We put the "international" in Rotary International this Wednesday, with a focus on our local humanitarian project involving the distribution of layette kits to new mothers in Honduras. Jay Wilson Jr. explained the history of the project, which began in Nicaragua after Roger McCabe was there for a clean water project and saw need.   After turmoil in Nicaragua in 2020, our project relocated to Utila, Honduras, thanks to quick action by Dana Timeaus to establish a new distribution location.

Trudy Hilton, founder of Roatan Peer Health Exchange and a local leader in Roatan, detailed the layette project's current distribution, which is built around educational workshops for new mothers and caregivers featuring medical tips, cultural events, and new baby care.  Approximately 100 kits were distributed during two workshops, each lasting well beyond the two-hour planned session because of great feedback and questions from the new mothers. The kits are an incentive to get people to the educational sessions to learn about bathing and clothing, bottle sterilization and feeding, healthy habits, infant CPR, and ill-child care. This is the first program of its kind in the area. Similarly, the Pads for Girls project brought 2000 kits sanitary kits to Honduras so far with another 3000 on the way.  Trudy plans for educational development focused around these kits similar to what was done with the layettes.

Angela Claire Bjoroy-Karlsen combines her training in crisis leadership with her experience in the Norwegian military to serve as the charter president of the Rotary Club of Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja.  She illustrated the challenges and needs of Guanaja, an area accessible only by boat with high poverty levels, and low tourism.  Her team's objective is to seek the new mothers on the island that have the greatest needs, as 60% of women must deliver their babies outside of a hospital or clinic.  To serve new mothers, they rely on a network of the community's elder women to tell them about pregnancies on the island and Angela brings new mothers and caregivers the layettes donated by our club with medical professionals.  The layettes not only provide supplies for the mother and the child, but it also allows Angela and her team the chance to provide education and support during their time of need. Angela emphasized the importance of continued medical care and education for mothers and children, and expressed gratitude for our collaboration in addressing community needs across the Bay Islands.

Sarah Saldana, a Speech-Language Pathologist on faculty at Lamar University, shared both her personal and professional experiences in Honduras.  Though Dana prepared her for some challenges, she was able to overcome them to create a meaningful connection and connect with the Utila community.  She sacrificed personal time away from her family to go on this eight-day trip because she believes in the power of communication to create a critical human connection. Sarah used her personal experiences with her own special needs child to provide materials and communications strategies for parents, healthcare providers, and community members.  As a fluent Spanish speaker, Sarah was able to provide help that would not be broken down by a language barrier. She expressed her commitment to continue support for Utila, including her desire to return next summer and to explore additional options for the community, like telehealth.

Cheryl Bilyeu, beloved club member, shared her experiences from her recent trip to Honduras, starting with a water taxi ride to Utila. Beaumont Rotarians began their trip by worshipping in an open-air sanctuary at the local Methodist Church, then got to work renovating six apartments that are rented out to local teachers who serve the community.  Cheryl organized tools and staged work areas so that Jay Wilson Jr. and Michael Perez were prepared to hang sheetrock and build door headers.  Cheryl got emotional as she shared the importance of her Rotary family's presence when she spread her husband's ashes off the coast of the Utila Dive Resort. She interacted with the local community when helped distribute new shoes and backpacks to local kids and shocked the club by revealing Michael's secret talent- balloon-animal artist!  She also joined local high school students and Rotarians to clean trash and washed-up debris from a beach that is often neglected because it isn't a tourist destination. After sharing a series of colorful photos with some locals, she concluded her presentation with a big swig of the local beer, Salva Vida.  Cheers, Cheryl!

The team plans to return to Honduras for further projects in late spring or early summer. Any Rotarians interested in going on this trip next year should reach out to Michael or Jay for more information.

Photographer: Jennifer Gregory

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