San Pedro Sula, HondurasText by Luis Villatoro & photos by Jim Huylebroek
Eighteen-year-old Alessia Medina is smart, talented and quick to learn new skills. Alessia’s parents always emphasized the importance of a good education and hard work as a way forward despite their limited financial resources.
Malheureusement, most Hondurans have limited educational opportunities, and those that are available are subpar.
“I remember the laboratory we had in my school, which was a public school, and it barely met our needs,” Alessia recalls. “Some computers were slow, outdated and we sometimes had to repair them. We couldn’t concentrate very well, the most necessary, the most essential part of the classes.”
Alessia’s father, Duevin Medina, lamented that far too many students are ill-prepared for the workforce or to pursue an advanced degree.
“I am a teacher and work with public education,” says Duevin. “Generally, our students graduate from high school, but they are not ready to go to work. What’s left for them is university, and many of them don’t have the [financier] ability to attend university.”
Students like Alessia, who are talented, often cannot chase their professional dreams because of limited financial resources. Heureusement, while in high school, Alessia’s skills caught the attention of her teachers, one of whom recommended she pursue a career in computer programming through a unique program called the Programmer’s Academy.
Sponsored by the Honduras Maquiladora Association and supported by USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza, the training program offers technological education, entrepreneurship incubation and social inclusion promotion through technology. It targets enterprising youth who have the educational and professional drive but cannot afford expensive technical training courses.
Eight hours a day, five days a week, the coursework prepares aspiring programmers, software developers and individuals interested in technology-related careers. Courses cover subjects such as website development, user interface design, database connection, and other relevant areas of programming and technology.
USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza, through initiatives like the Programmers Academy, promotes social inclusion by providing opportunities for individuals from marginalized communities, y compris les femmes, low-income families and disadvantaged youth, to access technology education and entrepreneurship training. The aim is to bridge the digital divide and empower underserved populations to participate fully in the digital economy.
With a practical focus that reflects the current demands of the job market, the certificate program covers website development, user interface and database connection. The training program also provides additional development for professional growth—such as soft skills, team building and other essential competencies needed for success in the workplace.
Alessia’s perseverance in school and performance on the entrance exams earned her a full scholarship to the program. Her life changed once she enrolled in the Programmer’s Academy as she dramatically increased her technical skills and built positive relationships with other students.
“I have learned a lot about leadership, team building, and various other skills that are important to success in a work environment,” she explains enthusiastically.
The importance of programs like these is reflected in Alessia’s vision for the future.
“Programming is about solving problems, and we can create applications that address all sorts of issues such as domestic violence, » she explains. “I have developed a different view of technology and a sense of responsibility toward my community.”
Alessia is grateful to the Sembrando Esperanza project, which provides a stipend to students. She also credits her family for providing emotional support that helped her persevere in her studies.
Students from the Programmer’s Academy work to complete their final project prior to certification in November 2023. The academy offers technological education, entrepreneurship incubation and social inclusion promotion through technology. Photo by Jim Huylebroek for USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza.
En décembre 2023, Alessia graduated from the Programmer’s Academy as a Software Development Specialist and secured a full-time position as a junior programmer for a major pharmacy chain in San Pedro Sula.
“I feel happiness, excitement and pride, and after a lot of learning and sacrifice, this achievement opens the door to endless opportunities and marks the culmination of another goal in my life. »
Alessia’s accomplishment demonstrates how access to technological education can be a catalyst for social change. In poor communities with many challenges, knowledge and skills can forge a path to success and greater opportunities. The Sembrando Esperanza activity at the Programmer’s Academy offers students access to education that meets the technological demands of the marketplace and promotes economic growth while illuminating pathways to a brighter future for determined young students like Alessia.
While Alessia and other graduates have new professional opportunities, course instructor María Cerna says the one-year program is more than the individual graduates.
“For the country, it’s a big deal because these kids come from low-income backgrounds,” Cerna says. “Having a future mapped out for them means they’re not getting mixed up in gangs, drugs or stealing because they’re desperate. It’s a big help for the country because it means they’re not stuck in poverty or missing out on education. They’re already dreaming big, aiming to become engineers and stuff.”
