Youth

Honduras Weekly Sponsors Monthly Writing Contest

It is cliché to say that the youth of a country represent its future and its hope. But it's true. And it is especially true in Honduras, where approximately 45 percent of its population of more than 7.2 million is under 15 years of age. President Porfirio Lobo has emphasized education as one of the central elements of his plan for governing Honduras over the next four years. He wants as many Honduran students as possible to learn English and to master computer skills that will allow them to keep up and surpass students from any country. He sees this as the basis for Honduras having well-informed and wise leaders and a better trained workforce in the future. (7/1/10)

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José Reyes Essay Wins Honduras Weekly's Second Writing Contest

By Raine Rivas/Maria Galindo
When Honduras Weekly first announced its monthly writing contest earlier this year, we envisioned selecting a winner every month. The first winner, in February, was Gustavo Murillo for his piece, "Uniqueness and Originality". Gustavo received an award of Lps 500. We anticipated our second winner to be chosen in March, but unfortunately we did not have enough articles submitted to make for a competitive contest, so we decided to have a combined March-April award. After reviewing more than 20 articles, essays, and stories by Honduran students, we chose four finalists -- José Reyes Murillo and his "The American Dream", José Eduardo Agüero and his "A Day at School With Pini", Marina Antúnez and her "From Water to Humanity", and Gisela Carolina Aguiriano's "Joe's Letter". All four authors are 10th grade students at Brassavola Bilingual School in La Ceiba, Honduras. They wrote their pieces for Mr. Cameron's English class. (6/19/10)

The Cruelty of Our Dominion

By Teresa Isabel Romero
DDid you know that one hundred million animals have been used to test products such as cosmetics and medicines every year since about 300 BC? This has hurt many animals, including mice, rats, rabbits, apes, dogs, and cats. Most tests conducted on animals lead to permanent and/or severe injury. Many tests also lead to death. The laws that apply to test animals in laboratories are different across species. Under the Animal Welfare Act and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals in the United States, any procedure can be performed on an animal if it can be proven that it is scientifically justified. (5/7/10)

Joe's Letter

Susan asked that the nurse stay with her while she said goodbye to her son. Shen ran her fingers through his thick blond curly hair. "Would you like a tuft of his hair?" asked the nurse.

By Gisela Carolina Aguiriano
Susan jumped up as soon as she saw the doctor come out of the operating room. She asked, "How is my little boy? Is he going to be okay? When can I see him?" The doctor looked at her. "I'm sorry," he said. "We did all we could." Stunned and silent, Susan thought, "Why do little children get cancer, doesn't God care? God, where were you when my son needed you?" The doctor interrupted. "One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes to let you spend time with your son’s body before it is transported to the university." (4/28/10)

From Water to Humanity

By Marina Antúnez
Dear Humanity... You may think of this letter as an impossible approach, but I just cannot take this anymore. Enough. Your indifference toward the world's environment is carrying me to the point of extinction. You are hurting me, as well as yourself, and I find myself in a state of terminal illness. You depend on me, and I am glad to contribute to your health, but if you keep destroying me every day without any thought, then I will surely die and then it will be you who will suffer. Please open your eyes. See what is happening. You are ending with me by polluting your environment. I hope this letter stirs your conscience. I’ll be waiting for you to preserve me the best way you can. Sincerely yours, Water (4/26/10) (photo courtesy Internet)

Note: The author is a 10th grade student at Brassavola Bilingual School in La Ceiba, Honduras. She wrote this piece for Mr. Cameron's English class.

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A Day at School With Pini

By José Eduardo Agüero
My name is José, but at school my classmates and some teachers call me “Pini”. It is Wednesday, and today we are going to have two tests, physics and sociology. Everybody has studied and is ready. The first test is about to start in a few minutes. I consider this test the worst of all. The teacher is starting to hand out the test. She is giving instructions and and telling us that we do not have to cheat off of someone else. “If you really studied, you can pass the test easily”, she says. The teacher says we may begin. (4/19/10)

The American Dream

Why can’t we live that dream in our own country, without moving far away from our families? Are we scared to invest in our own land? We have so many resources out there waiting for us to develop and take advantage of them, but we do not do it.

By José Reyes Murillo
For many decades, the United States of America has been home to many immigrants from all around the world. Latin American people fall into this category. They go to the Unites States for a reason, to pursue the so-called "American Dream". In their attempt to help their families and achieve a better way of life, many of these people fail to achieve this dream. Some people now ask themselves if this American Dream really exists. The reason for this is that most Latin American immigrants are not treated equally by North Americans who complain about them and the negative consequences that they are seen to bring. Although it is true that immigrants may carry with them some negative consequences, they also have something positive to contribute. (3/3/10)

Gustavo Murillo Essay Wins Honduras Weekly's First Writing Contest

By Raine Rivas/Maria Galindo
Honduras Weekly is pleased to announce that, since we announced the creation of our new Youth section earlier this month and encouraged students in Honduras to submit their writing to us for publication, we've had more than a dozen submissions. We've reviewed a total of fifteen essays, letters, and stories from the Brassavola Bilingual School in La Ceiba, the Bilingual School of Siguatepeque, and the International School in La Lima. We selected three of the pieces for publication, including Teresa Isabel Romero's "A Limeña Student Dreams", Gustavo Murillo's "Uniqueness and Originality", and Gisela Aguiriano's "The Fox". (3/2/10)

The Fox

Yes, they were really dead, no doubt about it. So all that was left for him to do now was have a big feast until he could eat no more, and then rest for a while and feast once again. He could live like a king for days and he did not have to move a single finger to earn the food.

By Gisela Carolina Aguiriano
Once upon a time there lived a fox in the heart of a dense forest. He was too lazy for words and always tried to get hold of things killed by others. So he hid among the trees, keeping track of hunters who came to the forest. Most of the time they would leave the dead creatures in a heap and go to the river for a drink of water and a wash. The lazy fox waited for just a chance like this. While the hunters were away, he would cleverly make away with what he could carry -- a rabbit, a wild fowl or some other small creature. It would provide food for a few days while he spent his time sleeping and resting. (2/26/10)

Uniqueness and Originality

In society there are leaders and followers; leaders are the role models from which followers look to become, it can be said that leaders are “original”. But are they really?

By Gustavo Murillo
The word "original" is defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as: “Something from which a copy, reproduction, or translation is made.” A person always desires to be original, to not go with the flow. In society there are leaders and followers; leaders are the role models from which followers look to become. It can be said that leaders are “original”. But are they really? Leaders must have been followers one day; they must have imitated the behavior and characteristics of another role model at one point in their lives. There is a saying that goes: “Leaders are made, not born.” This leads us to ask ourselves if the word “original” means the same as described in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2/16/10)

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