A Tale of Three Backpacks

Sometimes people don’t fully understand the huge impact that receiving a backpack full of school supplies and a pair of school shoes can have on a child in Honduras. For that reason, Trish and Allen have come up with the three most common scenarios for the children who receive backpacks. While these are fictionalized accounts, the stories are all too real.

Jose

Jose’s family is working hard to get him to school. It is a top priority and it is likely that Jose will attend school without the gift of a backpack full of school supplies. Even so, receiving a backpack relieves a financial burden from his family. They will be able to have a slightly better standard of living than they would otherwise have. For children like Jose, the backpack is a blessing.

Maria

Maria’s family is not well-to-do, even by Honduran standards. While they want her to go to school, their actual ability to send her could go either way. The most likely scenario is that Maria will receive a little schooling before she is forced to end her education after a couple of years. The family is always one unexpected expense away from having to tell Maria they can no longer send her to school. For the children like Maria, the backpack is a safety net.

Juan

Juan lives with his grandmother, whose total income is $30 a month. There is not a chance in the world that she will be able to send Juan to school, unless someone provides him with school supplies and the shoes he needs. For children like Juan, the backpack is an educational lifeline.


Statistically, one in three backpacks is going to a “Juan”. This is verified through the school attendance records in areas served by the backpack program. Regardless of which child your backpack is helping, rest assured that it is changing a life.

 - posted by Christi