Did you know that Honduras is considered a source country for sex trafficking?
Traffickers transport women and children, who are primarily victims of sex trafficking, abroad to countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and the United States.
Did you know Honduras has been named one of the most dangerous and worst places to be a woman?
Gangs use violence against women to enforce their control over the population and the territory under their domain. Rape and sexual assault are used to control, send messages, and punish families.
Did you know many women first enter the world of prostitution as a minor?
Many children who go into prostitution are forced by their parents to provide for the family. Some agents go to the rural areas of Honduras to find children and contract them out for work. The agents pay the parents large sums of money upfront in exchange for the “labor” done by their children. Some children willingly participate in the prostitution industry because they believe their quality of life will be better than before.
Did you know one of the main factors causing many women to enter prostitution at an early age is poverty and lack of economic opportunity?
75% of the population of Honduras lives in poverty. This poverty has left Hondurans desperate to have a stable income and unfortunately has driven young girls and women into human trafficking.
Women who have been subjected to violence, rape, and abuse, need a safe place they can go where they can recover and rebuild their lives. They need a place where they can begin to take steps to regain their self-esteem and learn to live independently.
Women Supporting Women is an initiative spearheaded by godly women from all walks of life at the Buffalo Dream Center. This initiative aims to bring awareness to the challenges faced by women in other countries, specifically Honduras, and raise funds to provide them with the resources they need to better their lives.
The first project of Women Supporting Women
is supporting a women’s shelter
in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Passion For the Souls and Love Honduras are partnering together to provide a safe place women can go with their children to get the help and healing they need, a Christ-centered home where women will encounter the love and restoration of Jesus. A home where they can receive a fresh start in their lives. A home where they can be a part of a local church, receive discipleship classes, and practical life skills training enabling them to lead healthy and productive lives. A home where their lives can be restored. We have 8 beds in our shelter and currently every bed is full.
TESTIMONIES
Below are testimonies from various young girls and ladies who have spent time in the women’s shelter.
Ana
When I was 11 years old my parents told me I had to go live with a man and do whatever he wanted. I had to be his “wife”. I had to cook for him, take care of the house, and have sex with him whenever he wanted. When I didn’t do a good job he beat me so I would learn to do better. When I got pregnant, he didn’t want me anymore so I went back to my mother’s house. One day I was swimming in a river and I had a miscarriage. I was really sad. Today I have a better life. Love Honduras visited my town and told me I could go with them to Tegucigalpa. My mom signed a legal paper so I could go. I spent the first two months in the women’s shelter. Now I live in the Home of Miracles. For the first time in my life I am going to study in school. I am safe. I feel loved.
Nuria
When I was born, no one in my family wanted me, and they rejected me. Then I got hit by a truck. My parents didn’t love me, and they did not want to protect me. My life was filled with resentment. I grew up in a broken home. At 9 years old, I tried to take my own life because of the rejection from my family. At 14 years old, I tried to take my life again. At that age, I said I wanted to dedicate my life to the devil. At 18 years old, I tried to take my life again. I was already smoking cigarettes and started going to parties and living a wild life. I was an exotic dancer and prostituted myself. At 20 years old, I got pregnant with my first child, and at 21, I got pregnant with my second child. I lived with the father of my children, but only I worked. My partner beat me and hit me. All of this led me to become addicted to drugs and then to sell drugs. In 2022, I went to jail for drug trafficking and working for the MS-18 gang. That’s where I began to know God. People from Pasion from the Souls would come to jail and tell us about Jesus. I became a part of their discipleship program. When I got out of jail last year. I had nowhere to go, but I knew I did not want to go back to my old life. I heard about the women’s shelter and decided to go there. I am almost finished my time. I am going to be moving to another city and help the church there start another women’s shelter.
Abuela #1
Her family did not want her anymore, so they dropped her off in Chivarito (red light district) where she lived on the street. Every night she would sleep on the dirty cement sidewalk. Because of the rejection and hopelessness in her live she got addicted to alcohol. One day some of the missionaries from Love Honduras rescued her. Her heart was hard but eventually she opened up and responded to the love of Jesus. She spent about two months recovering in the home when along came her family. They picked her up on day stating they would take care of her. We didn’t hear from her for a couple months and honestly all were a little worried about her. One day we were in Chivarito ministering and there was abuela back on the street – drunk, cold, hungry, and dirty. She said, “ I want to go back the the house.” We took her back to the house. Got her cleaned up and she has not left since. It has been about 8 months since she has had contact with her family. She love Jesus and loves people. She is a permanent resident of the women’s shelter loving on all the new incoming ladies, encouraging them with her story.
Elisa
When I was 12 years old, a man came knocking on our door. He told my mom he would buy us food if she let him do whatever he wanted with me. We were hungry and had no food in our house, so she gave me to the man. He raped me. It was the first time I had ever had sex with a man. He hurt me really badly. I could not walk for three days. Later, I found out I was pregnant. About 6 months later, missionaries from Love Honduras came to my town. They offered me to go and live with them. At first i did not want to leave my family and friends, but everyone told me is was safer for me and my baby. So I left. I stayed in the women’s shelter for two months. They took me to the doctor. They helped me have my baby. Now me and my son leave moved into the Home of Miracles. They help me take care of my son. In February, I am going to go to school for the first time in my life.
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
These are the current needs for the women’s shelter. Your kindness in helping provide these items brings hope and dignity to the women there.
All large items will be purchased in Honduras unless otherwise noted.
DONATE NEEDED ITEMS FOR THE WOMEN IN THE SHELTER
- Underwear (new, sizes: S, M, L)
- Bras
- Socks
- Towels
- Pillowcases
- Sheets
- Blankets
- Sanitary Pads
- Toiletries
- Deodorant
- Hair accessories
GIVE TOWARD NEEDED ITEMS FOR THE SHELTER
- Refrigerator ($800)
- Charcoal barbecue ($100)
- Cabinet to store dishes ($200)
- Bath towels ($8/each, 15 needed)
- Warm blankets ($12/each, 15 needed)
- Pillows and pillow cases ($5/set, 15 sets needed)
- Iron & ironing board ($75)
- Natural juice maker ($50)
- Small sound system for devotions & worship music ($300)
- 2 big mirrors ($20 each)
- 1 bunk bed with 2 mattresses & sheets ($500)
- Furniture for the front room: comfortable chairs & small table ($500)
- Art supplies & activities for the ladies (whatever you want to donate)
- Spanish Christian books & Bibles to start a library (whatever you want to donate)
Physical donations are brought to Honduras regularly by mission teams from the USA.
Your donations can be dropped off at the Buffalo Dream Center or the BDC Outreach Center. Please get in touch with the Buffalo Dream Center for donation drop-off times:
information@buffalodreamcenter.org
We are looking for
100 women
(individuals or women-owned businesses)
who will make a
1-year commitment
to donate
$20 per month
or a one-time gift of $240/year
to support a woman living in Honduras
who wants to turn her life around.
GIVE ONLINE
Venmo your gift to the Buffalo Dream Center
Description: “WSW” or “Women Supporting Women”. If you are giving toward items in the women’s shelter, please include the item name in the description as well.
$20/month OR $240/year
GIVE BY MAIL
Make your check payable to: Buffalo Dream Center
Check memo: “WSW” or “Women Supporting Women”. If you are giving toward items in the women’s shelter, please include the item name in the memo as well.
Send your check to:
Buffalo Dream Center
286 Lafayette Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14213
USA