Education with Values and Excellence
By Karla Ponce, FLM Director of Holistic Care
Celebrating 30 years of Family Life Missions is celebrating God's faithfulness, hope, and provision in the lives of the children and families served in all three of our programs, and includes our Por Los Niños Christian Bilingual School. Our school began 22 years ago to provide a holistic, quality, inclusive education with values and excellence that continues today.
It was 22 years ago that Honduras began to go through one of the biggest crises in the public education sector with thousands of children not receiving the education they deserved. They did not receive classes for many days due to protests by teachers, among other factors. This has left marks still today. During this crisis, the idea of creating our PLN school was born, initially for 1st-6th grade and for the children living in our residential homes. The vision expanded 15 years ago to reach the children of the Catacamas community. Next, the bilingual system was added and then the pre-preschool level. Each year another grade was added with our current school going through eighth grade.
Family Life Missions firmly believes in an education with values and excellence, an education where children are the authors of their own learning, making decisions based on Christian and moral values. Transforming the way of thinking starts with education and our Por Los Niños school focuses on that.
We are confident that by educating students we are laying the foundation for their holistic development in five important areas: spiritual, social, emotional, physical and educational. This is how they will be prepared to face the challenges of these times. One cannot face challenges with courage if today you are not educating children in transcendental values such as honesty, respect, dignity, and compassion–many values that are being lost in society.
The educated child is more prepared for the opportunities that arise in his professional life, is better able to manage his emotions, is in his optimal physical condition to continue learning and most importantly, a child honoring God in all his decisions. When we raise a child to honor God, we are transforming them to serve society.
In our Por Los Niños School, we also focus on serving children and their families through the "School for Parents" where we provide resources, tools, and activities that allow them to grow and strengthen as a family. In addition, we provide school scholarships as a tangible way to give children an opportunity to receive a dignified and quality education. Currently, we support 83% of the children with school scholarships that are allocated according to their economic status. By offering scholarships, we see the grace and light that God gives for a better future for many uneducated children.
In this 30-year anniversary, we reaffirm our commitment to continue forming generations with values and excellence for the glory and honor of God.
And together with you, we welcome the children to their new school year!