Statistics
| Capital: | Tegucigalpa | |
| Population: | 7.6 million | |
| Major Cities: | Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, El Progreso | |
| Language: | Spanish | |
| Median Age: | 19.4 years | |
| Population below Age 14: | 39.3% | |
| Population Growth Rate: | 2.09% | |
| HIV/AIDS Infection Rate: | 1.8% (highest in Latin America) | |
| Unemployment Rate: | 27.9% (highest in Latin America) | |
| Population Below Poverty Level: | 50.7% | |
| Number of Orphaned Children: | 180,000 |
The Children
The devastating social conditions put many children in Honduras at extreme risk. Abject poverty, violence, and family disintegration is a common story for them. Girls are particularly vulnerable, often becoming victims of early pregnancy, violence, and neglect. Many become prostitutes at a young age to support their families. Other children may live in the streets to shine shoes, dig through trash, beg, or become involved in illegal activities. There are almost no governmental social services to help children at risk in Honduras.
Many of these children do not go to school because they cannot afford the entrance fees (only a few dollars), and 30 cents a day for the bus fare. Others are refused entrance because they lack shoes and backpacks. In some parts of the country, children may not find a school close enough to attend. Without an adequate education, it is almost impossible for these children to escape the cycle of poverty.
El Progreso
SHH carries out most of its projects in El Progreso, the fourth largest city in Honduras and home to 100,000 people. El Progreso is only an hour away from the beaches of Tela and 20 minutes away from the San Pedro Sula airport.
