join our program, we are necessarily turning down other applicants interested in the same position. Each position a volunteer fills is important and if you decide to leave early we will not have a replacement to carry out the tasks of your job.

“Our volunteers are selected as much for their commitment to serve the children and the

organization as for their individual skills and experience.”

NPH values your skills, experience, and vocation very much. Our needs, coupled with your ability to learn and adapt, will give rise to the position that you will eventually fill. Commitment, a positive attitude and flexibility are perhaps the most valued qualities you can bring to us. As a family, NPH celebrates all holidays together with

special programs and activities. As a member of this family, you are expected to spend all major holidays with the children (see Vacations section). If you wish to extend your stay beyond 13 months, you will need to submit a proposal to the Volunteer Coordinator. Your request will be reviewed by the VC who, together with the National Director, will make a decision based on the length of extension requested, work performance, health, language ability, and NPH needs at the time. Your extension should be for at least six months, though volunteers working in the school slated to leave in July are encouraged to stay until the end of the school year in November. We encourage successful volunteers to stay with us longer because it is beneficial for our children.

Typical Work Schedules

Your work hours will vary according to the job you are performing. In addition to the hours listed in the following examples, all volunteers, except for tíos and tías, are expected to spend evenings from 6:00–8:00pm with their hogar.

School Staff: School teachers, tutors and therapists are expected to be at school for the start of the school day at 7:20 am. Two days per week, teachers, tutors and therapists work until 1:15 PM, and three days per week until 4:00 PM. Those hours will vary somewhat from position to position. Therapists may also spend portions of this time working in the hogares or in Tegucigalpa with the children in Casa Angeles. Thursday and Friday afternoons are a mix of prep time for classes and free time.

Medical Staff: If you are working as a nurse or doctor on the Ranch, your scheduled work hours will vary considerably. Mondays through Fridays, the External Clinic is open at 7:30 AM and closes when the last patient is seen (around noon). Volunteer staff also works at the Internal Clinic along with our staff nurses and doctor, seeing patients on a regular basis in the afternoons.

Office Staff: Office workers at Rancho Santa Fé work from 7:30 AM until 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The office staff often has more flexibility of movement throughout the day, depending on the demands of their job. Most important is that the job gets done.

Maintenance/Farm Worker/Other Labor: Most of the support staff that keeps the Ranch going start their work day at 7:00 AM and end at 4:00 PM, with an hour for lunch from 1:00–2:00. They also work either every other weekend or every Saturday. Tío/Tía: The tío/tía work schedule is quite demanding. Schedules vary according to what house you will be working in. Tío/as working in the Buen Pastor and Talita Kumi typically work from 5:30-7:30 AM and from 12:50-8:00 PM. On their work weekend, tío/as start Friday afternoon and work through Monday morning with time off on Monday afternoon. Free weekends start Friday morning at 8:00 AM and go through Monday at 12:00 PM. Tío/as working in Casa Suyapa have a slightly different schedule, often starting work at 5:30 AM and working until 8:00 AM, returning at 12:00 PM until the children go to bed usually around 7:30 PM. They generally follow the same weekend schedule as other tío/as.

Choosing and Working with an Hogar

Volunteers bring with them a wonderful spirit and ability to work with our children. In fact, one of the primary reasons we believe so strongly in our volunteer program is because you can be a powerful and beneficial example to the kids. Because of that, we hope each volunteer will choose and become a special part of an hogar. Most volunteers say their most important time on the Ranch was that spent in hogar. It provides a unique opportunity to help out and develop special friendships with the children. Veteran volunteers and the Volunteer Coordinator will help you choose an hogar that’s right for you. Volunteers spend weeknights from 6:00-8:00 PM in their hogar eating, working or playing with the kids. On their work weekend, volunteers participate in Ranch activities.

There are two options for spending your work weekend with your hogar. Option A includes spending Friday night and all day Saturday working with your hogar until the children go to bed. Option B includes integrating with your hogar beginning at 3:00 pm on Saturday, the typical time that mass begins, and continuing to participate with hogar activities through Sunday night when the children go to bed. Both options include attending mass. Occasionally, there are special events that require volunteers to be with their hogares at other times. This schedule does not apply to a volunteer in the position of tío/tía. Weekend schedules are also different for medical volunteers. The responsibilities and schedule for volunteers in the hogares are explained in more detail in the document “El voluntario en el hogar,” which you will find in your orientation packet.

Stipends

All volunteers who work for 2 months or more receive a monthly stipend. We try to maintain the stipend at 2/3 of the Honduran minimum wage. Volunteers receive their stipends on the last Thursday of each month. Since this is also the day that all employees receive their paychecks, volunteers are assigned to pick the checks up between 2:15 and 3:00 PM. Those working in the school and the vocational center should pick up their checks with the staff at their allotted times and locations (during the regular school year). The checks can be cashed at any Banco Occidente in branches across Honduras.

Living on the Ranch

Housing: Most volunteers are housed in Casa San Vicente, a large building consisting of rooms with their own bathrooms, dormitories, kitchen, office, and laundry area, all surrounding an open courtyard. Occasionally, there are accommodations outside Casa San Vicente available to volunteers. When you first arrive, you’ll probably live in the dorms for a month or so until older volunteers have completed their year of service. When space is available, you will be given a room with another volunteer. Volunteer families will be given housing in one of the available casitas on the Ranch. The casitas all have separate bedrooms, combined kitchen/dining/living areas, and bathrooms.

Valuables: Because many of our children come from situations with very few resources and possessions, they may become fascinated with volunteers’ belongings. Keep your room/house locked at all times and never let a child enter your room/house. When you are away for an extended period of time (weekends or vacations) be sure to close your windows.

Smoking/Drinking: Since we teach our children on the Ranch that smoking is an unhealthy and life-threatening habit both to the person smoking and to those nearby, our hope would be that volunteers will respect this policy and will not smoke. If you are a smoker, we strongly encourage you to consider your time with us as an opportunity to kick the habit. But if you continue to smoke, here are some guidelines which you must follow:

Never smoke around kids or where kids can see you or smell smoke. Be sure that your clothes do not smell of smoke when spending time with the kids- they are extremely sensitive to this.

Never offer cigarettes or encourage/permit smoking by any kids.

Many children on the Ranch have previously lived with (and suffered from) parents or family members with drinking problems. Keeping in mind the guidelines for smoking, we ask that you consume alcohol responsibly (drinking excessively is absolutely prohibited), only in your private living space, and never with kids present. Finally, clean up any cans or bottles; don’t leave evidence of your drinking where kids can see it (in your rooms, along the walkways in Casa San Vicente, or in trash barrels). Do not visit with the children after having consumed alcoholic beverages.

Clothing

You may wonder what to wear at times. In most cases, your common sense or the examples of the staff are all you need. Hondurans in general take pride in their appearance. Teachers, administrative assistants, and other professionals at the Ranch dress neatly in slacks or skirts, pressed shirts or blouses, and shined shoes. Children wear clean school uniforms with few if any wrinkles, along with sturdy shoes. No one is barefoot. Out of school, jeans and casual but clean shirts are common. For mass and special events, most of the children dress up. Around the Ranch, neat pants or jeans, clean T-shirts, and sandals or casual shoes are acceptable. If you are planning to spend time inside the school classrooms or clinics, long pants or skirts are recommended. If you head into Tegucigalpa, you will feel less conspicuous if you avoid shorts, flip-flops, and overly casual clothing. Overall, we ask that volunteers keep their attire clean and conservative.

Living in Community

Living in a close community, where everyone depends on each other for their food, housing, cleanliness and companionship, is an opportunity for forming deep friendships and experiencing deep personal growth. It can also be a very challenging time. You will be surrounded by others who behave and believe differently than you. Some people’s actions will seem confusing or irresponsible. You may have a roommate or neighbor that irritates you. And at times, even when constantly surrounded by others, you may feel lonely and unwanted.

Here are a few suggestions for how to have a positive experience while living in a community:

Reach out to others. Try to spend a few minutes each day connecting with someone. One of the best and most surprising aspects of living with all kinds of people (including ones that you wouldn’t normally

choose to be around) is that you sometimes realize that your first impressions are wrong. Good relationships take time, and an open mind.

Do your share of the work. All it takes to disrupt the good intentions (and friendship) of others is for one person in a community to become lazy. When that happens, others become angry because they either have to work harder or live with the consequences. And they, too, will soon not clean up after themselves.

Don’t always be right. Listen carefully to the needs of others and offer to compromise. Strive for a “win/win” solution to a problem. Keep an open mind.

When the actions of someone are bothering you, talk first to that person. One of the most destructive forces in a community is to talk about someone behind his or her back. Often an honest conversation is all it takes to achieve some sort of understanding and restore a relationship.

Find time, on a regular basis, to be alone. If you have enough alone time, you will probably be able to live more happily with others.

Create fun times. Surprise others with a plate of cookies. Share a joke and a laugh.

Relationships

Moral life cannot be reduced to “a series of prohibitions,” but instead “should be a loving response to God’s call to the dignity, the nobility, the ideal of a new creature in Christ.” — Oscar Andres Rodriguez,

Cardinal of Honduras

Part of making sure that your stay with us will be successful is that you know what we expect from you. Our expectations are solely for the benefit and well being of our children. These expectations include, among other things, that you understand that the children’s needs supersede our own needs, that you will refrain from physical punishment, speak appropriately to the children, and engage only in responsible personal relationships. The latter is unusual as a work expectation and has proved difficult for some volunteers in the past. From experience we have learned, however, that the well being of our children depends on the responsible behavior of our employees and volunteers in this regard. Over time, we have developed guidelines regarding relationships by which we expect employees and volunteers to abide. We think that the reasons for these standards will make their need clear to you.

Most of our children come from horrible environments. Their experiences before coming to NPH have been dominated by relationships that are largely sexual, without commitment, and in many ways harmful. Our children and young adults often have difficulties distinguishing between maternal/paternal love, friendship, and sexual love. The adults they have seen and known often have treated sex irresponsibly. Most of our children are a living testament to this casual attitude. They have little exposure to healthy relationships or even to the responsible end of a relationship. Whoever joins NPH in whatever position assumes responsibility for the formation of our children and young adults. As their surrogate parents, we are called to ensure that their home on the Ranch is free of bad examples and painful reminders of their pasts and that they receive the paternal/maternal and friendship

love that is clearly distinguishable from sexual love. We also will try to instill healthy values in them regarding sex and relationships, so that they do not continue to produce the next generation of unwanted children. The final challenge is one of the most important and difficult tasks that we face. The daily examples of staff and volunteers are some of the strongest influences on the growth of the pequeños/as, and your behavior should constantly reflect that fact. The pequeños/as are very perceptive and almost all activities on the Ranch will eventually become public knowledge. For this reason, we must always maintain exemplary conduct. An attitude of serious regard for relationships and love and an abstinence from sex are difficult to nurture in our children. These are, however, very important values that we wish to instill in our children for their future well being and for the good of their country. Unfortunately, a few bad examples will spoil the hard work and sacrifices of other people. It is for these reasons and with many years of experience that we have developed the following expectations:

Dating, romantic relationships, and sexual relationships with current pequeños/as are strictly prohibited. Pequeños/as is a common name for the children and young adults who are in NPH’s care. This rule applies even to adult pequeños/as, some of whom are older than many volunteers.

Other romantic relationships between volunteers, staff members, and adults not associated with NPH are accepted so long as the relationships are not a distraction from work and are not responsible for the children becoming a second priority during your stay here. Relationships must be handled appropriately. For us this means that your example should always encourage attitudes of equality, respect, understanding and kindness. It also means that at no point should the children suspect your relationship is sexual unless you are married.

Therefore, we do not allow non-married couples to share rooms at the Ranch even if they have lived together in their home country prior to joining NPH. The point is that your example should in no way serve as encouragement for pequeños/as to explore sexual aspects of their relationships.

Regardless of what you think the children suspect, refrain from premarital sex when on the NPH premises or around pequeños/as on other occasions.

In addition to avoiding irresponsible relationships, you should refrain from inappropriate language, flirtatious behavior, physical threats and other behaviors you wouldn’t want your own children to copy. It is our hope that you see the reason for our concern and for the guidelines we have developed. Please feel free to discuss these issues with the Volunteer Coordinator.

Giving Gifts

It is natural to want to share what you have with others less fortunate. Please remember that the most

precious and important thing you can share is your love and attention. We need to be fair to all kids, so we ask that any gifts you consider giving be ones that are

intended for an entire group (like a board game or soccer ball). When it comes time to choose Christmas gifts for your hogar, please consult with your tíos, and

don´t go overboard. Keep in mind that the most important gift you give the children is your presence in

their lives, your love. We want to decrease the possibility that kids start judging volunteers for what

they have (or give), rather than for who they are.

Basic Supplies

Food/SnacksMeals are available in the main kitchen (cocina grande) or with the children in your chosen hogar. Bring a plate or bowl, cup and spoon with you. Here are mealtimes from Monday through Saturday:

Breakfast 6:30–7:30 AM Lunch 12:30–1:30 PM (1:30–2:00 PM in the hogar)Supper 5:30–6:45 PM

On weekends meals are served generally ½ hour later than on a weekday.

Please note that pequeño/as are not allowed to eat in the main kitchen.

Every Friday between 1:30 and 3:00 PM, fruits, vegetables and eggs are available from the bodega. One or two volunteers load up a wheel barrow with produce to share with the whole house. Volunteer families living outside of San Vicente may pick up their own food from the bodega. In addition, on the first Thursday of each month, volunteers may get other staples, including flour, sugar, salt, spaghetti, tomato paste and oil. All volunteers are welcome to use the kitchen in Casa San Vicente. To keep the kitchen as free from bugs as possible and pleasant for all volunteers, please store your food in containers that seal tightly, and clean up after yourself. Keeping a community kitchen clean is the responsibility of each person who uses it.

Warning: Food that is not in some sort of bag or container with your name on it is often assumed to be community property.

If you want something to eat or drink between meals, here are a few nearby possibilities:At the main gate (portón): purified water, juices, milk, bottled sodas, sweet breadAt the bodega: bottled sodas, loaves of bread (usually available on Wednesdays)At the kitchen (cocina) (ask during meals): larger bottles of cola or other soda

At the school: sodas, juices, chips, comida típicaAt the workshops (talleres): sodas, juices, chips, comida típicaAt a small store (pulpería) in La Venta: fruits, vegetables, chips, cookies, other staples

WaterAll water here at the Ranch is chlorinated, though only some is filtered. The outside faucets - which are painted blue (like the one outside Casa San Vicente) - as well as the kitchen faucets in most of the Ranch houses, provide potable (drinkable) water. Although many volunteers adapt to the Ranch’s potable water in a month or two, we recommend that newcomers drink purified or boiled water. Five-gallon bottles of purified water are stored in a rack inside Casa San Vicente and cost about US$1.50 each (the equivalent in Lempiras changes depending on currency devaluation). When you need water, ask the volunteer(s) in charge of the water to unlock the rack. Pay for your water when you take it, and return your bottles as soon as they are empty.

Fruit drinks provided at the kitchen are made with Ranch water. Only take these drinks if you have adapted to the Ranch water and it will no longer cause you an upset stomach.

Hygiene ItemsOn the first Wednesday of every month between 7:30 AM-3:30PM, you may pick up basic hygiene items at the main bodega. Each month you will receive toilet paper, toothpaste, hand soap, and laundry soap. Every 3rd month you’ll receive a bottle of liquid floor soap and bleach to share with your roommate.

KeysWhen you arrive, you’ll receive keys to your room/house and to the main gate of Casa San Vicente. Each room will receive a key to the San Vicente kitchen and office as well; you will share these keys with your roommate. You will also receive sets of keys that are pertinent to your specific job. In an attempt to limit the number of lost keys we ask that all volunteers be responsible for the replacement cost for misplaced keys. We ask that if you would like to make a copy of any key on the Ranch that you first receive authorization. Please keep track of your keys. If you loose them, you will be expected to pay for a new lock and new keys.

Free Time: Weekends/SalidaNPH is a mission based organization with the priority to serve our children. We work hard here and because of the type of work we do and the fact that there is so much to do, we do not follow a 40-hour work week. Volunteers work every other weekend. Weekends in which you do not work are called “salida” weekends. You are free to spend your salida as you wish—traveling, visiting the homes of your Honduran friends and coworkers, or simply relaxing on the Ranch. If you leave the Ranch, please advise someone about your plans in case of an emergency. We ask that you try to be flexible, as very often holidays, fiestas, and meetings fall on someone’s salida, regardless of how carefully they are planned or scheduled. We cannot stress enough the importance of holidays and

special events for the children. These days often involve some work and organization by the volunteers; however, the joy of the children makes it all worthwhile.

VacationVolunteers are allowed 20 working days of vacation after their first 6 months of work (schedules vary for volunteers working in the school and talleres), all of which must be approved by the Volunteer Coordinator, your direct supervisor and the tío/as in your hogar. No volunteer should exceed the 20 days without the permission of the VC. If you chose to work a day off, we thank you for your extra time, but we cannot compensate with an extra vacation day no matter in which department you work. We ask that you take vacation in blocks of 1 or 2 weeks (rather than 1 or 2 days at a time) so that your work schedule is not interrupted. If you work in the school, we ask that you take vacation at a time that coincides with school vacations: during Holy Week (April), 1 week break (June), and during the Dec./Jan. vacation courses. All other volunteers are expected to be with the children during Holy Week and Easter, and can take vacation time as approved by their direct supervisor and the VC. All volunteers are expected to stay on the Ranch before Christmas through New Year’s, during the Olimpiadas (Aug.), and for Quinceañeros (Nov.) since these are very special times for the children. If you want to see a lot of Honduras or Central America, we encourage you to travel before or after your service with NPH.

If you need to miss work due to illness, or for any other significant reason, you must notify the Volunteer Coordinator (S/he will then notify your supervisor). If you miss more than one day of work, you must provide a note from the Clinic. Many supervisors may require a note even if only one day is missed.

Visa Residency Status

All volunteers enter the country as tourists, but in order to function in the country as a 13–month volunteer, you must go through the process of changing your migratory status to that of a resident. All of the necessary paperwork will be handled by NPH’s administrative office. Once resident status has been approved (this can take 6 months or more and some volunteers may never receive resident status), you are given a temporary identification paper which can be used until the residency card is granted. While this process is underway, volunteers must request an extension of their visa regularly (usually every 60 days) in the Ranch office. Your passport needs to be turned in with the extension form at least one full week before the date of expiration of your visa. This is your responsibility, not that of the Volunteer Coordinator or the office staff.

If you are late in turning in your form and passport, the government charges a 1300 Lempira fee that you must pay in cash. Those not getting residency may need to leave the country for at least 3 days after 6 months. The whole application for resident status can be a tedious (but necessary) process which involves gathering documents, having pictures taken, signing papers, and waiting. As with most procedures in Honduras, there are frequent delays, changes in policy, and even lost papers. Your patience and cooperation is greatly appreciated. Your resident card should be carried at all times when you are away from NPH, and can sometimes help you obtain discounts at hotels or tourist sites. You will be asked to return your resident card at the end of your service.

Health Information

Staying HealthyMany people know the difference between healthy and non-healthy practices but choose to follow the latter. Volunteers often get sick when they can avoid illness. All of the volunteers’ jobs (like those of the Honduran staff) are difficult. Yet, unlike the Hondurans, you must adapt to a new culture, climate and food. These demands can be draining, both mentally and physically, making you more susceptible to illness. In addition, volunteers are exposed to more/different diseases in Honduras than at home. Here are some suggestions to help you maintain your health and protect against illness:

Nutrition: Make an effort to eat balanced meals. Take vitamins. Drink a lot of liquids. Not drinking sufficient amounts of liquids leaves a person vulnerable to bronchitis, pneumonia, and respiratory diseases.

Rest: Getting enough rest is essential for good health. Take time for yourself. Both mental and physical health is affected when a person does not sleep enough or does not take time to relax. Most volunteers not only get sick with diarrhea, but are also plagued with colds and other minor illnesses. The change in food and climate weakens defenses, so it is important to take vitamins, eat well and rest. DiarrheaMost foreigners have upset stomachs and diarrhea soon after their arrival in Latin America. Health care professionals do not completely understand the reasons for this phenomenon. They suggest that it may be a symptom of the change in the type and quantity of the bacteria that normally inhabits

Europeans’ or North Americans’ gastrointestinal systems.

Ways to minimize the chances of getting diarrhea:

Drink only purified or boiled water. The water that comes out of the faucets in Tegucigalpa is not pure, and for drinking should be boiled for at least 20 minutes. Purified water is readily available in Tegucigalpa. All water at Rancho Santa Fé is chlorinated, but only some is filtered. Filtered water comes from the taps that are painted blue, and is safe to drink, though it may need to be boiled during the rainy season.

In restaurants, ask for drinks without ice (sin hielo). Sometimes the ice comes from impure water. American fast food restaurants are safe.

Do not eat fruits and vegetables that you did not peel yourself. For fruits and vegetables that cannot be peeled, soak them for a few minutes in water mixed with a few drops of bleach. Purified water alone (or with soap) does not kill the microorganisms on fruits and vegetables.

Avoid eating meat or dairy products from street stands where the vendors leave the items in the open heat or sun.

How to treat diarrhea:

Do not use constipating agents or antibiotics. The medicine may mask a problem more serious than diarrhea.

Stop eating. Give your body a rest.

When you have diarrhea, your body loses a lot of water and certain salts. Drink soup, tea, water, etc. We recommend Litrosol (a package with essential electrolytes) and also Peptobismol. Stay far away from dairy products: liquids as well as solids.

If you have diarrhea for more than one day, the following eating plan may help: After drinking only clear fluids for one day, eat dry, mashed potatoes, mashed bananas, apples, or similar food items on the second day. You may eat boiled meats and vegetables on the third day. You should try to wait until at least the fourth day to begin eating dairy products, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and fried foods.

HIV & HepatitisKids get sick more often than adults, due to their immature immune systems, and pass their illness to others more readily due to less control of their bodily fluids. Volunteers at NPH may be especially concerned about contact with children with HIV or Hepatitis B. In general, the same precautions for preventing the spread of any other illness (mainly, frequent hand washing) are sufficient. Hepatitis B and HIV are blood-borne diseases, so contact with blood and blood-containing fluid should be avoided. Gloves are easily available in each hogar’s first-aid box, and you can ask for a pair from the clinic to carry around if you want. Hepatitis B is more easily transmitted than HIV, but Hepatitis B immunization (which is required for volunteers) is protective. HIV transmission is almost exclusively either prenatal (mother to child), sexual, or via shared needles. We can safely hug, kiss, touch, and play with all the children on the Ranch. You may have more colds or more frequent diarrhea, or you may even get head lice, but your risk for HIV or Hepatitis B infection is almost nonexistent.

Medical FacilitiesThe Ranch has two clinics. The External Clinic, located near the front gate, serves the needs of residents from outlying towns, and operates 5 days a week,

Monday through Friday. It is open for Ranch employees, volunteers and children Monday through Friday mornings. The laboratory is located in the external clinic. The Internal Clinic, infirmary and pharmacy, located near the main office, serve the needs of the Ranch community, including the kids, staff and volunteers. Hours are 7:00 AM–7:00 PM. If you need medical attention, go to the Internal Clinic during normal hours and talk to the volunteer medical staff. All volunteers are entitled to receive any and all

medical services and medications which we have available on the Ranch free of charge. If you need a medical service we cannot offer, or you need to see a specialist or to order medicine which we do not have in stock, then you will need to personally cover any costs incurred. For true emergencies, 24 hours a day, find someone with a radio or call the clinic extension (729) on the phone. You can also call the gatekeeper at the portón (714 or 715), who will alert clinic staff. We have recently opened a surgery center which is used to perform minor surgeries on a weekly basis and is periodically staffed by traveling surgical brigades.

Transportation

Getting To and From TegucigalpaBuses traveling toward Tegucigalpa pass the gates of the Ranch frequently, approximately every half hour, until about 6:00 PM. They are almost always yellow or blue school buses and they are owned by private individuals. Raise your hand to indicate that you want them to stop. The current fare to Cerro Grande, a suburb just above Tegucigalpa (where you’ll get off to transfer to a colectivo taxi), is 15 to 20 Lempiras. The fare is not collected by the driver, but by another person who either walks through the bus collecting from each person or takes your money as you get off. Depending on the age and power of the bus, the daring of the driver or the amount of traffic, the ride to Cerro Grande will usually take from 30–45 minutes. Get off at the DIPPSA gas station in Cerro Grande (Zona 4). At the corner by the gas station you will find colectivo taxis, which take 4 passengers and charge a flat rate of 10 Lempiras per person. Rapiditos, or small buses, also pass by en route to the center and charge 6 to 8 Lempiras per person. After a 10-minute drive, the colectivo or rapidito will drop you close to the center (centro). From the centro, you can ask where to find colectivo stands that send taxis to other parts of the city. If you’re going far from the center - especially if you’re with 2-3 others - you may find it almost as cheap to take one regular taxi instead of two colectivos. Negotiate the price before you get in; 50 or 60 Lempiras should get you from Cerro Grande to the malls, airport or outer areas. To return to the Ranch, find your way back to Cerro Grande (Zona 4) and catch a bus which stops by the tree-shaded chicken/snack shop just north of the DIPPSA station. Warning: late afternoon buses are often packed. The last buses leave Cerro Grande around 7:00 PM, though we recommend leaving

before this time since there are no guarantees. As you get on, it’s a good idea to tell the driver’s assistant that you’re going to Rancho Santa Fé. Then, watch the small white kilometer signs and be prepared to walk forward when you spy the Ranch gates, which are just before the 36 kilometer sign.

Coming & Going with Ranch VehiclesPrivate transportation from the Ranch can be available if you can arrange to go with one of the cars, trucks or buses that travel between the Ranch and Tegucigalpa almost daily. These vehicles leave frequently, but depend on the needs of the house. To find out if it is possible to catch a ride, you need to communicate ahead of time with the person in charge of transportation. Volunteers who spend the weekend off the Ranch can usually catch a ride back to the Ranch with our NPH bus around 5pm on Sunday at the Cerro Grande Zona 4 shopping center. The bus brings a group of high school and university students to town after they have worked their weekend duty at the Ranch. It is beneficial to call and check in advance because, depending on the weekend´s activities, the bus may be later or earlier or not run at all.

Under no circumstances may a volunteer take the bus which leaves from Casa Angeles at 6:00 AM every weekday morning.

Reserved for Ranch employees who live in Tegucigalpa, this bus is full every morning without exception. You must take public transportation and arrive on time for work Monday if you do not take the Sunday afternoon bus. Since the employee bus that goes from Rancho Santa Fé to Tegucigalpa every weekday afternoon is not as full as it is in the mornings, volunteers are allowed wait at the main

gate and ride along if there is space. The bus leaves at 4:00 PM, and often earlier on Fridays.

HitchhikingDo not hitchhike. We have good reasons for asking you not to hitchhike. Drivers (of the car you’re in or the cars coming at you) are often unskilled, erratic, and go too fast. Even a minor accident can cause

riders in the backs of trucks (where hitchhikers often find themselves) to be tossed out, leading to serious injury or death. Also, former volunteers have had very negative experiences while hitchhiking. We care about you and your safety. Please know that we do not assume responsibility if you choose to go against this advice.

Pets and Animals

Rancho Santa Fé is home to many creatures and animals as it is located in the rolling hills outside the capital of Tegucigalpa. Inherent to any natural setting there are many animals on the Ranch, both wild and domestic. It is prohibited for volunteers to acquire pets. As volunteers it is important that we are responsible examples to the children. We must care for the Ranch as our home but understand that we will one day leave and cannot leave those on the ranch responsible for our decisions.

Communicating

Phone/FaxWe know that communicating with others (and having them communicate with you) is important. Unfortunately, the Ranch suffers from unreliable phone service to the outside world (meaning that many calls simply don’t get through), and communication can be complicated. Unless a prior plan has been made (date, time and place), family and friends calling the Ranch will most likely need to leave a message for you and then call back in about half an hour. This allows time for someone to locate you and for you to find a phone. Such phone calls should only occur in case of emergency.

Personal Cell PhonesMost volunteers choose to purchase cell phones in Tegucigalpa. You can purchase a cell phone for roughly $30 new and either sign up for a monthly plan or buy debit cards that give you a certain amount of usage time on the phone (prepaid). Cell phones are very common among the volunteers and it is the easiest way to communicate with family and friends. Not every carrier gets reception on the Ranch, so make sure you ask your Volunteer Coordinator before buying a phone. Though you must buy pre-paid phone cards in order to make local calls, all incoming calls (both national and international) are free. Volunteers who have cell phones cannot at any time allow the children to use their phone. The children must make all phone calls in the presence of a member of our Social Work team.

There is a fax machine in the Cerro Grande office that volunteers may use to send and/or receive faxes. You may have to plan your communication by fax for a free afternoon when you can go to the office in the city, or you can also send and receive documents through the carrier envelopes that are passed daily

between the Ranch and the Cerro Grande office. However, since there is not always someone in this office, it is a good idea to call first to see if someone will be there when you arrive.

Here are the phone and fax numbers that you can give friends and family members:Ranch Office (open Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM–4:00 PM)

224-0573Ranch Switchboard (main gate portón—staffed 24

hours a day) 798-3923Casa Alistar/Casa Ángeles 236-7320Fax (Tegucigalpa) 224-3684

How you can reach others by phoneMost volunteers use the inexpensive phone service offered by internet cafés (currently 1-6 Lempiras per minute, depending on the country you’re calling, and remember calling cell phones is significantly more expensive). The quality of the connections, from excellent to terrible, often depends on the time of day—mornings are often best—and how many users there are. Some volunteers use calling cards that work overseas. Although they are much more expensive than the phones in an internet café, they can be used from any regular phone or public pay phone and provide an excellent connection. The only Ranch phone with an outside line is located in the main Ranch office. When it is working, you may use it for emergencies or important calls.

Letters & PackagesMail service to and from Honduras is probably not as reliable as your home country. Most letters and small packages arrive within 2–3 weeks from the United States or Europe, but sometimes larger packages arrive missing some of their contents, badly beaten up, and months after they were mailed. Nevertheless,

most volunteers receive packages without too many problems. We do recommend that you don’t try to send or receive valuables by mail. A good alternative is to check with the Visitor Coordinator or with other volunteers to see if someone from your home country can bring packages directly to you, or return with letters/packages from you. Letters sent to you are brought to the Ranch about once a week and given to the Volunteer Coordinator, who will then pass them on to you. When you receive a package, the VC will give you a claim slip. Packages can be picked up in one of two locations: the small package department of the main post office (downtown, near the center), or the post office’s package center at the airport. Your claim slip will indicate which location has your package. Both offices charge a fee for picking up packages, typically 5 Lempiras for small packages downtown, and 20 Lempiras or more for bigger packages at the airport.

The following address is for receiving both letters and packages from friends and family:

[YOUR NAME]Nuestros Pequeños HermanosApdo. Postal 3223Tegucigalpa, HondurasCentral America

EmailThere is a small internet room at the Ranch which you can use for personal correspondence and for work purposes. It is open daily and there is a nominal fee for usage. With a laptop, you can currently use the wireless internet for free. Since the service is not always reliable, many volunteers prefer to use internet cafés in Tegucigalpa. Two convenient cafés are located in Cerro Grande, less than a minute walk from the bus stop (saving you the colectivo ride into the center). The cafés charge 10–30 Lempiras for an hour of internet connection time, and some offer significant discounts for NPH volunteers.

VisitorsFriends and relatives are welcome on the Ranch for a maximum of 2 weeks as long as you continue to carry out your usual work responsibilities. Please advise your friends and relatives well in advance of the most convenient times for visits and notify both the Volunteer Coordinator and the Visitor Coordinator of your plans. We will arrange accommodations if available. Please be aware that NPH receives many visitors, especially in December, January, July and August when many former volunteers, benefactors and volunteer family members visit because of school vacation time in their country. If you do not put in a reservation on time, NPH may not be able to provide housing for your visitors. The visitors are welcome to eat in our kitchen or with the children. Visitors who plan to be in the country for longer visits must find accommodations off of the Ranch. We also ask that the volunteers arrange these visits with the Visitor

Coordinator several weeks in advance to avoid confusion.

The ranch agrees to provide transportation to the parents of volunteers when they arrive in Tegucigalpa. You are responsible for finding transport for friends and other family members who may choose to visit. There are many visitors to the ranch, so it is possible that someone else may be arriving the same day. It is a good idea to check with the person in charge of transport.

Do not invite people whom you befriend while in Honduras to stay overnight at the Ranch unless the National Director has given you permission to do so. We need to guarantee the children’s safety and also need to be sure that those who stay with us understand our mission and the role that adults have in the children’s lives no matter how short their stay.

Grievance PolicyLiving in a foreign place is never easy and will present a number of challenges. We ask that you take an attitude of understanding and tolerance when coming to NPH. A volunteer must understand that s/he has come to serve NPH as it is. The volunteer must be prepared to adapt to NPH and cannot expect NPH to adapt to the volunteer. An open mind and heart are priceless.

If there is a situation in which a volunteer would like to present a complaint, they must be aware of the NPH policy in regards to complaints. The following is the grievance policy.

A. The Executive Committee (ExCom) of NPHI (NPH International) shall establish and maintain a Grievance Committee as a standing sub-committee of the ExCom.

B. The purpose of the Grievance Committee shall be to address grievances from children, staff, support organizations and others against any NPHI or NPH staff person when:

a. Proper channels have been followed and an attempt to settle the manner directly with the person in question has been made;

b. Dealing directly with the person in question is not possible

C. Matters brought to the Grievance Committee are not necessarily protected by the seal of confidentiality. While the Grievance Committee will certainly act at all times with discretion, it will do what it feels necessary to thoroughly and fairly investigate complaints.

D. The Grievance Committee reserves the option to try to reach a solution within the implicated

persons and itself, the Committee, or to refer the matter to the Founder, Executive Director of NPHI or the ExCom, as the Grievance Committee sees fit.

E. As the Grievance Committee is conducting its investigation, it can choose whether to report or not to report to the person who filed the complaint with regards to a final result of his/her work as the Committee see pertinent.

F. The Grievance Committee will not investigate anonymous complaints.

G. Ignoring this process and bringing internal matters to the attention of others, within or outside of NPH, shall be considered a most serious offense and the ExCom reserves the right to impose sanctions

Volunteers are encouraged to bring all problems and concerns directly to the Volunteer Coordinator. The Volunteer Coordinator will then assist the volunteer to seek proper channels to resolve the problem. If the volunteer speaks with the Volunteer Coordinator and feels that their matter has not been properly handled, then they may bring it to the attention of the National Director. As point G of the policy states, all matters must be dealt with internally within NPH Honduras.

3 Month Evaluation and Conference

Feedback is important to any worker in any position. It allows one to reflect and grow in their job. NPH believes in the value of evaluations and feedback. These are a pivotal part of the formation of our employees and volunteers. After you have worked three months at NPH, the Volunteer Coordinator will solicit a short review from your supervisor, from the tíos or tías in your hogar, and from you. After all three documents are completed, s/he will meet with you and discuss the issues both positive and negative that your colleagues have presented. This is also your opportunity to discuss with the Volunteer Coordinator any certain feelings or concerns that you may have about your volunteer experience. At this time, you and NPH will review your situation and decide whether it is

in everyone’s best interests for you to continue in your current position and/or complete your term of service. Reasons for dismal include: poor health, insufficient language ability, lack of cultural adaptability, poor work performance, lack of integration with the children, lack of adherence to NPH philosophy or lack of maturity.

The following behaviors are also grounds for immediate dismissal: indiscrete sexual behavior, romantic involvement

with one of the children, possession or use of drugs or excessive drinking on NPH grounds, offering alcohol to the

children or inviting them to parties with alcohol.

Change of JobBefore being accepted into the volunteer program, every candidate is evaluated and offered a certain position based upon their abilities and skills and the needs of the home at the time. Therefore, every volunteer who comes to NPH Honduras comes with a specific job already assigned. At the time of arrival or any time during their service, a volunteer may be asked to consider changing that job position if the needs of the home have changed. The volunteer will never be obligated to change his/her job, but will be encouraged to consider the needs of the home and the skills that the volunteer has to offer. All work is important and valuable.

If during his/her time of service a volunteer desires to change his/her current job position, s/he must first speak to the Volunteer Coordinator. According to the needs of the home, the VC then will present the petition to the National Director for his/her approval. As every volunteer fulfills a certain need that the home has, the needs of the home will be taken into account. The VC will also consult the current and purposed new supervisor. S/he will then report back to the volunteer about the final decision. NPH must always keep the best interests of the children in mind and we will make that our first priority when considering such cases.

Special ProjectsVolunteers bring many special skills and talents to NPH. Many volunteers have begun such programs as percussion, scouts and aerobics among others.

Volunteers have a keen way of analyzing NPH and creating projects to meet the needs of the children.

When considering a new project we ask that you consider the following.Need: One must consider whether the project really is a need for NPH at this time. Does this project fit into NPH’s goals?Approval: The National Director must approve all new projects beginning at NPH. Volunteers must present a proposal outlining their proposed project. If the project involves the participation of the children, one must also get the permission of the coordinators of the respective houses.Finances: NPH may not be able to finance all projects especially as they are not usually included in the annual budget. Therefore, although a project is approved, volunteers may need to look for their own source of funding and materials to support it. One must always consult the National Director to inform him/her of the source of funding as many times s/he must approve such donations.Schedule: One must consider the current schedule of the children and work around it. Volunteers must also consider their own work schedule and understand that any additional projects are on top of their current work commitments and must be done in their free time. The Volunteer Coordinator must approve any proposed changes in the volunteer´s work schedule. Follow-through: One must consider who is going to continue with the project after s/he has left NPH. Volunteers often pass projects off to other volunteers but there is not always this option. Often the children learn a great skill but are unable to continue to apply and practice said acquired skill. Success: How will the success of this project be measured?

DonationsA message from the international fundraising offices concerning donations:

For US volunteers:Friends of the Orphans is dedicated to supporting the budget that the National Directors of each NPH home have worked hard to create. It is important to note that donations accepted by Friends of the Orphans cannot be designated for a certain person or volunteer. Donations to Friends of the Orphans will support the budgetary needs of NPH, which include but are not limited to: money for food, clothing, education, housing and healthcare. Money (for travel, treats for the kids, books for a classroom, etc…) that friends or family members give directly to you will be considered personal gifts to you. These are absolutely NOT tax deductible because they are not charitable donations (per IRS publication 526). We encourage family and friends of volunteers who wish to give money to do so through Friends of the Orphans.

The support of your family and friends is vital to our ongoing mission of raising children in loving, secure homes. To ensure tax deductibility, all donations to NPH must be made through Friends of the Orphans. Please remember that these donations will go to Friends of the Orphans in general and will not be earmarked in your name.

Another possibility for volunteers is through "Gifts-in-Kind". Gifts-in-Kind are materials (books, clothing,

etc…) donated to Friends of the Orphans. Donations secured in this way must be delivered personally to NPH by the volunteer’s friends or family members (during a visit to NPH) or shipped at their expense. NPH and/or Friends of the Orphans will not assume responsibility for shipping and/or any customs charges for Gifts-in-Kind. The volunteer should consult with the National Director before securing any Gifts-in-Kind to be sure the items are needed by NPH.

For European volunteers:The most important thing in our understanding: the volunteer can only use his/her designated funds for projects with the unambiguous consent of the National Director. S/he is the one who has to agree to the assignment of the money; this must occur before the volunteer starts his/her ‘campaign’ to raise funds for his/her project.

The moment the volunteer gets the special funds s/he has raised with the agreement of the National Director, the money has to be used for this special project. In general volunteers raise funds related to their work. E.g. the majority of therapists are publishing their needs on therapeutic material. The money raised for this cannot be used for other issues on place without consent of the volunteer. ONLY if too much money has been raised may the National Director and the volunteer have to find another solution to use the surplus on money for another purpose. In this case, the donor who has given money for this special project has to be informed accordingly through the perspective office.

Departure

Leaving the Ranch after your volunteer service is never easy. Whether you have been with us for 6 months or several years, you will feel a strong attachment to the people who have become your family, the place which has become your home away from home. We understand this difficulty, and both the Volunteer Coordinator on the Ranch and the Volunteer Coordinator in your home country are available for support in the departure and reintegration process. As you approach the end of your service, there are a few things we ask you to keep in mind.

Many volunteers plan a special farewell celebration, “despedida,” with their hogar at the end of their service. Because of this custom, many of the children have come to expect elaborate despedidas and gifts from the volunteers. In the past, volunteers have taken children on trips or given them extravagant parties with food and gifts. Big despedidas such as these cause problems; the tío/as cannot give the children things of equal material value, there are costs to NPH, an expectation is created that all volunteers must give such a big despedida, etc. The main problem is that we are teaching the children to care about the volunteers for what they give rather than for who they are and for the relationships formed between the volunteers and the children. We want to avoid this image of volunteers as coming to NPH to give material things; they have already given a year of service and love. Despedidas should celebrate the bond between the volunteer and his/her hogar. The celebration need not be extravagant; the point is to spend time together. You are encouraged to include the tío/as in planning your despedida and to focus on sharing a meaningful goodbye with the children you will have, undoubtedly, come to love. When you begin making your plans, please follow the guidelines established in the “Despedida Policy.” This document is available from the Volunteer Coordinator.

Former volunteers are some of our best ambassadors and sponsors and some of our favorite visitors. We hope that you will return after your service to visit the Ranch and we encourage you to do so. However, we do ask that you wait at least six months after your departure date before coming back to visit. This gives the children time to grieve and time to understand the reality that you will no longer be there every day. It is important that they have this time to accept the separation before they see you again. For this reason, volunteers are not allowed to visit during the first six months immediately following their term of service. There are two exceptions to this rule:

1. Should you choose to remain in Honduras for an extended period of time (six months or more) after leaving the Ranch and you plan to continue to be a part of Ranch life, you are welcome to visit. In this case, we will consider that, although you are no longer a volunteer, you are still a steady presence. Once you do leave Honduras, we ask that from the date of your departure you respect the six month rule.

2. Volunteers departing in August are welcome to return during the Christmas period in December, although the full six months will not yet have passed. This exception does not apply to Quinceañeros in November.

Please do not ask us to make other exceptions to this policy. The rule was made for the well being of the children and we expect all volunteers to respect it.

Appendix

Partial List of Rancho Santa Fé Directors, Coordinators and Other StaffDirectorsNPHI Director of Family Services Reinhart KoehlerNPH Honduras National Director Stefan FeuersteinNPH Honduras House Director Patricia VarelaDirector of Administration Lilian IriasPayroll Oneyda Irias

HomesCoordinator of Casa Suyapa (baby house) Lesly Ramirez

Sub-coordinator Francisco (Pancho) RaudalesCoordinator of Talita Kumi (girls) Belinda (Pilin) Bonilla

Sub-coordinator Vilma AlcántaraCoordinator of Buen Pastor (boys) Roger Fúnez

Sub-coordinator Marco JiménezCoordinator of Casa Eva (abuelos) Telma RomeroCoordinator of Casa Ángeles Sonia RodríguezCoordinator of Pasos Pequeñitos Rosalina Osorio

Education/FormationPrincipal of Ranch School Jessyca PalaciosSpecial Education Coordinator Yolanda MurilloGuidance Counselor/ School Discipline vacantCoordinator of Vocational Center Jorge GuadrónVocational Internship Program and Egreso Follow-up program Mauricio CallesCoordinator of Year of Service/Student Leadership program José Ramón EspinalCoordinator of High School and University male students Walter LagosCoordinator of High School and University female students Lorna UrreaSocial Worker Silvia ReyesCoordinator of Psychology Elvin Moncada

MedicalHealth Coordinator Alma AyalaPharmacy Guadelupe ObandoDentist Dr. Dilcia RodriguezLaboratory Technician Dra. SandraPhysician Dr. Merlin Antunez

Other DepartmentsVolunteer Coordinator Cate JohnstonFarm Coordinator Prisciliano ZepedaReligión Alexis, Encarnación, Roxana, FedericoSponsorship Yeny GarciaPublic Relations Claudia CerratoHuman Resources Isabel RubioGardens/Hortaliza Oscar CruzKitchen ReinaTransportation Manuel LagosDrivers Moncho, Armando, Juan Felix Visitor Coordinator Stephanie RuksyioProject Coordinator Armin SpichigerHome Correspondent Teri Lyshorn

List of HogarsChildren at Rancho Santa Fé are placed in homes (hogares) based on maturity and grade level. Ages are approximate.

Casa Suyapa (girls and boys)Casa Suyapa: ages 0-9

Talita Kumi (girls)Lower House: Upper House:Hijas de Maria: ages 8-12 Inmaculada Concepción: ages 14-18Estrellas de Belén: ages 10-12 Hijas del Pilar: ages 15 and upHermanas de Jesús: ages 11-16 Nuestra Sra. de Guadalupe: ages 20 and up

Other houses:Madre Teresa: aspirantes and Year of Service pequeñasSanta Maria Reina: varied girls with special needs

Buen Pastor (boys)Upper House: Lower House:San Francisco de Asis: ages 8-10 Ángeles de Dios: currently unoccupiedSan Pablo: ages 9-12 Discípulos de Jesús: ages 14-16San Miguel Arcángel: ages 11-13 San Lucas: ages 16 and upArca de Noé: ages 12-15 San Pedro: currently unoccupied

Other Houses:San Eduardo Rey: aspirantes, Year of Service pequeñosCasa Enmanuel: varied boys with special needsSan Andrés: varied boys in need of individualized attention

Calendar of EventsAs members of a family, the staff of NPH celebrates holidays with the children. Volunteers are required to spend Christmas, New Year’s, Easter (with the exception of those working at the school) and a variety of other special days at the Ranch. Volunteers should schedule vacation plans around Ranch holidays and around their work obligations. What follows is a list of days that are celebrated at the Ranch, some more intensely than others:

January01 Año Nuevo06 Día de los Reyes Magos (Three King’s Day)Last Sunday Visitors Day (when family can visit kids on

the Ranch)

February03 Día de la Virgen de Suyapa, Santa Patrona de

HondurasPresident’s weekend NPH International Board Meeting12 Aniversario de Casa Ángeles14 Día del Amor y la Amistad

March19 Día del PadreHoly Week/ Easter (March or April, depending on

Catholic Church)

April14 Día de las Américas20 Aniversario de la Escuela18-21 Semana del Idioma22 Día de la Tierra** Pentecostés** Asunción de Cristo

May01 Día del Trabajo10 Día de la Madre22 Día del Padrino29 Aniversario NPH–HondurasLast Sunday Visitors’ Day

June11 Día del Estudiante, Semana Pedagógica

July20 Día de la Lempira

August02 Aniversario de la Fundación de NPH (1954 en

México)03 Día de la Raza15 Asunción de la Virgen María17 Día de Padre Wasson** Olimpiadas (always subject to change)

September01 Día de la Bandera10 Celebración Día del Niño15 Día de la Independencia17 Día del Maestro28 Día de los Pliegos de la Independencia29 Aniversario de TegucigalpaLast Sunday Visitors Day

October03 Día del Nacimiento de Francisco Morazán12 Día del Descubrimiento de las Américas21 Día de las Fuerzas Armadas

November01 Día de todos los Santos02 Día de los difuntos2nd and 3rd week Final exams**Fiesta Quinceañeros (a Friday in late November)** Actos de Clausura, Talleres**Actos de Clausura, Escuela

December(first Sunday) Comienzo de Adviento(first Monday) Inicio de Cursos Vacacionales7 Día de Inmaculada Concepción16 Inicio de las Posadas12 Convivio de Navidad con el Personal24 Nochebuena25 Navidad31 Noche Vieja

List of Embassies & Consulates (in Tegucigalpa)

Argentina—Colonia Rubén Darío, Avenida JoséMaría Medina 417, tel. 232-3376 or 232-3274Belize—bottom floor of Hotel Honduras Maya,tel. 239- 0134Brazil—Colonia La Reforma, Calle La Salle 1309,tel. 236-6310 or 236-5873Canada—Edificio Los Castaños, BoulevardMorazán, tel 231-4538 or 231-4548Colombia—Edificio Palmira, 4th floor, acrossfrom Honduras Maya, tel. 232-1709Costa Rica—Residencia El Triángulo, 1 Calle3451, tel. 232-1768 or 239-0787Chile—Edificio La Interamericana, BoulevardMorazán, tel. 232-2114 or 232-4095China—Col. Lomas de Guajiro, number 3705,tel. 232-4490 or 239-3062Denmark—Boulevard Los Próceres, Edificio LaPaz, tel. 236-6407 or 236-6645Ecuador—Avenida Juan Lindo 122, ColoniaPalmira, tel. 236-5980, fax 236-6929El Salvador—Colonia San Carlos 2A, #219,tel. 236-7344 or 236-8045France—Colonia Palmira, Avenida Juan Lindo3A, tel. 236-6800 or 236-6432Germany—Edificio Paysen, 3rd floor, BoulevardMorazán, tel. 232-3161 or 232-3162Great Britain—Edificio Palmira, 3rd floor, acrossfrom Hotel Honduras Maya, tel. 232-3161 or232-0618

Guatemala—Colonia Las Minitas, 4 Calle, ArturoLópez Rodezno 2421, tel. 232-9704 or 232-5018Holland—Rest. El Trapiche, Boulevard Suyapa,tel. 235-8090Israel—Edificio Palmira, 5th floor, across fromHonduras Maya, tel. 232-4232 or 232-5176Italy—Colonia Reforma, Calle Principal 2602,tel. 236-6810 or 236-8027Japan—Colonia San Carlos between 4 and 5Calles, tel 236-6828 or 236-6829Mexico—Colonia Palmira, Avenida República deMéxico, tel. 232-6471 or 232-4039Nicaragua—Colonia Lomas del Tepeyac B-M-1,tel. 232-4290 or 232-9025Panama—Edificio Palmira, 2nd floor, across fromHonduras Maya, tel.239-5508Peru—Colonia La Reforma, Calle Principal,tel. 221-0596 or 221-0604Portugal—Colonia Alameda, Avenida Principal,Edificio Festival, tel. 231-5007Spain—Colonia Matamoros, Calle Santander 801,tel. 236-6875 or 236-6589Sweden–Colonia Miramontes, Avenida Altiplano2758, tel. 232-4935Switzerland—Edificio Galerías, BoulevardMorazán, tel. 232-6239 or 232-9692United States—Avenida La Paz, tel. 236-9320to -9329Venezuela—Colonia Rubén Dario, Calle ArturoLópez, tel. 232-1886 or 232-1879

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF NPH HONDURAS VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK 2010 AND COMPREHENSION OF INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN

By signing this document, I confirm that I have carefully read all the information contained within the NPH Honduras Volunteer Handbook 2010 and I have been given the opportunity to discuss said information with the Volunteer Coordinator. I acknowledge my own personal responsibility for the information given and agree to abide by the described rules, policies and procedures.

Name: ___________________________________________________________

Signature: ___________________________________________________________

Date: ___________________________________________________________