Brenda is Fabretto’s Director of Programs and is based in Guatemala City.

In July, I had the privilege of spending a few weeks in Honduras in the communities that Fabretto is serving. It was a trip worth every minute, and by the end of it, I wished I had more days in each of the places I visited, so that I could spend more time in the communities and with the students. 

Here are just a few of the many highlights from this trip, to give you a taste of Fabretto’s work in Honduras:

Representing Fabretto at Impact Partner E2E’s Rural Youth Summit

This unique opportunity gave voice to youth from very rural areas of Honduras. It’s not every day that you see transparent dialogue between youth and adults – especially youth from rural areas. 

I was thrilled that our partner, E2E, invited me to speak on a panel. The Summit was a great opportunity to connect with public authorities in the education sector and the private sector, among others. 

On a panel with colleagues from Universidad Zamorano, World Vision Honduras, and RedAgro. We answered critical questions like “What skills do rural youth need to develop today to successfully enter the current economy or create their livelihoods?” I was excited to share about our CaTec and youth entrepreneurship programs, among others. Throughout the two-day event, I met many new people who share our goals to improve education for rural youth and are interested in learning about Fabretto’s work. Thank you, E2E, for organizing this impactful space!

Inclusive Education in Action – Seeing “Sinergias” with Partner ACOES

I had the amazing opportunity to visit and learn about our partner ACOES’s innovative “Sinergias” project firsthand. Sinergias is a first-of-its-kind inclusive education program reaching the most marginalized barrios of Tegucigalpa and rural communities. Thanks to the generous support of Fundación ADEY and the Kettering Family Foundation, Fabretto is helping to support Sinergias.

I met with several volunteers (very young people) who serve in this project and heard their stories. We had not planned to visit the centers, but when Elvia, an ACOES Youth Coordinator, asked if I wanted to visit, I, of course, said yes. 

Sinergias has achieved many remarkable things, but I was particularly impressed by:

• The spirit of service that the caregivers have for the children and youth of Sinergias. With dedication, love, and patience, they have opened a critical outlet of support for the most vulnerable children in Tegucigalpa. 
• I was deeply moved by their work to make the ACOES centers a home – a welcoming and safe space for children and families who need it the most. 
• The faith and courage that the ACOES team has, serving in places where no other organization dares to work. Even in the face of adversity, ACOES persists to serve children with disabilities.  

Youth-Led Production at “Finca Macuelizo” – A Collaboration with Zamorano

I made a quick stop at the ACOES farm, “Finca Macuelizo,” where I was impressed by how far the project has come. Just a year ago, when the project began, the building was dilapidated and farmland was overrun with brush. 

Today, the finca Macuelizo is an example of how, with dedication, patience, and targeted technical assistance from experts at Zamorano and Fabretto’s team, youth can make land productive and enrich their environment. The farm is producing green beans, cucumbers, squash, corn, papayas, and so many other fruits and vegetables. They are also raising animals – I loved visiting the bunnies, the goats, their dogs, and even the lizards!

I had the opportunity to talk with the youth, and it really filled my heart to hear how much they have learned – and how proud they are of the farm’s progress.

CaTec Training – Empowering Rural Leaders

In beautiful Marcala (which already feels like home!), we met for the second facilitator training of the year for CATEC program facilitators. I loved the opportunity to share with the facilitators who were looking forward to seeing each other again and, this time, share their results and achievements with each other. I had the opportunity to share with them thoughts on self-care, security, and the responsibility of our interventions at the local level in the spirit of promoting a better impact. 

It was especially encouraging to have new facilitators joining the training, new organizations, and, of course, the presence of participants from three different countries, which made the encounter a truly diverse and multicultural experience. 

Connecting with Our Team & Volunteers

Although Fabretto’s team is geographically distributed, every time we have the opportunity to meet up in person, I am very inspired by their love and dedication to Padre Fabretto’s obra – to our mission. 

In Honduras, colleagues from different countries and from Honduras met for a deep dive on first semester results, planning, and strategy. I also had the chance to connect with Dara, our wonderful volunteer in Honduras, who is promoting youth innovation in coffee communities (watch for an upcoming blog on her experience!). 

Each member of the team shared their thoughts and insights on where we are heading, and it is especially impressive for me to see their commitment and how they embrace Fabretto’s goals as their own. We finished this session by looking into the feedback loop, an exercise that brought us to share happy tears and celebrate our achievements and accomplishments together. 

What’s Next

I returned to Guatemala excited about Fabretto’s progress in Honduras and what’s to come in the second half of 2025. We’re especially excited to meet up with our partners in Copán, Honduras, in August for a special Partner Workshop. Stay tuned!

Written by Brenda Xum

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