ASJ-US Team
Welcome Statement/Justicia Fall 2024
October 10, 2024
ACOMPAÑAMOS
Walking alongside each other for a more just society.
Dear Friend,
It is with great joy that we bring you another edition of our Justicia magazine.
As we work to build a more just society in Honduras, we get to witness so many incredible stories of resilience and justice in community.
One of the values we strive to practice is “Acompañar,” which means to walk alongside each other. Our work is done in partnership with a team of brave Hondurans seeking justice, peace, and systemic reform in Honduras. It is an honor for us to walk alongside our partners, community members, and supporters. We also
strive to inspire people around the world to seek justice in their own contexts.
The stories you will find in this edition all share that common sentiment of “Acompañar.” We hope that as you read, you will be inspired and challenged to join us in seeking justice and walking together. (See stories below)
Blessings,
*The names of program participants included in these stories have been changed to protect their privacy.*
Walking alongside Isabel
ASJ works to strengthen the public education system in Honduras. Public education in Honduras faces many challenges, including poor infrastructure, outdated teaching methodology and curriculum, and motivation challenges for both students and teachers. Given that over 2 million Honduran children
depend on the public education system, our ASJ team has dedicated itself to advocating for improvements to this system that will benefit those children who most need it. Our team not only advocates for national reform
but also walks alongside the communities we are advocating for.
One of those children is Isabel, who is
currently in fourth grade at her local
elementary.
Walking alongside each other
Seeking justice is a road better walked with community. That is why our work is done
in partnership with brave Honduran brothers and sisters who are passionate about improving systems in Honduras. That is why we “acompañamos” (walk alongside).
That is why we invest in vulnerable communities to equip Honduran youth and families to build stronger futures.
Answering some additional questions from our summer webinar.
Over the summer, we were grateful to connect with our community of justice
seekers in the US through our webinar “Café & Conversación.” We were excited to see so many of you and to hear from our guest speaker, Jessica Pavón who is the director of communications for our ASJ- Honduras team.
During the session, Jessica shared her invaluable insights on strengthening democracy, the importance of free speech, and the critical role of citizen participation
in building a more just society. Her passion and dedication to justice in Honduras shone through, making for a truly memorable experience.
In this edition of Justicia, we are highlighting our value of “Acompañar,” and we also want to invite you to check out our other values.
We recognize we are broken individuals who make up an imperfect organization. Therefore, we are grateful to have so many incredible supporters who hold us accountable and encourage us to carry out these values to the best of our ability.
You can read more about our values through our website:
Highlights from our 25th Anniversary Celebration in Grand Rapids, MI
MY EMPTY VILLAGE / HOW IMMIGRATION AFFECTS A COMMUNITY (by Sara Pineda)
Young Hondurans have stepped up for democracy (by Blanca Stephanie Elvir)
Reflecting on 25 years of seeking justice together (by Jo Ann Van Engen)
From the Executive Director
What does paused international aid mean for ASJ?
Something Worth Waiting For
Will you walk with us for a more just society?
The beauty of doing justice in community
What I've Been Thinking About the Past Week
