Donation from Furniture Reuse Solutions includes tables, chairs and shelving.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (July 26, 2022) More than 1,000 youth in Salesian educational institutions in Honduras are benefiting from school furniture thanks to a donation secured by Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The furniture was provided by Furniture Reuse Solutions, which has a commitment to sustainability and societal benefit. The company provides charities and nonprofits with gifts-in-kind donations that aid in their humanitarian missions.

The donation, which was received in December 2021, provided tables, chairs, and shelving units to the San Juan Bosco Vocational Training Center, San Miguel Salesian Institute, and the Archdiocese of Gracias Lempira. Prior to the donation, there were no tables for students in classrooms or chairs for offices. Many of the rooms also lacked shelving for organizing school and office supplies. Students who are studying refrigeration also lacked tables to do their work.

With the furniture, the Salesian schools have much more organizational structure in work and studying spaces. Shelving was installed for equipment and supplies. The refrigeration and barbershop areas now have space to practice. Staff are able to sit in offices and students now can study and learn at tables, which makes learning much more comfortable.

Carmen Lorraine Posadas, a 19-year-old student at the San Juan Bosco Vocational Training Center, was impacted by the donation. She is studying styling and lives with her mother who works as a domestic employee. Posadas noted that for other schools her mother needed to buy everything for her to be able to attend classes. At the center, many things were provided for her.

Posadas said, “I am completely in awe of everything this institution offers us as young people.  They provide us with tools for learning, and the spaces are comfortable. The chairs are suitable for the work that we do and the tables helps us keep everything organized. I think this institution would benefit many in our country. I want to thank all the people and organizations that strive to help and improve the environment at San Juan Bosco Center and improve what we already have available.”

The second largest country in Central America, Honduras is one of the poorest and most crime-ridden countries in the Western Hemisphere with 60 percent of its population living in poverty, according to the World Bank. Rough geographic terrain in the country has limited the development of transportation, keeping much of the rural population isolated. Poverty and food scarcity are severe in rural areas and one out of every four Hondurans struggles with chronic malnutrition. In addition, one out of every five Hondurans lacks access to adequate health care.

Salesian missionaries have been working in Honduras for more than 100 years operating schools, youth centers, and medical clinics to help support and educate poor youth and their families.

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