For many former students of Cattleya Educational Center, graduating means spending their days at home with little to do beyond watching television. To help break this monotony, the Rotary Club of Roatán, Utila and Guanaja, in collaboration with Cattleya and Shelly Trevino, organizes arts-and-crafts days that offer people with special needs opportunities for creativity, connection and community.
Cattleya Educational Center in French Harbour is a safe, nurturing haven where children with special needs can learn and grow. But as the students become adults, the center can no longer continue facilitating their education. This is a painful reality for them and a source of frustration for their parents.
To help fill that gap, the Rotary Club of RUG is collaborating with Cattleya to organize an arts-and-crafts day for the center’s former students. They are supported by Shelly Trevino, who is traveling from the United States and bringing materials for the participants to use in creating art.
“This is the seventh time I’ve been here. I just love these people, and I love being here, working with them and offering them something,” she said enthusiastically. Shelly has worked for many years with people with special needs.
Geydy Rodas is the new director of Cattleya Educational Center. She is excited about the opportunity to offer activities and a welcoming space for the center’s former students.
“I’m glad that we can offer them a space and activities here at Cattleya, rather than having them stay only in their homes.”
In addition to serving as president of RUG, Roger Bjoroy-Karlsen has been involved with Cattleya for some time and understands the challenges faced by people with special needs and their families.
“I’m glad that our club can provide support through manpower, arts-and-crafts materials and catering. In an ideal world, the authorities in Honduras would take care of this community, but I think that is still a utopia. So, as a club, we step up and work together with all these fabulous people to create special moments for them and their loved ones.”
The next arts-and-crafts event will take place at Cattleya Educational Center on Sunday, September 6.
