by Javier Márquez
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of four feature articles on HNH, originally published in Spanish in 2024. All photos by Javier Márquez.
Founded in 1987 as Mama Project and growing into Healthy Niños Honduras (HNH) in 2017, this Christian organization aims to provide “much-needed resources and hope to children and communities suffering in adverse conditions in Honduras…[through] a network of partnerships across all sectors of society and organizations willing to join and participate with initiatives and programs that offer healthy alternatives to children and communities in Honduras, as well as hope for a sustainable future,” states their website.
Dr. Herman Sagastume and his wife Amanda Sagastume are the Executive Director and Business Manager, respectively, of the organization, which they joined in 2010.
From East Greenville, Pennsylvania, they coordinate the various aspects of the project: medical care, supported by a team of professionals and a professional medical record system; connections with churches in the United States, volunteer groups, and community outreach; financing the medical center, and self-sustaining gardens.
“We want to offer alternatives to families and children living in poor communities, so they have a better future and, most importantly, to save lives; so they don’t die because there is no food at home or because they don’t have access to good nutrition,” says Dr. Herman Sagastume. “We dream that one day no family will suffer from a lack of food.”
“The organization in Honduras plays an independent role; we don’t want to be an organization from the United States that says, ‘As Americans, we’re doing this work…’, but rather we want the communities in Honduras to identify and name the support they need,” says Amanda Sagastume.
Healthy Niños Honduras is a Mosaic Conference-Related Ministry. Over the years, various teams from congregations have developed that serve at HNH year after year. Additionally, HNH has connections with local Honduran churches who offer leaders for each community’s medical brigades.
Healthy Niños Honduras is a Mosaic Conference-Related Ministry. Over the years, various teams from congregations have developed that serve at HNH year after year. Additionally, HNH has connections with local Honduran churches who offer leaders for each community’s medical brigades.
“At HNH, we offer a soft introduction to the missionary world,” says Dr. Sagastume. “People can see what we do in the name of God, serving those in greatest need. Universities have also sent students in pedagogy, nutrition, and health.”
Another key feature of the program is the Nutritional Center, where children are rehabilitated nutritionally and where mothers receive information on essential nutrients for children’s development. The center also has gardens with nutrient dense crops like corn and beans, which serve both the center’s pantry and as a classroom where mothers learn planting methods and optimization techniques from professionals.
“Little by little, we have been able to teach mothers how they can change the mentality of ‘my land does not produce.’ When they leave, we have seeds available for them,” says Dr. Sagastume.
“We teach families that when they have extra money, they should buy seeds, bananas, and nutrient-dense foods, rather than sweets. Constant education is important for change,” says Amanda Sagastume.
The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.
This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)
This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)