Let’s go down to the fishing hole

We’ve all heard the saying, “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for life.” For a long time, I believed in this idea—until I saw the reality in Honduras. Teaching someone to fish only works if they have access to a fishing spot. But what if there’s no place to fish, or worse, what if the water is polluted and the fish are unsafe to eat? This is the situation many people in the community face.

The obstacles go beyond just lack of resources. With limited job training, widespread corruption, and social barriers, community members are often locked out of the job market and relegated to low-paying labor jobs or recycling in the landfill. Our challenge is to help open real doors of opportunity.

One approach we’ve taken is through partnerships with local businesses. For example, Neptali, who owns a welding shop, had done work around the community for us in the past. One day, we asked him if he’d be willing to hire a young man from the community if we covered the salary. Seeing the mutual benefit, Neptali agreed, and José Carlos began learning to weld and hold down a steady job. José Carlos proved so trustworthy that Neptali has since hired another young man from the community.

We continue to look for these type opportunities for the community.  Fishing for opportunity works best when you find—or create—a good fishing hole.

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