This page has been developed by/for several Canadian interns working in and around Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and more specifically working with projects lead by Doctor Juan Almendares. The Doctor has indicated that one major way that we can be useful is to fundraise for the various projects that are ongoing. Here's a bit about them. Plus please check out the videos and photos of grassroots change in action, care of the amazing women of COHAPAZ!

The Doctor is the leader of four main organizations:

• COHAPAZ
• Madre Tierra
• CPTRT,
• and his own free medical clinic.
  
  

1. COHAPAZ

COHAPAZ, the Honduran Committee for Action for Peace (el Comité Hondureņo de Acciķn por la Paz), is an organization of women committed to postive social and environmental development. The women of COHAPAZ live and work in in 26 poor communities surrounding the capital, Tegucigalpa, of Honduras. Each community has its own coordinator, four of whom serve as general promotors/coordinators of the organization. These four women (Doņa Marigsa, Doņa Blanca, Doņa Candida, and Doņa Hilda) along with Doctor Almendarez form the board of COHAPAZ.

2. Movimiento Madre Tierra (MMT)

Madre Tierra (Mother Earth in English) is an enironmental organization that is actively engaged in a number of issues, though currently MMT is most actively fighting mining, the use of genetically modified organisms, and the widespread deforestation of Honduras. MMT also organizes educational workshops for a variety of audiences, including youth, COHAPAZ members, and farmers groups.

3. CPTRT (Centre for the Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Treatment of Torture Victims and their Families)

CPTRT's mission is the prevention of torture, organized violence, and the cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of at risk groups (people deprived of liberties and their families, prisoners, indigenous groups, farmers, and immigrants). As well CPTRT seeks to provide medical services, particularly psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers, to victims of torture and to their families.

The vision of the CPTRT is a society free from all forms of organized violence, cruel & degrading treatment; a society with democratic principles that permit human relations founded on the values of tolerance, pluralism, and communication free from all forms of domination.

www.cptrt.org

4. The Medical Clinic

Dr. Almendares runs a free public medical clinic, where he treats over 400 poor people per month from the surrounding poor communities of Tegucigalpa. The Clinic also organizes medical brigades which go out to help members of remote communities who are experiencing adverse side effects from mining operations in their areas.