AJS: Gideon Project

The Gideon Project

Liessy Sanchez was empowered through AJS's Gideon Project to transform the lives of hundreds of her neighbors as they've dealt with domestic violence, depression, the lure of gang involvement, and more.

The Problem

Nueva Suyapa (34,000 residents), Flor de Campo (15,000 residents), and Villa Nueva (70,000 residents), are among Tegucigalpa’s largest and poorest neighborhoods. Over 70% of the people living in these mazes of steep, rutted dirt roads, in small tin-roofed shacks on battered hillsides, live on less than $2 a day, and over 50% on less than $1 a day. The stresses of severe poverty are compounded by broken families, domestic violence, high levels of street crime, and inadequate public services—causing psychological, emotional, and physical trauma. Children and youths are especially affected by problems like sexual abuse, overcrowded and underequipped schools, and lack of opportunities for work and study.

Our Approach

The Gideon Project has empowered staff and volunteers who live in the target communities to help build a brighter future for the urban poor in a variety of ways:

Providing legal and psychological services through four Gideon Centers (three in Tegucigalpa and one in the rural community of Santa Maria del Real, Olancho).

Running leadership training / mentoring and vocational training programs for at-risk youth.

Training church, school, and community groups in child sexual-abuse prevention, women and children's rights, parenting skills, and more.

Success

Since the Gideon Centers first opened their doors in July 2004, the project has...

Attended to over 5,000 legal and psychological aid cases, directly benefitting over 10,000 individuals

Won or come to out-of-court agreements in 900 child-support cases

Trained 4,000 children, youth, and adults in preventing child sexual abuse

Formed 8 "Youth Impact" groups that provide leadership training and mentoring for at-risk youths.

Success stories from the Gideon Project
Gideon helps kids make up for school days lost to political crisis
Beans as a Pedagogical Tool
Restoration at Home
Gossip Can be Poisonous: How Gideon Was the Life-Saving Antidote for Lourdes
One Girl's Haven
More Stories of Healing from the Gideon Centers