That Was Me

I used to work at the city garbage dump in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Starting at the age of six, I would accompany my mother to the garbage dump, where I helped her look for clothes or food that came from the garbage trucks. We’d go, even in heavy rains and hot temperatures. 

One time, I got sick inside the landfill. When my family took me to the doctor, we discovered that I had asthma. Still, I needed to keep going to the landfill.

Then when I was 13, my mother passed away. It was the saddest year of my life, and for my family. I stopped attending school for quite a while and dedicated myself to working in the landfill, to be able to support my younger siblings and to help with household expenses, because my father earned little at his job.

A few years later, International Samaritan gave me the opportunity to continue my studies. I was able to pursue and earn an accelerated bachelor’s degree in science and humanities. The year I graduated was one of the best years of my life.

After graduating, I received the opportunity to work with the scholarship program here in El Ocotillo, where I grew up. In previous years, I was one of the scholarship recipients, and now today I work for the program in the field area. 

I thank God because my life has changed a lot. Being able to work with the families of the program has been a great blessing and experience. Before, the program supported me with the scholarship, and now I can help change the lives of other children in the program who have worked in the landfill.

For me, there is nothing more beautiful than being able to share a smile with the young people who work at the garbage dump.

These children are the reason Daury is running in the Samaritan 5K, and they could use your support too! When you give to Team Honduras, the funds will be used for food support for our scholars and their families. By helping with that critical need, our Samaritan Scholars won’t have to look for food in the dumpsite. They can focus on their studies and break out of poverty.

International Samaritan is a Christ-centered organization built on Catholic Social Teaching. Our mission is to walk hand-in-hand with people who live and work in the garbage dumps of developing nations to help them break out of poverty.

We provide holistic scholarships for students from kindergarten through college, and we’re currently supporting 950 scholars in Central America, the Caribbean, and East Africa.

Would your church or school group like to partner and travel with us? Learn about our Learn, Serve, Grow program.

Empower our scholars to change their lives. Become a monthly supporter.

Daury Pineda, Field Technician

Daury has been a member of the San Pedro Sula team in Honduras since 2019. He works closely with Samaritan Scholars, conducting home visits and ensuring program participants have the resources they need to thrive. Daury was a graduate of the scholarship program in 2018 after earning a bachelor’s degree in Science and Humanities.

Run or Walk in the Samaritan 5K

If you live near Ann Arbor or Detroit, we’d love to have you join us for our in-person events. You can run or walk and kids and strollers are welcome! The funds raised support critical health and wellness needs for our scholars and their families.

Samaritan 5K: Ann Arbor and Detroit
Saturday, October 12, 2024
10:00 a.m. EST
Register to run or donate to a team: intsam.org/samaritan5K.