Our Programs
Amigos de Jesús Hogar (Home)
The Amigos de Jesús Hogar refers to our Residential Care program for our children, teens, and young adults. Our Hogar is located in rural Honduras with 12 houses onsite for our children and their caregivers. All of our houses are equipped with a living space, kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms. A large kitchen and dining facility, the commodore, is also utilized daily to support the individual houses with meals and food preparation.
ADJ Hogar provides a complete continuum of care for our children. Beyond the basics of food, clothing, housing, and education, our Hogar has a medical clinic and full-time nurse and # psychologists to support the mental and emotional well-being of our children.
Amigos de Jesús Bilingual School
The Amigos de Jesús Bilingual School serves students from both the ADJ Hogar and surrounding community in kindergarten through 9th grade. Approximately 230 students attend our school annually, taught by ## teachers and staff. The school benefits from a committed Parents Association consisting of local community members.
ADJBS was founded in 20## in partnership with the nonprofit organization BECA (Bilingual Education for Central America). In the summer of 2024, we welcomed Ms. Alma Regina Vasquez as our new school Director.
Agro: The ADJ Agriculture Dept
The Amigos de Jesús agriculture department is commonly referred to as Agro. ADJ Children’s Home is located on more than 200 acres in rural Honduras, where farming and agriculture is a primary means of livelihood. Our own farm allows us to grow our own food and livestock, as well as provide learning and vocational opportunities for our children, teens, and young adults.
Programs for Teens and Young Adults
Amigos de Jesús is developing our curriculum alongside the growth of our children. As our children age, there is a greater need of support for our teens and young adults, to help them become empowered, independent individuals.Amigos Teens ~ High School Program
Beginning in February 2024, all ADJ teenagers now live in Amigos-supported housing offsite from the our main Hogar [Home], closer to where they attend high school. Amigos is preparing these teens for their next steps in life, including a life away from the shelter of Hogar Amigos de Jesús.
While living offsite, Amigos teens learn new ways to interact socially with people outside of Amigos, and gain a new knowledge of the Honduras national reality. The teens are now recognized as individuals in their academic and social experiences, instead of one in the large group of “Amigos kids.” These teens also learn concrete skills, such as how to use urban and inter-urban public transportation.
Our high school teens live in houses in the nearby town of Macuelizo, or the city of San Pedro Sula. They receive direct care from Amigos de Jesús, and advisement and support from our Transition Program staff. Students living in the city of San Pedro Sula come home to Amigos every other weekend. For the 2024 school year, 22 Amigos teens are attending eight different high schools.
Amigos Young Adults ~ Pathways to Independence Progam
Pathway to Independence - University
An Amigos young adult can choose to continue their education in university, with the support of Amigos de Jesús. University students receive full or partial scholarship funding from Amigos, based on their circumstances. For most students, the best approach is to work a part-time job while attending school, as this gives the student an investment in his or her own education and aligns with the circumstances seen most often among the student’s peers.
Amigos helps provide our university students with both living and school expenses, but these young adults are responsible for their own legal and administrative needs, including rent agreements for their apartments. In 2024, Amigos is supporting eight young adults in their university studies.
Pathway to Independence - Voluntariado Program
The Voluntariado Program is an alternative for young adults who did not pass the university entrance exam, or who chose a different pathway to independence. This voluntary program offers life experiences, work structure, knowledge and skills for employability, and economic resources to prepare young adults for their transition to independent living.
Program goals may vary from one individual to the next, but all young adults are guided and supervised by Amigos staff members. In 2023, nine young adults participated in the Voluntariado Program, of which eight are currently employed in the community and living independently of Amigos.
This program is currently funded by a grant from very generous donor! Thank you!