Service Team Handbook

Team Leader SectionJanuary 2016

As the service team leader, you are responsible for putting together a team of people who are not only excited about traveling to El Hogar and interacting with the children, but who also have a service mindset. As a team, you’re coming to do work that will help the students in our care to have a happy and safe environment to call home. You are also coming to create friendships with our students that will span your time here and the miles between the place you call home and our campuses in Honduras.The team leader is there to ensure that the trip not only goes smoothly from beginning to end, but to also make sure that the team members are getting the most out of their time at El Hogar.El Hogar Ministries is here to help you with any questions you might have regarding your trip from early planning until after you return. Our Service Team Coordinator, Margo Mingay, is always ready to answer your questions. She can be reached via email at mmingay@elhogar.org or by phone at 416-969-7682 (Toronto).

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Assembling a TeamTips & Regulations

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Assembling a Team – Tips & Regulations • Ideal size of a service team is 12 people (maximum of 15) (minimum of 10 people

required)• Teams consisting of families should contact El Hogar regarding bringing children

under the age of 15• It is advised that those with serious medical or stress-induced conditions not

participate on service teams• Reasons:

• Work involves manual labor• Medical facilities in Honduras are NOT the same as in North America• Conditions can be uncomfortable at times:

• Unfamiliar foods• Unfamiliar beds• Lack of air conditioning• Seeing extreme poverty

• Difficult terrain for those with mobility issues• Please prescreen prospective team members who may have conditions that would make their time

in Honduras difficult and encourage those people to find alternative ways to support El Hogar.

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Checklist and Timetable

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Checklist and TimetableTASKS WHEN TO COMPLETE

Apply to reserve a week 8-12 monthsObtain a copy of the Service Team Handbook from the website

Before your informational meeting

Hold an informational meeting 6-8 months ahead of your tripAssemble your team and hold an initial prep meeting

5-6 months ahead of your trip

Submit forms and money to EHMI* Roster, Waiver, Participant Application and Agreement, and Deposit of $250/person (room and board fees)

5-6 months ahead of your trip

Purchase your plane tickets 4-8 months ahead of your tripBegin fundraising 6-8 months ahead of your tripVisit your doctor 3-4 months ahead of your trip

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Checklist and TimetableTASKS WHEN TO COMPLETE

Email arrival forms 3 months ahead of trip to mmingay@elhogar.org

Send $2,500 remaining project fee to EHMI 1-2 months ahead of your tripComplete forms for minors traveling with one or no parents (if necessary)

1 month ahead of your trip

All payments should be made out to El Hogar Ministries, Inc. and should be sent to our North American headquarters at:

El Hogar Ministries, Inc.21 Cummings Park Drive, Suite 238

Woburn, MA 01801

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Fundraising

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FundraisingIt’s suggested that the project expenses (at least $2,500) be obtained through fundraising activities.Benefits:• Builds team morale and relationships among the team members• Removes the burden for members of the group (it’s suggested that they each pay for their own

airfare and other costs as a “buy-in” for the trip)• Raises awareness of the group’s trip and their relationship with El Hogar• Gives the community a chance to take part in the projectFundraising Ideas:• Bake sales• Car washes• Special dinner events

It’s also a good idea to ask if your church or organization supplies grant money for short-term service trips.

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Group Norms

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Group NormsYour group will be living in close quarters that will, at times, be outside of the comfort zone of some people. Group norms are agreements among all of the group members about how some situations will be handled during your time in Honduras. We suggest that you try to set these norms before you leave.

Examples include:• Agreeing to not allow anyone under the age of 21 to drink alcoholic beverages when at

a restaurant, even though the drinking age in Honduras is 18• To keep your bunk and suitcase area neat and clean• To set a “quiet time” within the volunteer house• To let others know if something is wrong or if you will not able to participate in a

particular activity• Agreeing to not use phones during your time at El Hogar

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Preparatory Meetings and Activities

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Preparatory Meetings and ActivitiesIt’s critical that you organize meetings of the team that will be traveling to El Hogar to prepare them for the trip. These meetings will offer the opportunity to share all of the information with members that is needed for them to prepare, while also giving them an opportunity to grow close as a team. It’s a good idea to hold at least three meetings so that team members are not overwhelmed by getting all of the information they need at one time.We’ve included three sample meeting agendas that you could use as guides to help you plan these important meetings.

Team BuildingTeam leaders have told us time and time again that they find it helpful to bring their team together prior to leaving for El Hogar. This gives your team a chance to get to know each other and to become comfortable with each other – particularly important due to the close quarters you will be living in while in Honduras.Your preparatory meetings will help the team to grow closer, but additional time/activities together can really go a long way.You can find a variety of activities by doing a quick web search, but you can also get suggestions by contacting Margo Mingay at mmingay@elhogar.org.

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Preparatory Meetings and Activities – Sample Agenda 11. Introductions of team members2. Why are we going on this trip (hopes, expectations, etc.)3. Check passports4. Outline of costs involved

A. Choose fundraising projectsB. Decide who is paying for what

5. Flight information (what flight, how to get tickets, etc.)A. Possibly assign a team member to coordinate this

6. Advise team members to visit their doctors or a travel clinic7. Show and hand out the Service Team Handbook and ask various team members to prepare to report

on a particular part of it at your next meeting. Other topics for discussion can include the history, politics, climate, geography, and economics of Honduras.

8. Assess knowledge of the Spanish language among the team membersA. Provide the Spanish phrase/dictionary handout

9. Hand out Liability Waiver and Photo Opt-Out forms to take home, review, and return by next meeting10.Schedule your next meeting

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Preparatory Meetings and Activities – Sample Agenda 1Handouts1. Questionnaire for team member contact information/degree of Spanish language

proficiency/special skills2. Service Team Handbook (print out copy or provide link and require reading before your

next meeting)3. Liability Waiver4. Photo Opt-Out form

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Preparatory Meetings and Activities – Sample Agenda 21. Verify that plane tickets have been purchased and provide members with information

(flight number, day, time, meeting location, etc.)2. Update on fundraising efforts (completed tasks, amount raised, amount still needed,

how to thank donors, etc.)3. Hand out packing list and go over in detail4. Go over list of items from El Hogar’s list of needed items (available from Margo Mingay

at mmingay@elhogar.org)5. Collect all forms and go over any questions that team members might have6. Discuss insurance coverage (international coverage individuals have, coverage

provided by your church or organization, etc.)7. Discuss group norms8. Confirm contact information of team members for the Arrival and Roster Form9. Hold a team building exercise10.Schedule your next/final meeting

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Preparatory Meetings and Activities – Sample Agenda 2Handouts1. Flight information2. Packing list3. List of items needed by El Hogar

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Preparatory Meetings and Activities – Sample Agenda 31. Go over the packing list again2. Answer any remaining questions3. Revisit any hopes or fears that team members might have4. Go over final fundraising information (remaining tasks)5. Collect emergency contact information for each member (contact name, phone number, etc.)6. Setup a time for packing supplies that are being taken to El Hogar7. Setup transportation to the airport for your departure to Honduras and your arrival home8. Final Reminders

A. Ask all team members to leave a copy of their passport with a family member or friend (in case of loss)

B. Ensure all team members know flight information and schedules (hand out tickets when you arrive at the airport)

C. Ask team members to pack any necessary medications9. Finalize group norms10.Final team building exercise

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Team Leader Responsibilities While at El Hogar

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Team Leader Responsibilities While at El HogarAs the team leader, there are responsibilities and tasks that you will need to take care of during your stay at El Hogar. You are the point person for any questions or needs that might arise. It is your responsibility to bring any requests or comments to the attention of Erika Skafel.

Examples of some of your responsibilities include:• Ensuring that all team members are where they need to be (breakfast, work project, etc.)

on time• Ensuring that there is always bottled water available in the volunteer house (when the

office closes, new bottles are locked up and are unavailable)• Ensuring that any problems or issues are promptly reported to staff (illness, broken

equipment, etc.)• Ensuring that the team is flexible and that the work that is expected of them is completed• Holding a debrief each evening and, if possible, including Matt Engleby and/or Erika Skafel

in your final meeting

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Team Leader Responsibilities When You Return Home

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Team Leader Responsibilities When YouReturn HomeAs the team leader, it’s important that you make time for your team to meet after returning home from El Hogar. This is important for a number of reasons:

• Easing reentry into your community• You and your team members will see poverty and situations in Honduras that are unheard of in North

America and this can leave a lasting impression that can make going home more difficult than some people may think.

• Sharing experiences and memories• This is an opportunity to share your experiences (highs and lows) of the trip, to show photos that may

have been taken by team members, and to talk about the possibility of returning again in the future.• Deciding how to continue supporting El Hogar

• Teams often return with a keen interest to continue supporting El Hogar in a variety of ways. These include:• Sponsoring a child, sponsoring the Academic Essentials program, or make a donation• Holding fundraisers for our students (i.e. Friend A Child)

• You can even invite a member of El Hogar’s North American staff (or Honduran Executive Director Matt Engleby) to speak to your organization or church. This helps to build wider support for El Hogar within your organization and community.

• Contact any local companies or foundations to inquire about financial support for El Hogar.22

Tips for Youth Teams

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Tips for Youth TeamsTraveling with youth teams presents a particular set of issues for you to keep in mind as a team leader. During the duration of the trip, these youth are your responsibility. Some tips to keep in mind when preparing to bring a youth team to El Hogar:

• Youth teams require more supervision• We suggest that you have a ratio of one adult for every four students

• Minimum age for visiting El Hogar as a team member is 15 or the ninth grade• Ensure that parents provide contact information and any necessary forms for their

children traveling outside of the country without them

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Service Team Handbook

Background Information

January 2016

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Background InformationHistory of El Hogar Links to All Necessary FormsEl Hogar’s Four CentersEl Hogar Contact List

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History of El Hogar

This timeline illustrates the highlights that have occurred over the more than 35 year history of El Hogar. 27

History of El HogarEl Hogar began in 1979 when several members of the of the Episcopal Church in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, felt moved to address the deplorable situation of the children abandoned to the streets. They began with five boys who they brought to a rented house to give them a safe place to sleep, food to eat, the love they needed, and an education.It’s been over 35 years since those first five boys and El Hogar has graduated around a1,000 children. Our organization in Honduras now includes four campuses: an elementary school, a Technical Institute, an Agricultural School, and a Girls’ campus.Until the establishment of our own private school in 1990, the El Hogar boys (ages five to 16) attended the public school in the community through the available six grades, at which time they left the center. We came to realize that our job was not done, as they still had no home, no one to care for them, and no job skills. In 1984, St. Mary’s Technical Institute was built with a grant from the United Thank Offering and from U.S. Aid to Industrial Development. The original buildings were actually built by the boys, supervised by volunteers. This was a modern, residential vocational school for 66 teenage boys, where they continued their academic education (with our own teachers). We also put them in well-equipped shops where they could learn from competent instructors to become carpenters, furniture builders, metal workers, or electricians. Since the boys from the Elementary campus of don’t fill the institute, we accept applicants from throughout Honduras. This provides opportunities for a good education to poor boys who otherwise wouldn’t receive any further education beyond elementary. (Formation of EHMI?)

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History of El HogarIn February 2005, the Technical Institute relocated to a new property in the Amarateca Valley, about 30 minutes outside of Tegucigalpa. A capital campaign raised over $1.5 million to make this move possible and the new Institute was dedicated in February 2008. Since the beginning, the vision was to have a third center offering an alternative course of study in agriculture and farming, for our boys who prefer this direction for their career. The Agricultural School was dedicated in February of 1993 and our farm program, located about one hour from Tegucigalpa, teaches boys about basic agriculture, working in the gardens, milking the cows, and crop management techniques. In 2007, we expanded our work to include girls from elementary school through high school.In 2011 we purchased a piece of property in Santa Lucia about 20 minutes from Tegucigalpa where the high school girls live and attend a private high school. We have realized much growth from the original five boys to over 250 boys and girls in our care on our four campuses. We have a capable Honduran staff who serve as role models for our children. Our children learn, by instruction and example, of the love of God. They are baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church. We are not funded by the national Episcopal Church or by the Diocese of Honduras, although we sometimes receive grants from the National Church. Our primary funding comes from many caring individuals from the United States and Canada, plus churches, Rotary Clubs, schools, universities, and corporations.

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History of El HogarA large part of our work, besides oversight of the day-to-day operations of the program in Honduras, is to visit churches and groups in North America to tell the exciting El Hogar story, and to seek support and involvement in this program. We are hopeful that, as you learn more about what El Hogar is doing in Honduras, you will think of ways that we can share this story in your area, and involve more people in this work.

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El Hogar’s Four Centers

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El Hogar’s Four CentersElementary Campus - Claudia Castro, DirectorEl Hogar de Amor y Esperanza (The Home of Love and Hope)This four-acre oasis in the middle of Tegucigalpa provides a home and education for over 100 boys and girls. These children come from poor rural and urban areas in Honduras.Children attend academic classes in the morning and enrichment classes (baking, silk screening, etc.) in the afternoon. They also have plenty of time to play and be children.Colorful murals and gardens are found throughout the campus, which provide a sense of peace and home for our students.

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El Hogar’s Four CentersTechnical Institute – Lazaro Juarez, DirectorInstituto Tecnico Santa Maria (St. Mary’s Technical Institute)This eight-acre campus is located in the Amarateca Valley, about half an hour outside of Tegucigalpa. There are over 65 boys in grades seven through nine.The students have a full academic curriculum and the attend workshops that specialize in one of three areas: carpentry, welding, and electrical work (includes appliance repair). Students produce items for sale, including furniture and gate grills.A number of the students at the Institute come from our Elementary campus. The Technical Institute also accepts young men into the program from poor families who can pass an entrance exam.This location does not currently provide volunteer accommodations.

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El Hogar’s Four CentersAgricultural School – Yony Aguilera, DirectorEscuela Agricola de Amor y Esperanza (The Agricultural School and Farm)This 240-acre campus is located an hour outside of Tegucigalpa in Talanga. There are 60 boys in grades seven through nine.The students have a full academic curriculum and study sustainable agriculture. They spend morning doing farm chores and in workshops, and attend academic classes in the afternoon. Students focus on plant and crop production or animal care.A few boys are from the Elementary campus. The Agricultural school also accepts young men into the program from poor families who can pass an entrance exam.In 2016 the Farm will not be accepting any service teams. 34

El Hogar’s Four CentersHigh School Girls Home – Claudia Castro, DirectorLa Casa de Niñas El Hogar (El Hogar for High School Girls)This home, nestled on a hillside just outside of Tegucigalpa in the town of Santa Lucia, is home to girls in grades seven through 11. House parents live with the girls and the campus includes a vegetable garden, fruit trees, and expansive valley views.The campus has a maximum capacity of space for up to 25 girls. The girls attend a local high school where they have academic classes and preparation for University.This location does not currently provide volunteer accommodations.

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El Hogar Contact List

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El Hogar Contact ListName Contact Information

Erika Skafel – Coordinator of North American Relations

Cell: 504-99-37-16-39Email: eskafel@elhogar.org

Margo Mingay – Service Team Coordinator Office: 416-696-7682Email: mmingay@elhogar.org

Rev. Matthew Engleby – Executive Director, El Hogar in Honduras

Cell: 504-95-41-50-75Email: mengleby@elhogar.org

Liz Kinchen – Executive Director of El Hogar in North America

Office: 781-729-7600Email: lkinchen@elhogar.org

Claudia Castro – Director, El Hogar Elementary Campus

Office (Spanish Only): 504-22-46-47-87

Lazaro Juarez – Director, El Hogar Technical Institute, and Sub-Executive Director for El Hogar in Honduras

Cell: 504-33-92-01-23

Yony Aguilera – Director, Agricultural School Cell: 504-32-91-99-77

ADDRESS FOR CUSTOMS DECLARATIONEl Hogar de Amor y EsperanzaColonia San Jose de la Vega 37

Links to All Necessary Forms

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Links to All Necessary Forms• Service Team Application - http://ow.ly/Yg1aR • Service Team Participant Application - http://ow.ly/Yg1mO • Service Team Participant Agreement - http://ow.ly/YEtu5 • Service Team Roster -

www.elhogar.org/main/wp-content/uploads/Service-Team-Roster.xlsx • Service Team Arrival Form - http://ow.ly/YEtCN• Service Team Adult Liability Form -

www.elhogar.org/main/wp-content/uploads/Service-Team-Adult-Liability-Waiver.docx • Service Team Minor Liability Form -

www.elhogar.org/main/wp-content/uploads/Service-Team-Minor-Liability-Waiver.docx • Service Team Photo Opt-Out Form -

www.elhogar.org/main/wp-content/uploads/Service-Team-Photo-Opt-Out.docx

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