Our History
OYE was founded in 2005 by Ana Luisa Ahern, Justin Eldridge Otero and Jessica Mockrin, inspired by a vision of society where young people have a powerful voice, knowledge and tools to inspire change in their lives and communities. From the beginning, our founders recognized that OYE's sustainability and success would depend on the development of strong and capable local leadership.
After living several years of their childhoods in Honduras and volunteering during the summers throughout their adolescent years with children and young people in El Progreso, Ana Luisa and Justin of Washington, D.C. witnessed the challenges facing young people in Honduras. Upon graduating from college and joined by Jessica, they returned to Honduras in 2005 to start a scholarship program to support six young women go to college. The following year, they were selected as YouthActionNet Fellows of the International Youth Foundation.
Recognizing that access to formal education was just the beginning, they designed an integral program to engage young people outside the classroom, creating spaces to promote leadership and learning and take action to build a better future in and for their country.
In line with our belief in youth and community-led development, more than half of OYE's staff are scholarship graduates and program alumni.
What We Do
What started in 2005 as a scholarship program for six young women to access higher education has evolved into the sustainable youth empowerment organization we are today. Together, we create empowering opportunities for young people to transform their lives, families and communities. We envision a society where young people enjoy their rights and contribute to sustainable and equitable development in Honduras.
Where We Work
In the heart of Central America, Honduras is rich in natural beauty, with expansive green highlands, picturesque colonial towns and crystalline Caribbean beaches.
Honduras, meaning "great depths" in Spanish, is also the most unequal and one of the most impoverished countries in Latin America, where 65% of people live in poverty and 42% in extreme poverty. In 2009, Honduras suffered a political crisis that further deepened inequality and violence.
Since then, pervasive corruption, political and social crises—paired with 2020's coronavirus pandemic and hurricanes Eta and Iota—have devastated people and communities across the country. These crises disproportionately impact people living in poverty - especially children, young people, women and other marginalized groups.
68%
of young people from ages 15 to 17 are not enrolled in high school (grades 10+). They are either not in school or enrolled at a lower level. Once a young person drops out of school, they are unlikely to return.
1 in 4
girls and young women from ages 15 to 19 have been pregnant at least once. Girls who are out of school are much more likely to marry and have children early.
72%
of Honduran workers are underemployed. They often work long hours and earn less than minimum wage.
Our Team
Meet the incredible staff and young people who bring our organization to life! We are so proud to share that more than half of the members of our permanent staff are scholarship graduates and program alumni. They are distinguished here with a ★ next to their name.
Staff
ClaudiaUrbina
Executive Director
AmandaHall
Development Director
DuniaPerdomo ★
Programs Director
LidisMadrigales
Administrative Director
AndersonChávez ★
Communications Officer
AngelRodriguez ★
Psychologist, Mental Health Officer
Diana Ruíz ★
Psychologist, Scholarship Officer
FernandoFernández ★
Entrepreneurship Officer
HeidiReyes ★
Youth Programs Officer
JeslyMejía ★
Accountant
TrinidadCastillo †
Special Collaborator
Youth Leadership Team
As a youth-driven organization, youth leadership is part of the fabric of our organization. As such, we are intentional about creating opportunities for young people to assume formal leadership positions across all programs and projects.
AlissAnariba
Youth Coordinator, Art
AllisonPineda
Youth Coordinator, Sports
AnthonyBustillo
Youth Leader, Education
GabrielPerez
Youth Coordinator, Art
MarcelaSuazo
Youth Coordinator, Graphic Design
MaylinRamos
Youth Leader, Education
RosaAngelaMartinez
Youth Coordinator, Communications
Social Enterprise Team
CLIC is our youth-led creative social enterprise. As a graphic design and print studio, CLIC creates jobs and internships for young people while generating revenue to reinvest in our programs. At the same time, it delivers high-quality design and print services to entrepreneurs, businesses, and organizations—in our local community and beyond.
AngieOrellana
Administrator
EmelyRosales
Graphic Design Lead
HumbertoLeiva
Production Lead
Our Board of Directors
justin eldridge otero
President, USA
alejandro fernandez ludeña
Vice President, Honduras
Barbara Myers
Treasurer, USA
Ruth Varela
Secretary and Legal Representative, Honduras
jefry amaya
Member, Honduras
Trish Ahern
Member, USA
Marcy Fink campos
Member, USA
rómulo flores
Member, Honduras
Our Partners + Allies
And every single one of our donors, volunteers and supporters who generously give their time, voices and resources - and without whom none of this would be possible. We can't thank them – or you – enough!
