Following the conclusion of Midtown’s first student-led service trip to Honduras, students started the Hearts for Honduras club in order to provide support to Honduras and promote the importance of giving back.
Working in underserved communities has changed students’ perspectives about the world around them.
“I’ve learned from Hearts with Honduras that the things we value or think are important in America aren’t as important as the true meaning of life,” D’Eric Mitchell, a junior member, said. “We are so infatuated with materialistic things that we overlook things like relationships and nature.”
The club has focused on giving back to Honduras, following the service trip in February. The trip, and now the club, are both led by Cheryl Nahmias, who chose Honduras after several of her own volunteer experiences there.
“I chose Honduras because I’ve been to this area myself twice this year to volunteer, and I have complete confidence in the organization we’ll be working with down there,” Nahmias said.
On the Honduras trip, a select group of Midtown students were able to complete service projects as a part of Midtown’s first exclusively volunteering international trip. The idea to start the club came at the airport on the way home.
“I was not planning on a club, but the students wanted a way to continue the work once we returned, and I thought it was a great idea,” Nahmias said. “We wanted a way for more Midtown students to get involved in this important service work.”
Interacting with local children in Honduras was a huge part of the trip and made a lasting impact on many club members. Students were able to test their leadership skills and interact with local children who looked up to them.
“We’d interact with them by playing games and doing simple crafts with the kids who lived in the village,” Nahmias said. “The bonds our students forged with the people and children they served was a highlight for me.”
Midtown partnered with Honduras Outreach International, which works to improve buildings in Honduras while aiming to expand the opportunities local people have access to.
“There’s a focus on improving education and healthcare, so there’s a lot to learn about development and how systems we take for granted in the United States can be thoughtfully built from the ground up,” Nahmias said.
For many club members, seeing how other people live their lives in a separate part of the world was a very rewarding opportunity.
“It wasn’t only amazing, it was really eye-opening to see different things and people throughout the world,” Mitchell said. “The trip, experience, people and lessons learned were insurmountable.”
Their fundraising projects have continued in Atlanta to further their mission of giving back. Sophomore Ada Bryant, a two year member of Hearts for Honduras, is grateful for the service opportunities provided by the club even outside of the Honduras trip.
“My favorite service opportunity has been volunteering for the Inman Park festival,” Bryant said. “Not only did it feel great to raise money for the people we had met, but it was a great way to watch the parade.”
This past weekend, the club hosted a parking lot fundraising event as another way to raise money. New members of the club engaged in community service and had the opportunity to learn lessons from their peers. Nahmias hopes club members are getting a wide range of experiences.
“I hope they all get the satisfaction of physical labor or raising money and helping to build something that will make a lasting and permanent difference for other people.” Nahmias said.
The club is planning another service trip to Honduras for this February. Students can get in contact with Nahmias for more information. Bryant feels that the club’s influence reaches past the Midtown community.
“My favorite part about being in Hearts for Honduras is seeing the faces of the little kids we interact with and knowing that we helped bring a smile to their faces,” Bryant said. “It is so amazing to see the impact we are making in real time to help others.”
