Projecto Honduras

03/13/2026

Dr. Rose and his volunteer medical team of registered nurses helped at a nursing school. The school was founded through collaboration between Projecto Honduras, the local school district, and supported by medical teams. The nursing school now receives government backing. This nursing school is one of the career paths available for students, who assist at the clinic as part of their preparation for graduation from high school. The nursing students, dressed in green, help compensate for the reduced number of volunteer teams coming to Honduras by serving at the Projecto Honduras clinic.

03/06/2026

When Projecto Honduras volunteer teams travel to small villages in the cloud forest, kids often hitch a ride. The experience is a significant event for the children, who eagerly jump on for the ride. This activity is one of the more enjoyable aspects of the team’s work, resembling a carnival ride for the kids, who have a great time during the outing. Note the poor condition of the roads, typical of remote, hard-to-access communities in the mountains. Volunteer team often have to navigate the rough roads to get to the people who are in need.

02/27/2026

This is a picture of the river that flows in front of the Chocolate Factory, highlighting the beauty of Honduras. The river is often a place for rest and relaxation for the local children and volunteer teams alike.

02/18/2026

Projecto Honduras volunteer teams build and renovate park toys. Park toys often require complete overhauls due to the heavy use by children and the effects of weather. This necessitates rebuilding or replacing the play equipment approximately every two years. In this instance, it had been about eight years since the last major repair, indicating that significant work was required by the team for the park's upkeep. The park is important. People often come to the clinic as family units. While the mom/dad/grandparent wait in line to be seen at the clinic (it can be a long wait), the children have something to do.

01/25/2026

Update from Belaire – January 2026

Dear family, friends and supporters,

Jose is still recovering from the gunshot wound to his leg. Healing has taken longer than expected, largely because he stubbornly refuses his IV treatments—these provide essential nutrients and minerals critical for rebuilding his blood and supporting tissue repair. He's continued to lose weight, which concerns me, though he seems to enjoy it! He pushes himself with exercise but often overdoes it, leading to persistent swelling in the leg.

Thankfully, he has an incredible nurse named Cindy who cares for him daily with such dedication and kindness. We've been focusing on nutrient-rich homemade soups, including hearty beef and liver dishes, to help replenish his red blood cells and combat the effects of blood loss.

I apologize for the delay in updating you—we were fully immersed in last week's surgical eye mission at the Hartman Surgical Eye Center here at Projecto Honduras. It was a tremendous success: our team completed 81 sight-restoring surgeries! This week has been busy with post-operative follow-ups to ensure everyone is healing well.

We said a bittersweet goodbye to Monica and Tracy as they headed back to the States. Their hard work and companionship meant so much to all of us.

This weekend, Jose and I are finally taking two full days to rest and recharge in the beautiful coastal area of Balfate—looking forward to some peaceful time by the Caribbean.

Next week, we'll head into the mountains to distribute school supplies to children in remote communities. It's always one of our favorite activities! I love reading their report cards as they wait in line—many struggle with English, so I tease and teach them a bit while we hand out notebooks, pencils, and books. Their smiles make every effort worthwhile.

We are deeply grateful for your continued prayers, love, and support. They carry us through the challenges and celebrate the victories with us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts—we couldn't do this without you.

With much appreciation and warm regards,
Evelyn Castellar
(and Jose, with a stubborn but healing smile)

01/09/2026

Evelyn Bozeman Castellar and Jose Castellar were robbed and Jose Castellar was shot!

They went to La Ceiba to prepare for a medical team next week. As they went to the bank to withdraw funds to buy medical supplies, they were not aware that a robber was following them. Apparently, he saw that they were carrying envelopes as they left the bank. They then went to a pharmacy to buy medical supplies. On the way out, the robber stopped them at gunpoint and demanded their money.

With the gun pointed at Joe's head, he refused. There must have been a struggle and the gunman shot Jose in the knee and took off with a large amount of money. Fortunately he didn't make off with the medical supplies.

Jose was rushed to the hospital. It was a miracle that the bullet entered his body at the knee and exited through his calf without hitting bone. As horrible as it was, it could have been much worse! Jose should recover relatively quickly. The scars of trauma, however, may last longer.

Please consider donating to this "go fund me" to help recover the stolen money that was dedicated to Projecto Honduras for helping needy Hondurans. Your prayers for Jose and Evelyn will be greatly appreciated.

We have bad news to share! 😢 Our hearts are really hurting and we are praying for our founders, Evelyn and Jose. 🙏 They went to the bank today (1/7/26) in La Ceiba to get money so they could buy the medical supplies for the medical team this next week. They withdrew a large sum of funds. Unkno...

12/31/2025

Your year-end gift is needed.

Severe poverty exists in the area where Projecto Honduras operates, which is considered one of the poorest regions in the world, according to the United Nations. There is a lack of basic amenities, such as bathrooms, running water, and electricity. Many homes are made of mud, and some communities resort to bartering goods, like honey, due to their financial struggles. The local population often relies on donations from volunteer teams for clothing, food, and medicine. Projecto Honduras provides these items as well as educational support to help address these challenges. The overall situation reflects significant hardship and need in the region.

Donations to Projecto Honduras help to meet the lack of these basic needs.
https://www.projectohonduras.org/how-you-can-help

12/19/2025

Projecto Honduras volunteer teams organize various activities, including putting on a music camp, painting, basketball, soccer, and storytelling. Volunteer teams are responsible for bringing all the materials and supplies needed for their activities. Teams create positive and engaging experiences for the participants, which raises the overall community. Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering for a medical or humanitarian team.
https://www.projectohonduras.org/medical-teams

12/03/2025

Projecto Honduras volunteers come to provide social development (this is is providing music for example) and relief aid. Volunteer teams are a vital part of the success of Projecto Honduras. The number of volunteer teams coming to Honduras has decreased over the years, from about 12 teams in the past to around 4 to 5 currently. The need for more volunteers remains, and Projecto Honduras is always open to new participants.

On Giving Tuesday, please consider a generous donation.
https://www.projectohonduras.org/how-you-can-help

12/01/2025

Projecto Honduras provides glasses and medication to people in the region. We go through a large amount of medicine at the Clinic of Angels due to the high number of patients. Projecto Honduras often sources medications from organizations like Blessings International, AmeriCares, or buys them locally in Honduras. Doctors are crucial to the process, as their involvement allows Projecto Honduras to obtain donated medicines for adults. Projecto Honduras is an all-volunteer organization that supports the Clinic of Angels, which employs local nurses and doctors, as required by law. The Clinic of Angels and Hartman Eye Center are separate entities but receive support from Projecto Honduras.

Your donations are critical to keeping up with the demand for medications. Please visit the website to make a donation.
https://www.projectohonduras.org/how-you-can-help

11/19/2025

The photo shows a house built by Projecto Honduras during its construction phase. The house is part of Projecto Honduras' effort to build homes in the community, with about 12 houses completed so far. Each house includes three bedrooms, an inside bathroom, and a living room, with a septic tank and electricity. The construction cost was approximately $6,000, though costs would be higher now. The estimated size of the homes is around 1,900 to 2,000 square feet.

10/24/2025

Regina's Redemption: A Journey from Darkness to Light
At 62, Regina’s world had gone dark. Diabetic cataracts robbed her of sight two years ago, leaving her to navigate an unfamiliar life. Once a vibrant woman who played with her grandchildren on sunlit days, she now leaned on their small hands for guidance, each step unsteady as dizziness haunted her. Blindness was new and isolating, yet Regina held onto hope.

In August, a surgical brigade offered a chance at renewal. Dr. Turley’s team planned to restore her vision, one eye at a time—left eye on the first day, right eye on the last. When the moment came to remove the patch from her first eye, Regina held her breath. As Dr. Turley lifted it, light poured in, and the world snapped into focus. Colors, shapes, life—she could see again!

Her three grandchildren stood before her, their faces alight with hope. Tears spilled down Regina’s cheeks as she saw their smiles for the first time in years. Laughter and sobs filled the room, a shared wave of joy. When her grandchildren reached to guide her, Regina raised a hand to pause them. She didn’t need help anymore.
Taking a tentative step, she moved toward them. Her walk became a joyful leap of freedom. Her grandchildren cheered, their voices ringing with love as Regina reached toward them, no longer bound by darkness.

In that operating room, a miracle unfolded. Regina’s skip was more than a step; it was a triumph, a radiant claim to her independence. For her family and all who witnessed it, the moment was pure magic.