A Job for José Angel

There are not enough jobs in Hondurans. I am reminded of that when I talk with business owners like Eusebio Viatoro Bustillo (pictured in white shirt). When production is good, Mr. Bustillo has as many as ten employees in his shoe factory, Zapatería Fabí. For most of the year, however, Mr. Bustillo's payroll is closer to three. When there is a surge in orders for his shoes, seven employees quickly appear at Zapatería Fabí. Often these employees bring shoe production experience because they have worked for Mr. Bustillo in previous upturns in the local economy.

Why are jobs so scarce? What do those seven people do for the six to eight months a year that shoe sales are down?

Of the three constant employees at Zapatería Fabí, located in the barrio of Nueva Suyapa on the hills that surround Tegucigalpa, Honduras, is José Angel Discua (picture with hammer). For over a year and a half, Mr. Discua has been steadily employed by Mr. Bustillo.

What can be done so that the seven temporary workers have constant employment like José Angel Discua? Partners Worldwide is working in countries like Honduras to promote job creation through business growth. Please pray for the unemployed Hondurans and pray that we can know our part in helping them have a job like José Angel.

Elections Postponed After Storms

The month of October was a devastating month for the country of Honduras. Torrential rain storms from a tropical depression flooded lands on the edges of rivers and reshaped the rivers’ paths across Honduras. In October 1998, Hurricane Mitch had similar impacts on the paths of rivers. The government announced yesterday that a team of experts were beginning the process of redrawing the map of Honduras.

While Hurricane Mitch caused 7,000 deaths and $3.8 billion in damage, many lessons were learned to prevent future destruction in high-risk flood areas. Unfortunately, areas that did not flood during Hurricane Mitch were among the lands devastated this year. Local media reports 34 deaths due to the flooding and another 13 deaths from a cold front that set in after the tropical depression passed.

The Honduran Armed Forces’ disaster responds and clean up has forced a change in the Honduras election process. The army has worked hard to remove people from communities that have been isolated after bridge washouts and they have also played a role in rebuilding roads and redirecting traffic through the counties’ mountainous terrain. With their relief efforts still needed, the President and National Congress have reached an agreement to push the primary elections back from the 16th to the 30th of November. With the extra two weeks, more military personnal will be available at voting booths.