Honduras Conservation Corps Evaluation The Honduran Conservation Corps (HCC) is an innovative program of Partners of the Americas (Partners) that has transferred the technology and capacity of the successll Mexican program, the Mexican Conservation COTS. The program received $723,605 for an 18 month period from USAImonduras as part of Hurricane Mitch fimding. The program was designed to address the environmental problems brought about by Hurricane Mitch in Honduras. HCC makes important contributions to the rebuilding of Honduras and other disaster areas by providing trained volunteers to work on specific environmental projects, while at the same time enabling citizen volunteers to become environmental action leaders in their communities. Called "corps", these work groups were organized at a IocaI level and have come together under the umbrella of a national association that provides leadership, training, administrative and program structure. An innovative program component used by BCC was the use of Partners' Mexican Conse~ation Corps members to provide hands-on guidance to help organize Honduran volunteers to work for periods ostime fiom a weekend to a month or more. The Mexican Conservation Corps served as a model for the organizational structure of the Honduran Conservation Corps. The umbrella association of the Honduran Corps has based its structure on the democratic principles practiced by the National Association of Mexican Conservation Corps. The national organization in. Honduras is being legally constituted as a non-governmental organization with the capability of raising and managing the resources necessary to insure sustainability. The HCC has succeeded in fostering greater community participation in municipalities affected by hurricane Mitch as voIunteers have worked with their communities to rebuild local hhstmcture, repair fm-to-market roads, build retention walls and embankments, clean and stabilize waterways, and rebuild damaged watersheds. In addition, corps worked with subsistence farmers located in environmentally fragile areas to promote sound agricultural practices as many of its members come from farm families. Parfxe~ used its existing network of agricultural extensiodtraining centers, NGO field offices, and municipal contacts to identify specific work projects and facilitate local corps formation. Special consideration was made to recruit young women to participate in the corps following the Mexican Conservation Corps model where 60% of the corps members ate women. The program was initially designed as a 24 month program that was hded for an 18 month period. During this time, Partners was charged with: 0 Establishing a cadre of leaders to lead the HCC 0 Developing the Association of Honduras Conservation Corps Partners of the Americas Comervation Corps - Honduras Page I 0 Devising a sustainability strategy that would keep HCC active after program funding ended￾0 Establishing HCC as a credible organization in Honduras - Purpose and Background This report presents the results of an internal and participatory evaluation of the Honduran Conservation Corps. The purpose of this evaluation was to assess the overall performance of and impact of the HCC program. A field visit took place in December 2001 using the concepts of appreciative inquiry, and included a review of program documents, focus group discussions, interviews with program staff and participants. The Honduras Conservation Corps utihs two basic eIements to accomplish its mission: 0 Work Camps -These last fiom two weeks to one month and are organized to work on specific environmental projects. Projects range fiom community bhstmcture building to watershed protection in national reserves; the key words are work and camp. Up to 30 volunteers live and work together compIeting work projects defined and supervised by reserve managers, municipal officials, or volunteer engineers. The daily schedule of a work camp provides for six hours of work and up to four hours of environmental education, leader training, and specific skill training. Work camps are organized anywhere there is work to be done. The participants live in tents or public buildings, prepare their own food and organize their ow transportation. 0 Local corps - These are organized by participants, work through out the year on weekends and during holidays. Local Corps provide the opportunity for wrps members to implement the skills learned during the work camps and continue working on environmental protection projects. Once established, local corps are encouraged to participate with the national organization to plan work camps and larger scale environmental work projects. These Id corps become member organizations of the national association or coordinating body Additional elements of the Honduras conservation Corps program include: Continual Training; key to corps development, training is conducted though out the year, focusing on topics and skill areas necessary to insure successful programs and skilled people. Training often takes place in a camp setting and can be conducted over a weekend or together with work activities. International Volunteers: An additional dement to work camps is the participation of people from other geographic areas, whether it is a nearby city or another country. Bringing peuple together with a common interest in protecting the environment, but fiom diverse backgrounds, provides a powerfill force for strengthening one's commitment to environmental protection and community service. Counterpart Contribution: The participation of the locat community is hdamentd to the success of a local corps. When conservation corps projects are designed, the local community is involved along with other environmental organizations, civic groups, and private citizens. Each local corps conservation work project generates at Ieast 25% of its budget fiom the Pars ofthe Arnericus Conservation Corps - Hondtrras Page 2 community. As local corps become established and recognized in their communities, a larger percentage of counterpart support is required. The Corps promotes the concept of social responsibility and co~muuity participation in conservation and community se~ce projects. Corps ask the communities contribute time, dent and money to each project. III. Evaluation Scope and Methodology The main issues explored in this evaluation included: 0 Did the program achieve tfie goals and objectives set in its cooperative agreement? 0 What are the lessons learned and major recommendations that can inform programs that seek to involve youth as effective agents for environmental sustainability? 0 What impact has the program had in the young people the communities it touched? The HCC identified eight major objectives at its outset: Establishment of a Conservation Corps with associate local corps; Increased use of sustainable agriculture and conservation techniques by community and corps members; Creation of a permanent leadership training program for environmental leaders, teaching them to take a more pro-active role in the protection of their environment; Increased public consciousness about the need to protect the environment; Environmental projects carried out to help repair hurricane damage to watersheds and fragile areas ; Improved paticipmt life opportunities by their gaining specific skills that will improve their career goals; Leveraged public and private resources for local environmental work projects; and International alliances forged for continued support to improve the environment. IV, Overall Assessment The evaluation included carerl review of program data, reports and a field visit which included an evaiuation camp with HCC staff, volunteer members, and representatives of each of ?he afEliate local groups. Visits to communities where HCC had carried out community senice were also included as part of the evaluation. The results include the following: Objective: Conservation Corps operating in Honduras with at least three affiliate IocaI Pups The HCC successfully established independently operating corps in the target areas of Honduras. These eight corps developed independent of one another, progressing at their own rates, while the central HCC program provided training, technical assistance and program support. HCC established ten local corps: Yoro, Yorito, Gracias, Siguatepeque, Sm Marcos, Comayagua, La Espreanza, Omoa, Tela and Frontera, Partners of the Americas Conservation Corps - Hondura~ Page 3 The organizational structure of each local corps (with the exception of San Marcos) is fairy traditional, with a president, vice president, secretary, etc. San Marcos experimented with a joint directorship, where each administrative member is responsible for a delineated area in the corps' region. Each corps has, on average, 10 directors and 30 active members. Volunteers are recruited from the region when needed. Objective: Over 300 young citizens trained to take leadership in the idenmeation and solution of environmenta1 problems At first, informal recruitment brought out over a hundred volunteers to the program. HCC then began to recruit new volunteers through networks and contacts with locd organizations with which working relationships had been forged. During the two-year program, HCC was able to recruit well over 700 volunteers to participate in their various projects. Volunteers regularly participated in various training camps, and applied knowledge gleaned hm those camps to work in the field. In total, over 48,000 volunteer work hours have been spent on HCC projects The corps trained volunteers to grow into leadership roles. Leaders discussed issues such as food security, poor education and lack of bow how for sustainable use of resources on a daily basis. Each work camp was designed for 30 participants; there were 35 work and training camps during the life of the project, exceeding target numbers in numbers of camps and participants. Objective: Environmental reconstruction projects carried oat by program The Corps focused its work in the 4, highland areas. Excessive deforestation has led to dramatic erosion problems, reducing the overall quality of topsoil and reducing the effectiveness of current fanning techniques. The corps focuses on poverty as a contributing factor to environmental degradation. HCC identified key areas for environmental reconstruction work: San Jose, La Esperanza, Intibuca; Rio Negro, Comayagua; La Lima, Gracias, Lempkq La Sabana de San Pedro, Yorito, Yoro; El ficon, San fsidro, Choluteca; Malguara, Intibuca; El Card, Gracias, Lempira; El Socorro, Siguatepeque; Tela, Lancetilla, Atlantida; Cuyael, Omoa, Cortes; Chiligatoro, Intibuca, Intibuca; Lago de Yojoa, Corks; La Botija, San Marcos de Colon, Choluteca; La Mision, Gracias, Lempira; Cuyamel, Despertar, San Pedro de Sacapa, Santa Barbara; Lorna Alta, La Libertad, Comayagua; Macuelizo, Jesus de Otoro, Intibuca. Projects have been undertaken by hundreds of HCC volunteers. Accomplishments in this area include (please see attached document for a more complete list): o Over 29,7 1 0 trees planted o Over 20,779 plants established in nurseries o Over 6,000 meters of environmental interpretative trails built Partners of the Americas Consemation Corps - Honduras Page 4 o Over 7,900 meters of environmental interpretative trails cleaned or restored o Sixty four meters of cement and wood bridges built as part of trails o Constsuction of 30 live and still barriers in a gully of 10 meters The various workshops spearheaded by HCC yielded positive, quantifiable results. Through the trainings, numerous programs aasl projects have been undertaken. There were 8 training programs on £kt aid, 12 on family health, 1 1 on human relations, 19 on environmental management, 5 on gender relations, and 5 on health and nutrition. There have also been projects in reforestation, ditch repairs, path construction and maintenance and 7 on organic agriculture. Corps were also involved in other aspects of environmental education, reconstruction and management. Local corps have established several waste management facilities. In addition, bottle recycling has begun and trash pickup projects have been impIemented. At least 218 posters and signs promoting environmental awareness have been posted in areas throughout the country. Objective: Established Conservation Corps training program providing continual training to corps members indude certified trainers, core training materials and cuniculum Training programs were implemented throughout the two-year HCC program. Mauricio Guadarama, the first Mexican volunteer, and Sal Muiloz, Director of the Mexican Conservation Corps, visited the prograrn to give technicd and organizational assistance. This helped the program implement its Work Camps and jumpstart the work on its business plan, a first step in the program's process towards sustainability. Corps leadership trainkg also took place during the second quarter of the HCC program, producing 35 Honduran leaders from various departments in the country. Training materid for use in long term mg programs were produced throuphout coIlaborative work with the Mexican Conservation Corps. LUPE project training manuals and other relevant materials were reviewed and copied for HCC traiaing program use. Work camps were also conducted, in association with various organizations in Honduras. Training material was developed. Material used by the HCC Local Corps include: 1. Reglamento de Campamentos CCH 2. Uso y Manejo de Herramientas 3. Reglamento Organizativo de CCH 4. Manual de Capacitacih para Personal de Campamentos 5. Mmual de Patronatos y la ley de Municipalidades en Honduras 6. Manual de Organizaciones Cornunitarias 7. Manual de Admizzistracidn de Proyectos Comunita5os 8. Higiene Personal y Primeros Adios 9. Sendero a1 Dinero y la Conservacih 10. Manustl para la CapacitaGn de Personal de Areas Protegidas HCC HCC HCC MCC Partners Partners Partners AHPROCAFE RARE National Park Service Pmtnms of the Americas Conservation Corps - Hondurcu Page 5 1 1. Cuidemos Nuestra Salud (USA) Cruz Roja 12. Salud Preventiva y Nutricih 13. Ekologia para Jovenes de 10 a 90 Mos 14. Geografia de Honduras 15. Atlas Geo@co de Honduras 16. Participando en el Gobierno Municipal. Desarrollo 17. Municipal de Honduras 18. Texto para Quinto Nivel 19. Texto pde Sexto Nivel 20. Abstinencia "Diciendo No al Sexo" 22. Grabacih de Lecciones de Quinto y Sexto 23. Nivel de Educaci6n sobre Participacibn y Democmcia s alvado&& Hermenegilda Lopez Centro Editorial, 1996 No6 Pineda Portillo Ediciones Ramses Fundacion para el EDUCATODOS EDUCATODOS Dept of Health and Rehabilitative Services Dept of Health and Rehabilitative Services EDUCATOD OS Objective: Promote national and international understanding of the importance of the citizen voIunteers working to protect their environment. h the course of its short life, the Honduran Conservation Corps have demonstrated that volunteers can make a substantial impact on environmental protection by teaching technical skills ranging fiom organic vegetable production to water well construction to municipal project planning and implementation. In promoting national and international understanding of the importance of citizen volunteer work, HCC developed relationships with various Honduran governmental and non-governmental organizations, including: Aldea Global, A* del Pueblo, Red for Sustainable Development and others. Relationships were also established in the international cornunify, with linkages established between HCC and the following organizations: CIVICUS, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and the Alliance for European Voluntary Service Organizations. HCC has used these relationships to recruit volunteers for several of its work camps and projects. Over 800 volunteers, Honduran and international, have participated in various facets of the HCC program, showing an interest and demonstrating an understanding of the importance of citizen volunteer work. Objective: Participants practicing democratic principals within the Corps, at community meetings and during civic fimctictns The Conservation Corps in Honduras provides young citizens the opportunity to learn and practice democratic skills within their local affiliates and as part of the oved organization. These skills and principles are a key element of their training and provide them with vaiuable experience to exercise them in other aspects of their Iives. Pmtners ifthe Americas Conservation Corps - Honduras Page 6 To date, corps members have elected a committee to develop a constitution for HCC, including by-laws and operating procedures in order for CCH to become a legal Honduran private voluntary organization. The ten lo& &liates conduct their meetings utilizing the equivalent to Robert's Rules of Order and corps members practice similar skills during their camp meetings. The RID project is a new initiative that resulted from an emphasis on democratic skills instilled in the HCC. The RID (Red InterAmericana para la Democracia) is a project that was formally approved during the Sixth Quarter of the HCC Program, and began impIementation during its Seventh Quarter. The project, known as "Accion Civica para el Ambiente (Civic Action for the Environment) " (ACA), operates under the headings: Education for Democracy and Environmental Education. The project helps 60 Corps members learn civic responsibility through environmental action. It utilizes the work camps methodology and focuses on specific environmental projects in local communities. ACA helped HCC develop close working relationships with citizen groups interested in environmental protection. Zo collaboration with EDUCATODOS, ACA has conducted interactive radio sessions, providing training to communities involved in defining democracy. Areas of discussion included: civil society participation, human rights, women's rights, justice, the responsibilities of citizens to their natural resources, sustainable development, legislation to protect natural resources, conservation of natural resources as a patriotic duty, and study of the laws regarding the environment. ACA is dso working with the Foundation for Municipal Development (Fundacion Para el Desarrollo Municipal-FUNDEMUN) to promote information about municipal governments and how they fhction as part of the Education for Democracy component. This promotion helped forge closer ties to municipalities. Objective: Volunteers from other Latin American countries exposed to the mudel through participation in corps activities Zn the start-up phase of the HCC, volunteers from the Mexican Conservation Corps took part in an exchange program with the fledgling program. As of the Foh Quarter, over 50 international volunteers were recruited to participate in five International work camps. Tn addition, the HCC responded actively to the disasters in El Salvador, becoming involved in the reconstruction efforts. Through these activities, a small core group of volunteers in El Salvador have started to replicate the Consemations Corps model in that country and have also participated in various HCC program camps. Partners ofthe Americas Consewation Corps - Honduras Page 7 IV. Conclusions The Honduras Conservation Corps attempted to replicate in two years what took the Mexican Conservation Corps to accomplish over five years to accomplish. This challenge was taken seriously and fiom the beginning, plans were set in place for setting systems in place, training a cadre of leaders to lead the nascent organizations and designing a business plan for program sustahability. At the end of the two-year period, several indicators point to the maturation of the program. o The various local corps have begun networking with other organizations in their regions. Several local corps have demonstrated self-sufficiency in 2002 by planning and implementing projects on their own. o HCC has received high praise from the Honduran government and is considered as a serious player in the environmental and community service community. o Several local institutions have also adopted BCC program ideals: I. The Comayagua Mountain Ecosystem Foundation (ECOSIMCO) has put the Honduran Conservation Corps in charge of plans for the Cornayagua Mountain National Park. 2. The Municipality of Omoa has given the HCC the responsibility of designing the working plan of the Jaloa Lagoon Reserve area and Omoa Mountain Range and the Atlantic Littoral and fiontier with Guatemala that is in the process of being declared. This job has been accomplished through the camps and Biology students fiom the Natiod Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH). 3. The Honduran Coffee Producers Association (AHPROCAFE) that did no use to have a youth environment program has found in HCC the answer to training and involving the young children of coffee farmers and develop their leadership so that they have a better outlook on life. 4. The United Stated Department of Agriculture's office in Honduras, in the process of finalizing Post Mitch projects, adopted the work camps of WCC in order to reach its goals of reconstructing the ground and reforesting the La Libertad, Lajas and Ojos de Agua zones degraded by the hurricane. 5. As part of the process of revisiting the HCC program, the Municipal Associations to Protect the Yojoa Lake and area of influence (AMUPROLAGO) signed an agreement to cooperate with Partners of the Americas Honduras-Vermont in order to share the experiences of HCC and the Fanner to Farmer Program with the work of AMUPROLAGO in the Yojoa Lake zone and the municipalities in the surrounding areas. 6. The National Program for Locd Development (PRONADEL) and the Rd Project for Southwest Honduras (PROSOC), dependents Partners of the Americas Conservation Cops - Hondwas Page 8 of the Secretary of Agriculture and Herdin (SAG), in recognition of Partners of the Americas and its valuable experiences with programs of the HCC and the FTF Program are in the process of discussing the signing of an agreement of cooperation in order to adopt their work experiences in their areas of influence. In adopting HCC ideals, certain methodologies have also been incorporated-. o Rural Tourism - Comayagua Mountain National Park supports a program of 4 tourism under the scheme initiated by HCC which has a focus on wid work Tbe vision behind it is to work with the communities, because "Conserving should be affordable for them". o Work and Education - For the oflice of the USDA in Honduras, the strategy and methodology of camps is an efficient form of achieving work goals while making people environmentally aware. o Sustainable Agriculture - Sustainable agriculture promoted by HCC is helping 20 coffee growers to produce and certify organic coffee. This has taken place even without evaluating the adoption of sustainable agriculture technologies by HCC program participants. o Design and delineation of protected areas - Designing a proposal that would declare the area of the Laguna de Jaloa arid Sierra de Omoa to be protected has been one of the jobs entrusted to HCC with the help of the Iocal body of conservation on behalf of the Municipality of Omoa in the Department of Cortes. Partners is awaiting for the government to declare it a protected area. 0 Design and Construction of Environmental Interpretation Areas - The Honduras Maya World Foundation (Fundacion Mundo Maya Honduras) aclanowledges the experiences of HCC and has asked for their help in designing an interpretation area and environmental education for the Ecoalbergue El Merendon in the Merendon National Park in the northern zone of the country in front of the city of San Pedro Sula. Once resources are obtained by the Foundation, work camps managed by HCC can construct an area where local, national, and international visitors can visit and Jeam about the environment of the Sierra of Merendon. The program has certainIy touched the lives of hundreds of young citizens who have directly benefited fiom participating in the program. The evaluation included in depth interviews with several of them to gain an understanding of program impact. Below are three exampIes of the way the program has made a difference in their Eves: o At the age of 17, Map Santos Maya dreamed ody of starting a family, and was even tempted to drop out of school to do so, despite the opposition of her parents. But &er participating in the HCC leadership formation process, Mayra is now the principle Pcarhrers of the Americas Comerualion CO~S - Honduras Page 9 leader and president of RELAMTOPI (Thunderstorm Lightning and Pine Conservation Local Body) based in the Siguetepeque Municipality, a department of Comayagua in the country's centrat zone. For now, her family plans are on hold. Besides volunteering to conserve nature with KC, Mayra is taking English classes and is planning a career that would require university-level education. She actively participates in the Teaching Center's learning sessions in CAB0 (Sigwtepeque to Help Sustainable Agriculture) with her father, who is the owner of the training center, o Ramon Horacio was a young farmer with a simple life. He became concerned that the environment and natural resources were being degraded, and found that there was no local solution to the problem. One day, a ficiend of his told of how he had participated in an environmental conservation camp where he learned dierent agriculture techniques that would not upset the equilibrium of the ground, water, and forest Ramon soon became very interested in the program. After finding various answers to his problems in CCH, Ramon became a valuable asset to his community, promoting HCC and becomiiig a pioneer in "Helping Our Salvadorean Brothers" camps in Usulutan, El Salvador during the earthquakes of 2001. He won the confidence of his &ends in HCC so much that during the First Assembly of HCC, Ramon became President of the National CC Committee of 'Honduras. Ramon has successfidly invalved incorporated conservationist principles in farming. Ramon's efforts have been noticed by the president of the Association of Municipalities of Honduras (AMOHN), who is incidentally the mayor of Ramon's town. The countiy's municipal operations have been involved in operations with HCC and AMOHN. o One day Jose AviIio Velasquez left his family's coffee plantations without shade because the state of Honduras began a program to increase coffee production. Considering that Maximo, Avilio's father, was one of the main producers in the zone, they had to participate in the state's "High Technology Coffze Program'' (Alta Tecnificacion del cde) or else the state would no longer support them. After witnessing the environmental damage that was caused by the introduction of chemicals such as deforestation, land erosion and low water tables, AviIio began to question why it is they were trying to produce more at the cost of damaging the environrnent+learly these practices were not sustainable. He looked for solutions in different places and one day, the people accused him of being crazy for wanting to take care of his place, The Mountain. Avilio had a new dream: to make the mountain of Comayagua a beautifid place where locals and foreigners alike could visit and enjoys its beauty. His dream slowly came true. He found some business associates and people who shared his vision. HCC was one of the best solutions for Avilio and it became one of the propulsions of the Pmmers of the Americas Conservation Cops - Hondtaas Page I0 program and through various camps, his dreams came true. The people listened to him more now that his leadership qualities have improved, and business partnerships like the Comayagua Mountain Ecosystem Foundation (ECOSIMCO) and the MunicipaIity of Comayagua are constructing the first Visitors Center for the Comayagua National Park (PAPACOMA) in Avilio's comunity, Rio Negro￾With pride, we also mention that Avilio, coordinator for the National Camps, Rio Negro, has become part of the rural tourism agenda in Honduras. Visitors fiom Vermont and other parts of the world come to Rio Negio as if it were like coming home, and each volunteer of HCC that has taken national tourist culture in the program is welcome to this paradise. Pmtners of the Americas Conservation Corps -Honduras Page I I .- - CUERPOS DE CONSERVACION HONDU CCH Actividades 2000 - 2002 Aprendiendo Haciendo LQS CUERPOS DE CONSERVACION DE HONDURAS METODOLOGIA INTRODUCCION DE LOS CUERPOS El Cuerpo de Conservaci6n de Honduras (CCH), es una organizacibn confomada por jovenes dedicados a1 mejoramiento del ambiente. CCH es un portal que ofrece oportunidades a j6venes aprender y practicar habilidades importantes mientras se sirve a su comunidad y se trabaja en conjunto para proteger el rnedio ambiente. El participar en 10s Curpos hace que el individuo construya su personalidad, le prepara para mejores trabajos y ofrece a 10s jovenes la oportunidad de tomar control de sus vidas en una forrna positiva. CCH ha cornpletado dos aiios de intensa labor y de crecimiento instructive, con mas de 700 miembros, un consejo de directores a nivel nacional y con capacidad de organizar proyectos de trabajo en Honduras y El Salvador y ahora comenzando a trabajar en Guatemala. A medida que crecernos tambi6n se fortalecen nuestras relaciones con organizaciones nacionales e internacionales, ofreciendo a ellos una fuerza de trabajo organizado que responda a las neccsidades en las sireas de manejo de recursos naturales, servicio comunitario y acci6n enfocada a educacion ambiental. Nuestra meta es poder ayudar a la carnunidad y organizaciones conservacionktas a completar sus objetivas usando voluntarios motivadas y entrenados en hacer trabajo duro. El enfoque geografico de 10s cuerpos hasta la fecha ha sido en las tierras montafiosas de zonas rurales, en donde la erosidn y clesforestaciirn presentan mayor peligro, alli el 70% de la poblacibn vive en pabreza y la economia no ofrece muchas expectativas. Los cuerpos trabajan para quebrar el ciclo de degradacidn ambientd, rnuchas veces causada por la pobreza y cat'encia de cclucacion y asi buscar mejores opotunidacies de vida a 10s pobladores de estas &reas. Los lideres de CCH son mujcres y hombres competentes que viven y trabajan cn sus comunidades. Ellos diaramente canfrontan rctos cn seguridatl alimentaria, educacion pobre, falta de conocimiento en como usar de manera sostenible 10s rccursos. Aprendiendo Be la expericncia son motivados a rcalizar un cambio. CCH csta conslituido por pcrsonas con o sin cducacicin formal. Es un programa dc cstruclura abicrh que provcc R cuidquicr pcrsonw la oporlunidczcl tlc rlonar y scntirse participc en la protccci6n dcl amhicnt:c, aprcnrliendo a1 mismo ticrnpo habilidatles importanlcs para RUN vidas. Gcncralmcntc cn CCM sc puctic participar cn (10s nivelcs: 1. Actividades en cuerpos locales; un proyecto de servicio cornunitario de uno o dos dias, orgmizado por un cuerpo en su propia cornunidad. 2. Campamento de trabajo residenciales; dos semanas de trabajo ambiental, talleres de educacion no formal, administracibn de la comunidad (preparaci~n de cornida, limpieza, reciclaje, resoluci6n de conflictos). Cada actividad provee entrenamiento, soporte y reto a 10s participantes. Muchos participantes llegan a1 programa (especialrnente de la zona rural) con poca experiencia en c6mo manejar sus vidas, como resultado, no tienen muchos recursos para contruir en ella. Es por eso que CCH busca oportunidades, recursos, habilidades, practicas e ideas de las cuales las personas puedan apropiarse para formar nuevos conceptos. Henry James (filosofo arnericano) una vez dijo "una idea es la unibn de cosas vistas". El campamento de trabajo es para el participante un "ambiente segura" en el cud aprende nuevas estrategias, se formula nuevas ideas; es la oportunidad para probar nuevas acciones y ver como estas trabajan. Como resultado cada participante incrernenta la seguridad en si mismo y aprende corno hacer la diferencia. Desarrollan su conciencia de trabajo que le guia a otras oportunidades que previamente no eran disponibles para ellos. Una parte importante de este proceso de aprendizaje es el avaluo personal y comunal, el participante aprende a definirse asimismo en relaci6n a1 mundo real en el que vive, cvaluando lo que es importante. Esto padria ser el aprender una nueva habilidad fisica, reflexionando sobre el sign%cado de la vida. En Honduras, algunos miembros de 10s Cuerpos trabajan con EDUCATODOS (programa de educaci6n biisica) ensefiando, mientras que otros interesados en conlhuar su educacibn basica lo pueden hacer a travks de EDUCATODOS. Algunos otros miembros han vuelto a tomar cursos en estudios avanzados o estan involucrados en trabajos con mayor significado para sus vidas. Recientemente 25 hondurefios han sido entrenados en el uso de cornputadoras e internet, esta actividad ha permitido el establecimiento de oficinas de cuerpos locales en donde se provee servicios de informacicin. En donde existan servicio telifonico se les ayuda a conectarse y manejar internet, en donde no existe este servicio, se les ensefia cbmo intercmbiar informaci6n usando otros canales. Llamados INFOCENTROS, este proyecto ayudara a llevar information tecnologica a las comunidades mrales. bs miembros de 10s cuerpos involucrados estan descrubiendo nuevas oosibilidades de trabaio como facilitadores de comunicacion. ., Uno dc 10s m6s gr;indcs rctos para cl Cucrpo dc Conscrvaci6n sa I-Iondums cs cl podur ayudnr a sus miclnbros dc las Arcas riimlcs cncontrar unn gcncmcibn dc ingrcsos y oportunidadcs quc Ics pcrmita scguir cn sus comunidadcs. A mcdida qlrc CICI-I csplortl otras vias cn nuto-suficicncia, sc: buscan vias dc lrabqjo con otras organi;.,?ciotlcs nacionatcs c intcmaeionalcs. Los Cucrpos son una cantribucion dc trabajo importantc cluc pucricn nyi~tlar a Ias orgmizaciotics colabormtcs a alcanmr sus mctns CII 10 social y ambicntal. ..-, I... ktri .'>:',,' : '.*:' , ' ' . . .?+.> ,..,.. !'.... .... . .. : , 3" .; ,. , '3' . . La experiencia ha dernostrado que jovenes trabajando como un solo cuerpo en un escenario de campamento es un poderoso instrumento educacional. Los Cuerpos constituidos alrededor del mundo han demostrado diariamente por m9s de 80 afios que pueden "levantar a alguien de 10s cordones de sus zapatos" para que se conviertan en lideres j6venes y adultos competentes. Cada actividad de CCH es una experiencia educacional, por ejemplo; Responsabilidad civica se adquiere a medida que 10s participantes tornan cargo de mayor relevancia en reuniones, desarrollan y ponen en practica proyectos de servicio en sus cornunidades. Nutricirin, preparacion de alimentos y adrninistracion se aprende al participar en la planificacih, prepacion de 10s menus y en el. mantenirniento armonico del campamento. Destrezas en conservacion son adquiridas y/o reenforzadas a medida que 10s voluntaries aprenden el porque y como reparar una chrcava erosionada. Accion civica se adquiere a medida que 10s miembros de 10s cuerpos participan con 10s oficiales locales tornando acciones positivas en pro del mejoramiento de sus comunidades. CCH esta reforzando su cornpromiso de desarrolIo local, a1 promover oportunidades y destrezas necesarias para una vida exitosa. Para que las personas sigan en sus comunidades, estas deben poseer vias de subsistencia para ellos y sus farnilias. CREANDO OPORTUNIDADES PAW LOS JOVENES RURALES Generacibn de rondos: FIabilidades micro enipsesariales en agricuitura, nianufacturacion, recjclaje, turismo rural, etc. Servicio - comunitario: Cada trabajo de CCH complernenta proyectos en servicio comunitario, cornpartiendo sus cnnocimientos -- y trabajando en protection ambiental, produccion en agricultura sostenible, planificacion familiar, pi-eparacion de alimentos, etc. Desarrollo de liderazszo civico: CCH ha desarrollado un plan de cstudio unico civico-ecologico (ECO-CIVIC) con la ayuda de Compaiieros de las Am6ricas, lo van a poner en prictica usando las tCcnicsls enseiianza/accion de 10s Cuerpos. L,.ib_rer~g~c_~~m_u~.n_i~r:i~~: CCH ha ayudado en cl cstableciinicnto de seis librerias en comunidades participantes, estas librerias provecn nucvas oportunidades dc aprendizaje. 1.m niietnbros de 10s cuerpos estatl ayudando en el ~nancjo y USQ 1",1 aAo pasada los Cucrpos de Canscrvacibn junto con cl Prugrama de Agricultor a Agricultor, llamado INF;ORURAL. La mcta dc dstc prograrna cs promovcr cl iiso dc lntcrnct en las 6rcas de cstas librerias. Uso . , .. - - ,. -. y-mancjo . . . - . - . -. de -- -- internet: -. - -.- -. , dcsarrollaron el programa rurales. Historia de la OrganizaciBn Cuerpos de Consenilacion Honduras (CCH) es un programa que Compafieros de las Americas, la organizacih voluntaria mas grande del continente, esth desarrollando en el pais con apoyo de la Agencia para el Desarrollo De 10s Estados Unidos (USAID). CCH comienza su labor en 1998 y despues que el HuracAn Mitch causara dafios severos en la naturaleza del pais. Este proyecto centra su labor inicialmente, en realizar trabajos en las zonas dafiadas dentro del irea geogrhfica de 10s Rios Ulua, Wumuya, Charnelecon y Aguan, asi como en las zonas de amortiguamiento y nucleares de 10s Parques nacionales en Honduras, tratando con esto de conservar y devolverle a la naturaleza, algo de lo que ha perdido y haciendo conciencia en las cornunidades del cuidado que la misma requiere. Contamos con m&s de 600 voluntarios ambientales hondureilos, que trabajan arduamente en todo lo relacionado con el medio ambiente. Una Visidn comunidad consciente que mejore su calidad de vida conservando su entorno. Convertirnos Misi6n en un movimiento nacional que proporcione oportunidades de aprendizaje de tecnicas y el desarrollo de habilidades y destrezas arnbientales que puedan ser aplicadas directamente a favor de la vida de sus habitantes. Acciones: Generacibn de fondos para autosostenibilidad de Cuerpos de Conservaci6n Honduras; Formation de Cuerpos Locales en todo el pais; Incremento en el uso de tecnicas de conservaci6n y agricultura sostenible; Creacibn de un programa de entrenamiento continuo de Lideres Ambientdes; Incremento de la conciencia pubfica sobre la necesidad de proteger y conservar el medio Fomentar ambiente; el eco y agro tufisrno. QuB Hacemos? CCH tiene como base organizativa y de sostenibi￾lidad la creacibn de Cuerpos Locales en todo el pais, estos apo an 10s proyectos pro-ambientales Y propios y 10s d sefiados por las Comunidades, Municipalidades y otras organizaciones que tienen resencia en las diferentes zonas focalizadas por cc R . Tambitn, es de nuestro inter&$ brindar apo o a 110 cornunitado, cuando asi lo requieran. zY estas organizaciones en sus programas de esarro- 0 (I] 2 (I] Logros Educat ivos Capacitaciones Impartidas: 14 Cursos de Relaciones Hurnanas 26 Cursos sobre Medio Ambiente 19 Cursos sobre Autoestima 5 Cursos sobre Reciclaje de Basura 20 Cursos sobre Sexualidad 3 Curso sobre Salud y Nutrici6n 7 Cursos sobre Agricultura Sostenible 7 Cursos sobre Equidad de GCnero 8 Cursos de Salud y Nutrition 2 Cursos sobre Derechos de la Mujer 3 Cursos sobre Microempresas Sostenibles 3 Cursos sobre Perforacibn de Pozos 3 Cursos sobre Elabaracibn de Propuestas 7 Cursos sobre Uso y Manejo de 1 Herramientas Curso Basico de Carpinteria 1 Curso B6sico de Albafiileria 1 Curso sobre Manejo de Microcuencas 4 Cursos sobre Participaci6n Ciudadana, Democracia y Ambiente. 1 Curso sobre Codigo de la Salud. 4 Cursos sobre Participaci6n en el Gobierno lCurso Municipal. sabre Tipos de Bosques en Honduras 1 curso sobre Areas protegidas de 3 Honduras Cursos sobre Motivacibn Social Empresarid 1 Curso sobre Diagn6sticos en Areas 1 Protegidas. Curso sobre Saneamiento Ambiental, 1 Curso sobre Integraci6n y Globalizacibn. Trabajo realizado Obras Cornunitarias Construccibn de 600 mts. de sendero interpretativo en Cascada Los EnsueAos. Construcci4n de 30 barneras vivas y muertas en Carcava de ',lo, dts. Construccibn be 15 rnts, de gradas de piedra y caleado en Sendero Paso del Leon. Construccibn de 33 mts. de muro de piedra en la Comunidad de El Rincbn, San Isidro, Choluteca. Construccibn de 985 mls. de sendero interpretativo hacia Cascada Los Vencejos. 6,008 mts. Lineales de construccibn de senderos 2,263 interpretativos, mts. &ineales -- - -- de restauraci6n - - de senderos Interpretativos Constmxcci6n de acequias y 3 fosas de oxidacibn para control de aguas mieles de la cosecha deX cafe. Perforacibn de un Pozo taladrado de agua potable de 95 pies de profundidad. Construccibn de 64 mts. lineales de Puentes de cement0 y madera en Senderos Interpretativos. Construccitin de 185 mts, de gradas de Construccibn concreto, de base de concreto de 3.50 de largo x 1.50 de ancho para Caseta de 225 Informaci6n, mts. de reparacibn de C&cava, Reparacidn de 380 mts. de vias de acceso, 8 1 rnts. cuadrados de ramada para vivero, Lijado y pintado de un Kiosko Turistico, Lijado y pintado de Juegos Infantiles, Construccibn de 20 mts. de muros de 1,880 contensibn, mts. de chapia para limpieza de kreas de uso hurnano. Reforestaci6n: Encalado de h-boles 20,779 plantas cn vivero 29,7 10 plantas sernbradas bicultura Sostenible Elaboration de 5 litros de abono folk 93 rnts. Cuadrados de cultivo de hortalizas 7 Fosas Productivas, 40 Quintales de Abono Bocachi, 20 Its. de Repelentes Foliares, 1000 mts. linedes de labranza minima construida, 500 rnts. cuadrados de chapia para limpieza de hreas de uso humano. 2,97 1 mts. lineales de barreras vivas y rnuertas. 2 15 mts. lineales de limpieza de acequias 200 rnts. lineales de curvas a nivel. zservacibn de Suelos Const~cc~~p:de;36;gts2 Ij~cdes de barrera rnuerta en ladera. Constwcci6n de .16..mts. de barrera viva. Constrtteoi6n-de -- - -- ---- agroniveles. ----- - -- - 900 mtsi -&&f ad~%&~& ieza -de 6rea verde en comunidad de La Sabana 8 e San Pedro, Yonto, Yoro. ~onstruccibn de 10 Ace uias de 40 mts. de lar o con 9 en ko Negro, MontaAa de Cornayagua. f su ozo de filtraci6n de "5 x 2 mts, de profun idad Reciclaje o Manejo de Desechos Construccidn de 14 fosas productivas, 4,123 libras de basura recolectada en 10s Campamentos y Comunidades, Elaboracibn de artesanias utilizando materides Preparacibn desechables. de abonos con basura organfca. Actividades Sociales Jornada de recreacibn con nifios de la Cornunidad San Jose, La Esperanza. Participaci6n en Feria Artesanal Ambiental y Noche Cultural, Rio Negro. Presentacion de Peliculas Ambientales en Comunidades, Rio Negro, Comayagua Campaiia de Lirnpieza en Cornunidad de El Rinc6n, San Isidro, Choluteca. Construccibn de pila para agua de 2 mts. cubicos y construccion de 12 mts. de piso en Sanitarios de la Escuela de la Comunidad de El Rincon, San Isidro. Reparation de Centro Comunal de la Comunidad, Rio Negro, Comayagua. Promotion y ensayo de turismo rural en las comunidades donde se instalaron 10s Elaboraci6n camparnentos de Pmductos patrimonides de las zonas donde se instalan 10s campamentos, Reubicacidn de 2,500 ladrillos para Trabajo construccion, educative con 10s nifios de las Escuelas y las Comunidades donde se instalaron 10s campamentos. Elaboraci6n y Pintado del nombre de la Escuela de Las Mesas de Cacamuya, Replicas de las capacitaciones impartidas en 10s campamentos cornpartidas con 10s miembros de las comunidades. Obras Sanitarias 2 fosas y 2 filtros para control de aguas mieles Construccion de 8 recipientes para basura. Construccibn de 7 mts, de labranza minima. Construccion de un relleno sanitaria. 800 rnts. lineales de cunetas. 3 pozos de agua potable mejorados. 4 servicios sanitarios mejorados. 1,100 mts. lineales de zanja hecha para sistema de agua potable en Macuelizo, Intibuca. Dendroenergia Construccibn de Hornillas Econ6micas de leda can fines cle capacitaci6n y promocibn cotnuni taria. Delirnftacih de Areas Protegidas 100 I-kct&rcas de Area delimitada en Cucnca Santa Isabel, Cuyamel, Ornaa, Cartes Rotulaci6n Ambiental Elaboraci6n y colocacicin de 298 rbtulos con mensajes ambientales Cuencas Hidricas Impactadas Rio Motagua, Microcuenca El Gavilh Laguna de Jaloa Microcuenca de la Mora, Mesas de Cacamuya, Duyusupo, Choluteca. Cuenca Mdombo, Cuyamel, Omoa, Cortes Rio Coco o Segovia. Rio Chamelecon: Rio Higuito Lago de Yojoa Rio Humuya Rio Ulua Rio Aguan Rio Grande de Otoro Rio Cholu teca Horas % Trabajpzor 10s o untar s: 48,424 horas de trabajo durante 10s mas 2000, 2001 y 2002. 3 19 dias de campamento durante 10s afios 2000,2001 y 2002, Reconocimientos: La Embajada de 10s Estados Unidos de Arndrica y USAID "POT Ia significativa contribution a la Reconslruccion Nacional Post Mith". Compaiieros de Ias Arn6ricas El Salvador - Louisiana "Por la dedicada participaci6n de CCH con I1 Campamentos de l'rabajo en la reconstruccion Post￾tcrremoto cn El Salvador". El ComitB Pro-feria Ecolbgica de Colomoncagua "Por la Destacacla participation de CCI-i en la Prirncra Fcria IScol6gica de Colomonc:aguan. USAID y Partners of the Americas de Washington "1% habcr sida selcccionado como Organimcion I Tondurcfia para participar cn cl Programa Participaci6n y Jlcmocracia dc la Red Intcramericana para la Dcmocracia". -'-n..d.'wd -4 ademm￾Bobletno v Comualdad EST AVAlLABLE COPY ant Ust E s un 'prograrna que Partners of the Americas (~ompa~eros de las AmCricas), la organizacion voluntaria mas grande del coniinente, es16 desarrollando en el pais con el apoyo de la Agencia para el Desarrollo de Estados Unidos [Usaidl. Su objetivo es convertirse en una organizacion nacional no gubernamental, legalrnente constituida y autosostenible, con la responsabilidad de continuar el crecirniento y desarroflo de sus afiliados locales. Su antecedente viene desde la Eur dsl siglo XVII, en 10s paises de Dinamarca y Memania. quienes se organimon con la intencidn de preparar a 10s habitantes pan una &$r manen de afron& 10s retos del rilpido desmollo de aquel 30 surge ae nuevo la idea en Estados Unidos, en dondc 10s Cuems de Conservation Civiles. cse pais salicn be la deprcsi6n econ6mica. En la actualidad en cada estados existen Cuems de Con cl paso dc 10s dos. el conccpm dC 10s cuzrpos dc ~nbajo se fue difundiendo por todo el mundo. l lcgando a Wonduns a principios de 1949 Cornpailem de las Arn4rici-s es llder en el desarrollo de 10s Cucrpos de Conscrvaci6n en hcinountrica. Es una orgmizaci6n quc tnbajlja con la comunidad. ayudhdole a Yticular prioridades y a definir proyectos de mbajo especificos m 13 solucidn de problemas mbien~des. En Hundum 10s Cuerpos de Consenxi6n comienwn su accionar despuis dcl huracjn iWtch. cuando la na&eu se vio sevenmenre afectada. debido a fa lala y expiorwih forestal. a 10s cuftivos en ladens y un desenfrcnado desurollo habitaciond. que provocmn demunbes e inundxiones. h labor de 10s Cucrpos de Conservaci6n en Honduns, (CCH). se cenm inicialmrnte en realiur trabajos cn las zonss daiiads dentro del Srea geognfica de 10s nos Ulh. Humuya. Choluteca. Chamelecdn y Aguh. Tmbien en las zonas de monigumicnto y nuclcvcs de 10s parques nacionaies de Honduras. mtando aside devolverle s la IWUI~CU dgo quc habia pcrdidu. Estii orientad3 a dewila~ una cornunidad consciente que mejore su cdid de bidr consemando su entorno. convinihdose en un movimicnto naciond que propomione oportunidsdes en el aprcndjwjc de tknicxs y deslrews mbientdcs. Pm Ilemr a cabo esta misidn. 10s CCH tienen dos componenrts principales: 10s cmaamentos de lug3 dmci6n org⁢ldos por el