Total domestic violence related offenses in Broward County were over 5,500 this past year. On average in the United States 1 in 4 women will experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, and 1 in 10 women will be raped by an intimate partner in her lifetime. Approximately 16.9% of women will experience sexual violence other than rape by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime. In Broward County, right in our very own backyard we see women having to deal with all types of domestic violence.
Honduras is rapidly becoming one of the most dangerous places on Earth for women. Over the past decade, this nation of just over eight million people has witnessed a sharp increase in domestic and sexual violence. In Honduras, almost one in six women over age of 14 reports having been the victim of physical violence.
Honduras was principally a source and transit country for women and children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. Women and children were trafficked to Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and also internally, most often from rural to urban settings. Most foreign victims trafficked into Honduras came from neighboring countries.
Gangs, organized crime, and human smugglers were reportedly among the principal traffickers for purposes of commercial sexual exploitation, in Honduras. It is estimated that more than 10,000 children were at risk for sexual exploitation, of whom 98 percent were girls.
CASA ESPERANZA
EMPOWERING – EQUIPPING – HEALING
Founded in 2015, Casa Esperanza is a House of Hope for the prevention of domestic abuse. In the city of Comayagua there are many cases of domestic abuse that in involve both women and their children. Casa Esperanza helps women through counseling services and life skills training classes. One of the primary goals is to equip the women with the skills necessary to support themselves through a variety of different classes such as; baking, jewelry making, and more. Casa Esperanza desires to be able to provide housing, food, and basic necessities for these women.
OUR VISION
Due to the fact that most children only go to school for 6 years in Honduras and most of the girls must leave school after sixth grade to work and make money for the family, therefore they do not have many options for their lives. Our vision is to prevent domestic abuse and restore lives one woman at a time. There is an application and approval process that the women must go through in order to be eligible for the program. We desire to help these women have options in life by:
- Providing food and shelter to women that have little education.
- Providing education for the women in the program. To finish high school and go to college and get a degree.
- Providing counseling for the women: individual, group, and/or family.
- Encouraging them to get involved in a local charity to give back to their community.
- Teaching the women an occupation or trade so they can support themselves after completing the program. Sewing, baking, jewelry making, computer skills, and beautician classes.
- Helping them with their emotional scars and giving them self-esteem.
Casa Esperanza’s goal is to empower young women through education to make a difference in Honduras and to better serve their country. Casa Esperanza seeks to empower women to live independent lives and support themselves through several training programs. In order for us to continue to do this wonderful work in Honduras we need your help. Please consider sponsoring one of our girls in our home. You can read one of their stories about how they got to our home on our website at www.casaesperanzahonduras.org/donate. The total cost to sponsor a woman in the program is $400 a month and we are looking for individuals and businesses to sponsor any portion of that amount that they can. $25, $50, or $100 a month. It all goes to a great work and a great cause.