Los Terrones is located in the rural region of central Honduras in the department of El Paraíso. People in Los Terrones are primarily employed as day laborers in agriculture. The Global Brigades programs and initiatives that are currently active in the community are Medical Programs, including Medical and Dental brigades and the Community Health Worker Program. Los Terrones is on the wait-list for continued Holistic Model implementation as part of Global Brigades’ strategic plan in Honduras.
Municipality: El Paraíso
Department: El Paraíso
The community members of Los Terrones do not have access to their own health center, so they travel nearly one hour on foot to get health care in the nearby community of Cantarranas. In Cantarranas, the health center is called a CESAMO which is a larger scale health center where doctors and occasionally dentists are on staff. The most common illnesses are the common cold, cough, diarrhea, arterial hypertension, diabetes, and skin allergies.
Brigade Volunteers
Patient Consultations
Vision Screenings Provided
Health Education Workshops
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS:Los Terrones has a total of 6 Community Health Workers who were trained in February of 2011. These CHWs were trained as part of a larger area that includes two smaller communities, Cuyali and Las Cañas. Therefore, the eleven Community Health Workers reach three different communities. During their training, CHWs learned about treatment and care for some chronic illnesses as well as other health topics like first aid, caring for pregnancies, and first response in emergency situations. With these skills, the CHWs help to relieve some of the patient load for the staff in the health center by teaching preventative health.
Medical brigades use the school as their brigade site. The school has 5 rooms and the kindergarten has 1 extra, all where the various medical stations are conducted. Doctors spend an average of 10 minutes with each patient and we are able to provide 5-6 educational charlas a day.
| Chapter | Date | # Of Volunteers | Chapter | Date | # Of Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Michigan University Medical Brigade | July 2016 | 26 | Washington University in St. Louis Medical Brigade | January 2017 | 42 |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Medical Brigade | May 2017 | 40 | Mount Allison University Medical Brigade & Brandeis University Medical Brigade | February 2018 | 32 |
| Boston University Medical Brigade | January 2019 | 29 | Otterbein University Medical Brigade & University of Pittsburgh Medical Brigade | May 2019 | 31 |
| Northwestern University Medical Brigade & University of South Florida Medical Brigade & University of Mississippi Medical Brigade | December 2019 | 31 | Foothill College TeleBrigade | July 2020 | 16 |
| Marquette University Medical TeleBrigade | December 2020 | 40 | Stockton Academy Health TeleSquad | February 2021 | 23 |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | May 2023 | 16 |
In working closely with the Medical program, the Dental program provides fillings, extractions, and fluoride treatments as a standard part of Medical Brigades. Most community members do not have regular access to dental care due to the lack of dentist within a reasonable distance.
Patient Consultations
Number of Extractions
Fillings Performed
Dental Education Workshops
Dental brigades use the school as their brigade site. The school has 5 rooms and the kindergarten has 1 extra, all where the various medical stations are conducted. Doctors spend an average of 10 minutes with each patient and we are able to provide 5-6 educational charlas a day.
| Chapter | Date | # Of Volunteers | Chapter | Date | # Of Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Michigan University Medical Brigade | July 2016 | 26 | Washington University in St. Louis Medical Brigade | January 2017 | 42 |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Medical Brigade | May 2017 | 40 | Mount Allison University Medical Brigade & Brandeis University Medical Brigade | February 2018 | 32 |
| Boston University Medical Brigade | January 2019 | 29 | Otterbein University Medical Brigade & University of Pittsburgh Medical Brigade | May 2019 | 31 |
| Northwestern University Medical Brigade & University of South Florida Medical Brigade & University of Mississippi Medical Brigade | December 2019 | 31 | Foothill College TeleBrigade | July 2020 | 16 |
| Marquette University Medical TeleBrigade | December 2020 | 40 | Stockton Academy Health TeleSquad | February 2021 | 23 |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | May 2023 | 16 |
Global Brigades made partnerships with Father Ferdinando Castriotti in Fundación Alivio del Sufrimiento and also with the Municipality of El Paraíso to create a water system in the community of Los Terrones. The existing system was built in 2011, and in November of 2016 the pump in this system burnt out because there was not enough water. It only served approximately 20 houses. They used a water source that they found in the mountains, 10 km, from the community. They had a small tank in the community which was 5,000 gallons. This was not sufficient and the design of the existing pipelines was poor. The pump of 1 horsepower was not enough.
They had several wells that had been drilled 3 years prior but all of these had dried out. There were six washing stations in the creek at the entrance of the community. The members also used this to bathe and it was often that we saw animals such as dogs and cows drinking this water. Another huge concern was that the bridge easily floods, so any vehicles or people entering the community would have to go through the water. The water from the system was not chlorinated, and the water council that they had was very disorganized. It had not been legalized and was encountering many issues.
Volunteers
Beneficiaries
Kilometers of pipeline designed
Average community volunteers
When GB entered Los Terrones, they knew it was essential that a new water system would need to be constructed so that members in the community would have sufficient access to water in order to stay healthy. This was all made possible with the partnerships with Fundación Alivio del Sufrimiento and the Municipality of El Paraiso. The water system that was completed in September 2018 was a gravity system. It consisted of a small dam, a sedimentation tank (to ensure that there would not be a problem of sand clogging the pipes), and there was also a brand new tank of 15,000 gallons built in the community. The water source is at an altitude of 100m above community meaning that there is enough gravity to press the pipes. The water source was also 10 km away from the community. Iron pipes were installed at the beginning of the project for the water source to avoid future damage due to over flooding events.
As the community is quite large there are two outlets from the new tank, which ensures that the pressure of the water is correct. The flow rate in the new system is around 60 gallons per minute which is enough for everyone in the community and also leaves room for growth in the future. In the community of Los Terrones, 121 houses have benefited from the new water system.
This water system was also going to be benefiting another community, Colonia San Jose, in which the partnering organization was working. With the help of GB, the community was able to form a very strong water council and have it legalized. They provided great leadership training and training on how to properly maintain the water system so that it will last for many years. The water council will sit down and come up with a logical water fee for each family each month in order to purchase the chlorine, pay the plumber in the community and also have a little to save each month in the community bank for the future in case there is a problem in the water system.
Global Brigades made partnerships with Father Ferdinando Castriotti in Fundación Alivio del Sufrimiento and also with the Municipality of El Paraíso to create a water system in the community of Los Terrones. The existing system was built in 2011, and in November of 2016 the pump in this system burnt out because there was not enough water. It only served approximately 20 houses. They used a water source that they found in the mountains, 10 km, from the community. They had a small tank in the community which was 5,000 gallons.
This was not sufficient and the design of the existing pipelines was poor. The pump of 1 horsepower was not enough. They had several wells that had been drilled 3 years prior but all of these had dried out. There were six washing stations in the creek at the entrance of the community. The members also used this to bathe and it was often that we saw animals such as dogs and cows drinking this water. Another huge concern was that the bridge easily floods, so any vehicles or people entering the community would have to go through the water. The water from the system was not chlorinated, and the water council that they had was very disorganized. It had not been legalized and was encountering many issues.
Volunteer
Project Beneficiaries
Kilometers of Pipeline Installed
Storage Tank Volume (gallons)
When GB entered Los Terrones, they knew it was essential that a new water system would need to be constructed so that members in the community would have sufficient access to water in order to stay healthy. This was all made possible with the partnerships with Fundación Alivio del Sufrimiento and the Municipality of El Paraiso. The water system that was completed in September 2018 was a gravity system. It consisted of a small dam, a sedimentation tank (to ensure that there would not be a problem of sand clogging the pipes), and there was also a brand new tank of 15,000 gallons built in the community.
The water source is at an altitude of 100m above the community meaning that there is enough gravity to press the pipes. The water source was also 10 km away from the community. Iron pipes were installed at the beginning of the project for the water source to avoid future damage due to over-flooding events.
The community is quite large there are two outlets from the new tank, which ensures that the pressure of the water is correct. The flow rate in the new system is around 60 gallons per minute which is enough for everyone in the community and also leaves room for growth in the future. In the community of Los Terrones, 121 houses have benefited from the new water system.
This water system was also going to be benefiting another community, Colonia San Jose, in which the partnering organization was working. With the help of GB, the community was able to form a very strong water council and have it legalized. They provided great leadership training and training on how to properly maintain the water system so that it will last for many years. The water council will sit down and come up with a logical water fee for each family each month in order to purchase the chlorine, pay the plumber in the community and also have a little to save each month in the community bank for the future in case there is a problem in the water system.
| Chapter | Date | # Of Volunteers | Chapter | Date | # Of Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina Charlotte Medical Brigade & Belmont University Medical Brigade | March 2018 | 41 | Central Michigan University Medical Brigade | March 2018 | 30 |
| Castleton University Medical Brigade | March 2018 | 29 | Central Michigan University Medical Brigade | March 2018 | 30 |
| North Park University Medical Brigade | March 2018 | 26 | Mississippi State University Medical Brigade & University of Kentucky Medical Brigade | March 2018 | 29 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medical Brigade & Rutgers University Medical Brigade | March 2018 | 49 | Acadia University Public Health Brigade | April 2018 | 8 |
| Acadia University Medical Brigade | April 2018 | 26 | University of Calgary Engineering Brigade & Dalhouse University Engineering Brigade & McMaster University Engineering Brigade | April 2018 | 32 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Brigade & University of Michigan Medical Brigade | April 2018 | 40 | St. Thomas University Public Health Brigade | May 2018 | 8 |
| Rice University Medical Brigade | May 2018 | 29 | Florida Atlantic University Medical Brigade | May 2018 | 30 |
| University of the Sciences Medical Brigade | May 2018 | 45 | University of Pittsburgh Medical Brigade | May 2018 | 29 |
| Queen’s University Medical Brigade & Rutgers University – New Brunswick Medical Brigade & McGill University Medical Brigade | May 2018 | 36 | College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University Medical Brigade | May 2018 | 24 |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Medical Brigade | May 2018 | 45 | Emory University Medical Brigade | May 2018 | 33 |
| SUNY Stony Brook Medical Brigade | May 2018 | 32 | Mississippi State University Medical Brigade | May 2018 | 19 |
| University of Oklahoma Medical Brigade | May 2018 | 44 | University of Minnesota- Twin Cities Medical Brigade & North Texas University Medical Brigade | May 2018 | 28 |
| University of Missouri Medical Brigade & Whittier College Medical Brigade | May 2018 | 28 | Cornell University Medical Brigade & SUNY New Paltz Medical Brigade | May 2018 | 31 |
| San Francisco State University | June 2018 | 7 | Illinois Wesleyan University Medical Brigade | June 2018 | 30 |
| Bethel University Medical Brigade & University of Hawaii Manoa Medical Brigade & San Francisco State University Medical Brigade | June 2018 | 7 | CEGEP Champlain St. Lawrence Medical Brigade & CEGEP Marianopolis Medical Brigade | June 2018 | 36 |
| University of Washington Public Health Brigade | June 2018 | 23 | Drexel University Public Health Brigade & University of California Riverside Public Health Brigade | June 2018 | 16 |
| University of California San Diego Public Health Brigade | June 2018 | 19 | Oregon State University Medical Brigade & University of Edinburgh Medical Brigade | June 2018 | 24 |
| University of California Riverside Medical Brigade & University of California San Diego Medical Brigade | June 2018 | 51 | Oregon Health and Sciences University Public Health Brigade | June 2018 | 11 |
| Arizona State University Public Health Brigade | July 2018 | 6 | Texas A&M University Medical Brigade | July 2018 | 28 |
| San Jose State University Medical Brigade & Southeast Missouri State University Medical Brigade | August 2018 | 28 | Memorial University of Newfoundland Medical Brigade & Otterbein University Medical Brigade & University of Birmingham Medical Brigade | August 2018 | 45 |
| Wayne State University Medical Brigade | August 2018 | 27 | California State University Los Angeles Medical Brigade & University of the Pacific Medical Brigade | August 2018 | 20 |
| University of Maryland Medical Brigade | August 2018 | 36 | Bowling Green State University Medical Brigade & Texas Tech University Medical Brigade & University of Waterloo Medical Brigade | August 2018 | 39 |
| Memorial University of Newfoundland Water Brigade & University of New Brunswick Water Brigade & University of New Brunswick St. John Water Brigade | August 2018 | 21 | Rutgers University – New Brunswick Medical Brigade | August 2018 | 34 |
| Carleton University Medical Brigade & University of New Brunswick Medical Brigade & University of Toronto Mississauga Medical Brigade | August 2018 | 37 | Imperial College London Water Brigade | September 2018 | 7 |
The majority of community members in Los Terrones work in agriculture and as day laborers. This primarily consists of subsistence farming, although excess crops are sometimes sold. Most agricultural workers make about 100 lempiras (approximately US $4.25) a day during the rainy season. Regardless of occupation, most families earn around 4,000 lempiras per month (approximately US $170). Almost all household income is used to purchase food for consumption.
Volunteers
Loans Disbursed
Savings Accounts Opened
Capital Invested
LOS TERRONES’ MICRO-FINANCE SOLUTIONIn 2019, Global Brigades worked alongside Los Terrones to establish a community bank. The bank members meet in the bank’s own structure every month. They are able to offer loans and savings accounts to community members so that families can plan and stabilize their finances. This is especially beneficial for farmers, who can take out loans to invest in their agricultural production and pay them back after the harvest. Loans allow many subsistence farmers to not only consume the crops they harvest but also earn an income from selling their excess.
| Chapter | Date | # Of Volunteers |
|---|---|---|
| University of Miami Business Brigade | December 2019 | 17 |
Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Los Terrones but has not yet begun with the Public Health Brigades program. Now in the planning phase, the delivery and installation of household health products will start as soon as feasible.
Legal services are difficult to access in rural Honduras for two primary
reasons: location and cost. Most often, there are no legal services set up
within rural communities and are instead concentrated in urban areas.
Therefore, rural Hondurans must travel multiple hours to access these
services. Not only does traveling to these urban areas cost money, but the
legal services themselves are frequently too expensive.
In addition, there is an attitude of mistrust amongst the rural clients.
Therefore, it is a challenge to gain trust of the community members when it
comes to dealing with their personal legal empowerment issues and to prove not
all lawyers will take advantage of them.
Volunteers
Legal Consultations Provided
Family Cases Resolved
Participants of Educational Workshops
By focusing on specific aspects of legal access and inclusion, Global Brigades’ Legal Empowerment Program aims to empower communities like Los Terrones to overcome the obstacles mentioned above. Starting in 2013, Brigaders have been able to tackle family law cases, execute pro-bono legal clinics, and perform educational workshops.
Family Law: The most common legal issues within the community include issues of alimony and childcare, land issues, domestic violence, and some violent crimes. Without a lawyer in the community, many legal issues go unresolved or unattended for many years, and seemingly simple legal troubles can go unanswered.
Legal Clinics: Global Brigade’s Legal Empowerment Program has been able to offer their pro-bono legal services to community members in Los Terrones with the help of Honduran lawyers as they are shadowed by volunteers. Both community members and volunteers work together to challenge the stigma of lawyers in the region by offering real, professional services for free.
Educational Workshops: Volunteers have performed workshops in the local school of Los Terrones. Capitalizing on the use of education as a tool for community empowerment, volunteers lead discussions and workshops with students and families about issues that have direct consequences and effects on their everyday lives, including the right to education, child abuse, drug use, and child labor laws.
| Chapter | Date | # Of Volunteers |
|---|---|---|
| University of Warwick Legal Empowerment Brigade | September 2019 | 9 |