Second Wind Foundation
LOVING HONDURAS...BUILDING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ONE FAMILY AT A TIME
About us
My daughter, Lauren, started sponsoring a child through World Vision when she was five years old. She made crafts and saved money from her birthdays to pay for the sponsorship. When Lauren was twelve, we traveled to Honduras to meet her child and we ended up falling in love with Honduras and its beautiful people. The country is one of the most dangerous to live in and yet they make the most of what they have. If we give them two pieces of food, they frequently give one away to share with a friend or family member. They are truly selfless people.
For several years, I led a medical team to serve the physical and spiritual needs of the Hondurans. Every year, I grow passionate about finding a more permanent solution to meeting these needs besides one week per year.
The term Second Wind came from my lifelong hobby of running marathons. One day, I was out for a 14 mile run. When I turned around to go home, I was hit by a very strong wind that almost knocked me down. I was struggling with some things in my life and I felt the Lord ask me, "Jackie, how are you going to deal with these winds in your life? Will you accept them? Will you get angry about them? Or will you grit your teeth and endure them?" Hardship in running forces me to want to quit, but I choose to press on because later, I can draw on that experience and use it as a reminder that these trials will pass and I just need to keep going.
We all face winds or trials in our lives. It's how we respond that defines us. My foundation will be used to help others continue pressing on toward success in life. My desire is to breathe a Second Wind of hope into the lives of as many Hondurans as the Lord will allow me to.
We firmly believe that Second Wind provides a means to quell the immigration crisis currently at the borders of the United States. By improving the quality of life and raising the level of education in Honduras, they are much less likely to take the risk and undergo a dangerous road to try to come to the US. Also, they are more content because they can stay in their home country with family, friends, and the culture they love.
I hope you will join us along this journey! Thank you for taking the time to check out our website and read about what we are doing!
Jackie Doyel, Founder
OUR WORK
Food
Each family in Second Wind receives two weeks' worth of food per month. Foods include rice, beans, coffee, sugar, cornmeal for tortillas, eggs, cereal, fruits, and vegetables.
Spiritual Guidance
Local pastors provide spiritual guidance for our families as well as opportunities for them to meet with other likeminded people. In addition, our staff pray for them and provide spiritual encouragement and guidance and share Jesus' love!
Medical Needs
Two Second Wind staff are medical professionals. In addition, we are able to supply medicines for conditions such as bed sores, blood pressure, and diabetes.
Community Work
Giving back to the community is one of our bedrock beliefs. Each family is required to give back in some way whether through their time or service. We are able to use their skills and talents to install concrete floors, latrines, water filters, and repair homes of their neighbors.
Job Creation
We train our families in job skills such as weaving, woodwork, and sewing so they can generate income and provide for their families as well as be role models for their children.
OUR LONG-TERM GOALS AND PROJECTS
Sewing Program
Our sewing program has trained almost 40 women to learn a lifelong skill. Some of the women have started their own business - others have gone on to work in sewing factories.
We currently work on school uniforms to sell to the public so children can attend school. Our team has also sewn shirts for 5K races as well as cinch bags for athletic conferences. They would like to expand to soccer uniforms and polo shirts.
When someone sells an item of clothing they've made, they give back 10% of the price to our foundation that is used to buy additional material and supplies so the program is self-sustaining.
Artisan Shop and Cafe'
Coffee is one of Honduras's main exports, yet there are not many coffee shops to be found in Tegucigalpa. We recently opened a retail shop in the Valley of Angels. We invite local artisans, who don't have a shop of their own, and our sewing members to sell their items to provide a means for supporting themselves and their families. When working in the shop, they learn business, accounting, customer service, and barista skills.
A portion of each sale is donated back to the organization to pay for rent and upkeep.
Apprentice Programs
Our main mission is to create and provide job opportunities for our families as well as youth, so they do not need to join a gang, which is one of the main ways youth earn money. Thomas, is a skilled carpenter and shares his skills with willing youth - teaching them how to make fine furniture as well as repairs. We recently replaced Thomas's dirt floor with a new concrete floor and walls, so he can teach multiple students at one time.
We plan to add welding and electrical apprenticeship programs in 2023.
In-Home Salon
We sold Noonday Jewelry and were able to We provide Kensy, a single mom of three deaf and mute children, with a new chair, hair washing sink, and supplies to start her own in-home salon. This in-home business allows Kensy to provide for her children while also giving them the hands-on attention and care they need.
Coffee Farm
We want to work with local coffee farmers, providing environmentally sustainable and direct trade coffee in our retail store and also for export. Armando and Agustin have started planting vegetables and fruits on a large piece of land and we are currently seeking a grant to purchase 9,000 coffee plants.
We would also love to purchase a mobile coffee trailer so we can sell our coffee throughout Tegucigalpa and use it as a means to promote our artisan shop and cafe'.
Food Stands
Hondurans typically stop at small, roadside food stands during the day to buy food items. Several families expressed an interest in learning how to cook and open their own food stands outside their homes. We started this project in January and it has been extremely successful! They budget their expenses weekly and divide the profits among those who worked. They are thrilled to take charge of their lives and provide for their families in this way.
Community Center
We'd love to open a community center in the heart of Tegucigalpa which would allow us to offer more apprenticeship programs, teach conversational English, train baristas, and offer resume' and interviewing services for jobs. Having a soccer field and basketball court nearby would offer youth in the area the opportunity to meet new friends as well. They could learn job skills and develop friendships, which would help curb their desire to join local gangs.
# OF FAMILIES
50
FAMILIES ON OUR WAITING LIST
36+
AVERAGE MONTHLY DONATION
$50
MONTHLY SPONSORSHIP OF ONE FAMILY
$30
POUNDS OF FOOD DONATED YEARLY
9,000
NUMBER OF HOMES AND FLOORS BUILT SINCE OUR INCEPTION
5
Become a Donor Today!
For only $30/month ($1 per day), you will provide food, medicine, and job skills training for your family's spiritual and physical needs. You can exchange letters and photos with your family. Most of all, you will give them hope, or a Second Wind, to overcome life's challenges. Contact us to preview some families in our program.
Proverbs 19:17: “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done."
