Centro San Yves in Yoro, Honduras

In the early 1990s, SLUH Spanish teacher Mr. Charley Merriott began taking groups of SLUH students to Central America to work with malnourished children at a “nutrition center” in the town of Yoro, Honduras. The center was housed in a series of temporary locations, and was in desperate need of an adequate facility to house and feed the children in their care. Mr. Merriott (known as “Profe” to his students…the Spanish term for “Teacher”) led the charge. With the support of the SLUH community, he raised tens of thousands of dollars and coordinated the construction of a new building in the town of Yoro…the Centro San Yves. It houses malnourished infants and toddlers, providing a safe, loving environment and healthy nutrition to these at-risk children.

SLUH has been taking groups of students to Yoro, Honduras to work at the Centro San Yves for 23 years with Profe Charley Merriott at the helm! Over the past few years, SLUH has created a committee to work with Profe on continuing the Honduras Project for the six seniors who go each year in January for their Senior Project as well as to expand the program, in the hopes of getting more members of the SLUH community engaged with the mission of caring for malnourished children at the Centro San Yves.

This year we are excited that for the first time SLUH will be sending another group of six seniors to Honduras during their Spring Break. In addition to sending more students to Honduras, a goal of the Honduras Committee is to explore other opportunities for engagement with the Center. We invite you to join us in this exploration by attending a Honduras Night on Monday, February 27 at SLUH in the Si Commons. Part of the night will include some reflections, including from Charley Merriott, a senior who has recently returned from Honduras, as well as an opportunity for you to reflect back on your connection with the SLUH Honduras Project. Additionally, President David Laughlin will present how Honduras fits into our larger immersion program and vision for students at SLUH.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Patti Webb at SLUH: pwebb@sluh.org