Project Guide –
Team-Up for Honduras
Introduction
Team-Up program was created to help young women, upon leaving the girls home, to
integrate into society. Belonging to the program is a privilege for these young women
and not an obligation for the project. The benefits that the program offers is for the
young women who leave the ‘Hogar de Ninas’ in good standing, upon finishing their
high school studies. This help is offered to them with their understanding that they form
part of this project and must meet the expectations that the project requires of them and
be willing to comply with the rules. If they are unwilling to comply with certain rules, the
program will be required to take measures in the matter.
Mission (John and Laurel Leedy: Keith and Flo Ramer)
The mission of Team Up For Honduras is to be real people to those in need in
Honduras including the children and staff at the Santa Rosa de Copan Hogar de Ninas,
the girls who leave the orphanage, and others as opportunities arise, by exemplifying
Christ’s love through our prayers, interactions, support, and actions, and by listening to
their voices and hearts, as well as God’s direction regarding our role in their lives and
culture.
Objective
Establish the benefits that "Team-Up For Honduras" provides, helping them initially with
housing, to ensure that they become strong and independent women, capable of caring
for themselves in a society where ‘love thy neighbor’ is a thing of the past.
With this in mind, we feel obligated to also detail what is expected of these young
women to be part of this project so that together we can manage the different
personalities as well the responsibilities of those living in the home.
Requirements for membership in the program
1. Wanting to belong to the program
2. Be at least 18 years old
3. Retain and implement good principles and moral values
4. Respect and fulfill the requirements of the program which are detailed below.
5. Be a high school graduate
* The project offers help for the girls when they leave the girls’ home for those
who are willing to adapt and accept the objective of the project. The program also
continues to help with college expenses beyond the time they are in the project
for those who wish to complete their studies.
Contractual agreements
The project will involve a one year contract with each participant. Each year the
contract will be reviewed. It can be renewed based on necessity, compliance with
the program, and achieving personal goals. The program leaders will do personal
evaluations with each program participant, to see how they are doing with
meeting what is required and expected of them, as well as their personal growth.
These evaluations will be conducted in the months of April, August, and
December each year. The evaluations along with a review of established goals
and overall progress will help us determine with the participant whether they
deserve to continue in the program.
Section One: Regarding the House
General Rules
o Things do not clean themselves. Maintaining order and cleanliness in general is
a requirement of Team-Up participants and will be taken into account in the
assessments. We emphasize this because of it being a problem in the past.
Each person needs to be responsible for what they dirty (when cooking, if they
drip something, drink something, spilled something in the microwave, etc.) even
though it is not their area to clean. Collaborating in this way will help with the
overall cleanliness of the home.
o House expenses and public utilities (electricity, water, gas, cable, and others that
may arise) will be shared between all those living in the home. For those who
misuse these services, their percentage will be greater and this will be decided
by those in charge.
o Utensils, furniture, appliances and all things that belong to the project are for the
exclusive use of those who live in the home, therefore, you are asked to make
good use of these goods and take care of them (and to not take anything). In
case you need to use an item outside the house, you must first get permission to
do so.
o Food costs are personal; each person consumes their own food and no one
else’s.
o Guest are not permitted to stay the night in the house without the prior
permission of Blanca and Jose (both).
o Visits are allowed only in the evening during the week. On weekends, visits are
permitted in the afternoon and evening, but with permission of Blanca or Jose.
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(visitors are not allowed in the bedrooms, except for persons who have previous
authorization to stay overnight).
Visits from men are only allowed in the outside front area (garage). With
permission of one of those in charge and their being present, male visitors are
allowed in the living and dining room.
Considering the current situation of violence in our city, for your safety and that of
Team-Up, the curfew to be at the home during the week is at 11 pm and 12 pm
on weekends. This is not flexible for those girls in their first year, but can be
flexible for girls in the following years who have demonstrated maturity and
responsibility. This will be looked at in the assessments done every 4 months.
For legal reasons for the program, Blanca or Jose must be notified in advance for
someone to stay the night outside the home and that individual must sign a
statement saying that they are liable 100% of what might happen to them outside
the home.
With permission, the girls are allowed to meet at the house with classmates from
the university.
With respect to alcohol and cigarettes, the project does not encourage their use
and therefore consuming them without authorization in the house is prohibited.
(consumption of alcoholic beverages in moderation,on special occasions is
allowed with prior permission)
House Rules
Requirements:
1. Do not steal!- (this includes anything and everything that belongs to others or
the house-food, money, clothing, everything! We hope that this is very clear !!!)
2. Do not take anything without prior permission of the owner (borrowing things).
3. Do not use vocabulary that is not honorable to you or to others, this is required
to create a healthy and mature environment for all.
4. Out of respect for the others living in the home, noise is to be at a minimum
after 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and after 10:30 p.m. on the weekends.
5. Mutual respect in the house is a must!
Serious Offenses
When a serious offense is committed, it will be addressed immediately, without waiting
for the evaluations. The considered serious offenses are:
1. The continued failure to do their assigned task in the house.
2. We recognize that most of the girls come with a vocabulary that we consider
unacceptable for persons in a Christian based project. Taking this into account,
we will give each person the opportunity to improve their language in the home, if
someone refuses to change these habits, it will be considered a major offense.
3. Leaving the home overnight without written permission, much less without
saying anything. This will be considered an abuse of authority.
4. Arriving after their curfew, without prior notice or a good reason.
5. Involvement in stealing anything from anyone in the home.
6. Serious damaging gossip or defamation of character.
7. Physically fighting or serious insults.
8. The lack of interest in improving behavior.
9. Abuse of the rules established regarding visits to the house
10. Involvement in illegal activities.
Note: Serious offenses will be addressed at the time that they happen without waiting
for evaluations and previous evaluations will be considered in determining the required
consequences which may vary from an increase in one’s monthly payment or in
extreme cases, we may be forced to make unpleasant decisions such as expulsion if
deemed necessary.
Section II-Benefits
Educational benefits
Benefits for those studying and in vocational training
1. For those studying in the EUCENM or the Catholic University, the project will help
them with a percentage (see educational reimbursement sheet) of the monthly payment
and a grant of L430 (minimum 2 classes), which sometimes will be given by Unbound
and other times by Team-Up. If you have to repeat a class, the student will fully cover
the cost of such class.
2. For those studying in the public university CUROC and the Pedagogica, the project
will cover the tuition fee, as there is no monthly fee, and the individual will also receive
the monthly scholarship of L430. In addition the project will reimburse transportation
costs with a maximum of L300/month.
3. With respect to books, notebooks, supplies, etc., the project will cover 80% of these
expenses and the student 20%.
4. English classes, beauty salon, cooking classes, etc., the program will help with 80%
of monthly class fee and enrollment, and 70% of materials required for the course.
5. As for required trips for the universities, the project will pay 100% of the
transportation and L50 daily to help with extra cost of food. A note is required from the
professor along with an estimate of expenses.
Studying full time and not working
We realize there may be some areas of study, that due to the curriculum and where the degree
it is being offered, it may be nearly impossible to study and work at the same time. For this
reason we offer the opportunity for these persons to only study, if they are willing to accept
that this will mean sacrifices by themselves and their willingness to pay off a student loan upon
finishing school. As these students will receive extra help, they must first prove themselves by
showing us that they can follow the guidelines of this project and have the maturity to apply
themselves and take advantage of this opportunity to its fullest.
For those studying in CUROC or the Pedagogica, they will receive a L.430/monthly scholarship,
and L.750 food and living allowance. They will be required to sign a promissory note for their
rent during years two, three, and four. This money will have to be paid back after finishing or
leaving the university. To qualify for this assistance, a student must have satisfactorily
completed at least one trimester of studies and have demonstrated that they can follow the
rules of the project, and they must also sign a promissory note to pay back the loan portion
after leaving the university. A grace period of 3 months will be given for those who graduate
from the university before they have to start repaying the loan. The student is also required to
keep a minimum of 80% or a B average in order to continue to receive this opportunity.
For those studying in the Catholic University, the student will be required to be granted the
school scholarship ‘Beca-Prestamo’ which is an interest-free student loan. The student loan is
equivalent to the monthly tuition at the catholic university. The student must also maintain a
80% or B average in order to continue to receive the loan. The Catholic University has to also
be the only university in Santa Rosa offering their particular degree. The Student will be able to
use part of the school scholarship to pay for food, living expenses, and their share of rent in
years two, three, and four. When the student begins loan repayment, Team Up will pay L.1000
per month of school toward the loan. If the student graduates Team up will pay 50% of the
monthly loan repayment.
Health Benefits
1. The project will help the girls one time with the purchase of glasses for those who
really need them, with the maximum amount of L2800.
2. If someone needs to go to the dentist or doctor, the project will cover 75% of the
doctor's visit and 85% of medicines.
3. The project will cover the consultation at the public health center and pay 95% of
medications not given by the center.
Housing Benefits
The first year participants are expected to live in the furnished house with our house
mom. The first year total cost of rent will be covered by the project. After the first year
living arrangements will be negotiated as part of the contract based on need and
fulfilling program expectations and should not be assumed.If it is agreed that the
participant continues to live in provided housing, the participant will bear a portion of the
rent with the following schedule used as a guideline:
Year 2- L.250.00
Year 3- L.500.00
Year 4- L.750.00
* Payment must be done no later than the 15th of the month that applies. The amount
may increase according to each girl’s conduct and collaboration in the house and will be
addressed in the evaluations. Payment made after the 15th of the month will have L.25
added for that month. If a participant is more than two months behind, it will result in
termination from the program. Utilities are to be shared by all those living in the house.
Each young lady is to pay the house mom monthly for her share of electric and water.
Gas and cable payments are to be collected and paid by the girls themselves and will
not be the house mom’s responsibility.
Savings Benefit
To encourage wise use of money, the project offers a savings match of up to L.200 per
month. To participate in this savings match a participant must be working and save
funds from their wages. The money will be put into a savings account and given when
the participant leaves the program.
Funding
Team Up For Honduras takes very seriously their responsibility to be good caretakers of
the funds contributed by many donors. In December 2016 individual sponsorship was
eliminated as a method of raising funds. The three primary methods of securing funds
for the project will be various fundraisers, monthly donors, and one time donors. We ask
that participants in our program refrain from asking or accepting funds from past
sponsors or others for support. The only exception to this is the L430.00 educational
scholarship provided by Unbound or Team Up. Violation of this policy may result in
termination from the program.
Final section
Remember that we are a Christian organization and therefore we ask you,at your
discretion, to honor the 3rd commandment, 'Sanctify the Lord's day'.
We recognize and value the effort and dedication that each of you make in your job
search. If we see that a person is not making an effort to find work, the matter will be
taken very seriously and will also be addressed in the next evaluation. The project is
not about the girls becoming dependent of the project or others for their survival. The
project is about creating strong, responsible and hardworking women, capable of caring
for themselves.
In case of pregnancy:As this project is Christian based, it does not encourage sexual
relations outside of marriage and we don’t want the obligation of having to dismiss
participants who are pregnant. Team Up wants to help the girls become independent
women, respectful of themselves and responsible for their actions. Therefore, if one of
the young women does get pregnant, we will take it that the baby's father will be taking
responsibility for this woman and the baby.
For Those Entering the Program:
Each of graduating girls, upon leaving the ‘Hogar de Ninas’ for the Team Up project,
must have with them their finished resume, and also a short-term plan of what they plan
to do immediately, as well as what they expect to accomplish over the next 4 years.
Once in the house, they will receive a supply of food to last them one month. At this
point, your job is to find a job; therefore we ask that you get to it!