An educational effort started by a Calvin alum and her husband aims to raise hope to a new generation of children in Honduras. Though factors such as police and government corruption and abuse and one of the highest murder rates in the world according to the US’ Overseas Security Advisory Council (osac.gov) have inspired many Hondurans to flee their country, Jubilee Centers International (JCI) is working to generate hope for children and families in Honduras to stay.

Jubilee is a Christian community-based organization that works in La Era, an impoverished community in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Co-founder Emily Romero is a Grand Rapids native and Calvin alum who married David Romero, a Honduras native. Together, they began Jubilee in 2009. JCI’s main focus is on education, offering at-risk kids in Honduras the opportunity to meet Christ in the context of strong academics.

“Powerfully transforming children and youth is one of the most important steps we can make to create hope and a better future for the entire nation,” said Emily Romero.

Jubilee strives for excellence in all their basic subjects while offering children one of the best libraries, computer labs and music programs in the city. Tuition is made affordable by scholarships through donations and a child sponsorship program. On October 21, Jubilee had its fourth annual concert, in which the students showcased their musical and theatrical talents with the theme “Dream Again.”

The theme of the concert was relayed through Bible-based dramatizations depicting courageous leaders, acts of redemption and the fulfillment of dreams. Through the songs, gifts and talents of the children and through the children’s big dreams, the message to “dream again” was depicted to the La Era community with the hope of expressing faith in God.

“A music and fine arts event of this caliber is a rare thing for an elementary school anywhere in Honduras, let alone a school for at-risk kids in a high-crime, mostly forgotten, disadvantaged neighborhood. The Lord has poured out his gifts and talents on these kids, and even the most disadvantaged kids, when given the opportunity to develop these gifts, glorify our Creator and are restoring hope into the community and the country at large,” Romero said.

By raising a new generation of Hondurans to believe in their nation and to teach others how to dream inside Honduras in order to better their nation through the power of education, JCI is forming leaders equipped to impact their communities and the country of Honduras.

Each year, JCI students participate in a “no-migration week” in which the school seeks to promote the value of one’s country and the importance of finding ways to better their own country in order to combat the issue of migration.

Jubilee strives to promote hope, education, opportunities and safety for Hondurans in their own country in order to improve conditions within the country. To learn more about the work JCI does with hundreds of at-risk youth and families, visit jubileehn.org.