Oct 17

Written by: reh
10/17/2008

Friday, Oct 17, 2008

5:30AM On the road to Teguci for my meeting with PRAF officials.

6:00AM Held up at the area where the road is subsiding for an hour while fallen rocks are removed and the road is made passable. At Hotel Guijarros at 9:00AM

10:30PM Jessica and I are at the offices of PRFA. We are lead through a hallway/meeting room with a TV discussion in session (very awkward) and into the Director’s office. We wait in a very comfortable sitting room. Soon we are joined by Abog. (lawyer, it is common for a person to be introduced with their professional title) Sidia Velasquez who is the private secretary (office manager) for the Director and Aboq. Roberto Lanza, General Council robertolanzab@yahoo.es They explained that the Director is involved with the meeting we came through to get to her office. I said that we appreciate their time to sit with us and suggested that I explain a little about L4L while wait; that we may cover some of the info twice, but that is ok. Both listened very attentively. After our explanation Mr. Lanza explained that he (they) would be glad to help introduce our program to the Minister of Education and champion our project but PRAF is relatively small with limited ability to help, though they have similar programs in the larger cities. Jessica and I were very encouraged by their attentiveness and interest in helping us down the right path. We were exchanging email addresses when Ms. Lidia Diaz, the Director joined us. Mr. Lanza summarized what we had presented. Ms. Diaz then went through their various programs. PRAF works with remedial education of over 100,000 people, provides various health care services for 250,000 people and school assistance for 75,000 elementary school students, there yearly budget is over $16,000,000! Not exactly small! Remember that the World Bank had forgiven national debt if the Government provided money for social services? It appears that PRAF is one of these organizations. As the discussion continued, I came to realize that Ms. Diaz and I were not communicating; her responses were not related to my comments (one of us was off key). I was sure that our best opportunity was to work through Mr. Lanza to get connected with the Department of Education. At one point, Ms. Diaz explained that the Honduras Government has a lunch program that reaches all schools and PRAF doesn’t duplicate efforts. Through three or four interruptions for elaboration by Ms. Diaz and a few “important” phone calls, I patiently explained “I don’t know much about the country of Honduras but do know quite a bit about the area in Valle district where the L4L 12 schools and 1,000 students are located. During our first year the Honduras/UN organization provided nothing; L4L provided the entire lunch program. During the second year, the Honduras/UN organization provided a voucher for one month and returned with another in 6 to 8 weeks; L4L filled in the shortfall. This year the Honduras/UN organization has made all deliveries and L4L used the unneeded money to build 3 kitchens. Finally, L4L expects shortfalls in delivery as the world food crises deepens; L4L intends to fill that void.” I watched Ms. Diaz; it was pretty clear that she agreed with my assessment. Later Jessica told me that she had watched Mr. Lanza and he was visibly startled to hear that there had been shortfalls in the Honduras/UN program. Ms. Diaz asked if we would work in another part of Honduras. I explained that we would be most efficient building in Valle District. After a short discussion, Ms. Diaz asked how we thought PRAF could help L4L. I explained that we have management in place to expand our lunch program to more than 4,000 students; L4L needs a sponsor to finance the expansion. Ms. Diaz said the budget was set for this year and nothing could be done till next year. I said that we are in this for the long haul; we will be here when we can fit into PRAF plans. Ms. Diaz said that they would have to verify our program with an on-site visit. I said that we encouraged a visit and welcome the opportunity to tour schools in the program with us. Ms. Daiz got her calendar out and said the only time open for quite a while is next week. I asked when. How about Tuesday? I recommended that they drive down Monday evening and we tour three schools Tuesday Morning. Ms. Daiz said the three of them and one other will be coming. Jessica will meet them and come down with them. An absolutely amazing, if odd, meeting.

5:00PM Just opened my email to the following message:
My husband, Dr. Moncada, had met you recently and had given an overview of your mission and work. I have friends here in the metro Atlanta area who have recently inquired about assisting a charity in Honduras, but with its' "iffy" organizations, I didn't want to lead them to one I didn't trust. Lunches for Learning sounds like the one we can help with! I am planning a short trip in November with my friend and she and I would like to meet with the local director and see where and if we could assist. Both of us are business owners and would even consider a corporate sponsorship. Thank you in advance for your assistance. Sharon Moncada, Cumming, GA (spouse of Armando Moncada)

A couple of after-thoughts:

• Jessica translated our brochure into Spanish. I asked her to have some made on better paper with the transparent cover and cardboard back (like the ones we use in the US). She called to tell me they would cost $16 so she only got one for our visit to World Bank. Mr. Mossi wanted to keep it. We went into the PRAF meeting with nothing! A huge mistake! When we were asked for specific school locations and other questions, we were compelled to promise an email and refer them to our website. Good meeting, lousy setup; that won’t happen again!
• Jessica sent an email of resignation a few weeks before my trip. Family considerations, her husband doesn’t like her traveling and she doesn’t like leaving her family. It is clear that Jessica really enjoys working with the L4L program. I explained that she is the person we need presenting L4L to the Honduras community. After our meeting with PRAF, I explained that we will tailor her tasks to fit around her family (like translating the brochure or calling people that she can do at times convenient to her). I will find another interpreter and will require her presence to accompany me at meetings very rarely. I explained that I have been managing projects longer than she has been alive and know she is the perfect fit for L4L right now; we need her as our Honduras point person and we need Fernando as our Manager. So she can’t quit and that is that. I think she needed that and really wants to stay involved (after all, she told the PRAF people that she will bring them to Nacaomi without being asked). Right now, during this phase it is up to me to keep Jessica involved.
• I am coming to understand that most social agencies like to work in large metropolitan areas because they can include many more individuals with the same management and dollars. Ours is somewhat unique in that we stay rural even if we can’t cover as many kids under that same umbrella.
• Finally: Something is going to break. Keep the faith. I don’t know that we will make it but I know we’re close to making it. I must work the leads that we are developing and we must hold the fort while we work these leads.

7:15PM End of day.

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