Friends United, a Kansas City nonprofit founded after a 1987 trip to Honduras, is strengthening education across borders by delivering books to Honduran schools and bringing Honduran teachers to learn from local educators.
Bridging the book gap
UNICEF reports that about 28 percent of children ages 3 to 17 in Honduras are out of school. Recognizing that lack of resources hampers learning, co‑founder Paulette Baker Eubanks says, “If you don’t have the resources, then you cannot have equal education.” Over the years, Friends United has taken thousands of books to classrooms that previously had none, answering the simple question of how to teach a child to read without a book.
Teacher exchange program
The organization’s work now goes beyond books. Teachers from Honduras travel to Kansas City to observe best‑practice teaching in the Independence School District, which has opened its doors to the visiting educators. Retired Honduran teacher Bessy Morales, now president of Friends United in Honduras, says the experience empowers her colleagues back home. “It is very meaningful to me because seeing the impact it has on the teachers who visit the schools here is something that truly fulfills me,” she explained.
Morales adds, “We learn strategies and look at how we can make a difference in the lives of the children in our care.” The exchange aims to adapt Kansas City teaching methods to Honduran classrooms, improving instruction for thousands of students.
How the community can help
Friends United invites Kansas City residents to support its mission through donations, book drives, or by providing resources for visiting teachers. The organization’s website offers details on how to get involved and continue the partnership that gives children a better chance to learn and grow.
“Better‑educated people choose better leaders and become better neighbors,” the group reminds supporters, underscoring the long‑term benefits of education for families and communities on both sides of the border.
Original reporting: KSHB 41 Kansas City (local) — read the source article.
