Courage in motion: My Honduras Journey with CAPRODI & SHARE Foundation

Courage in motion: My Honduras Journey with CAPRODI & SHARE Foundation

By Sylvia Stinson-Perez

Eight days.

That’s all it took for Honduras to stretch my faith, expand my heart, and remind me—again—why partnership, preparation, and people matter so deeply.

I’m still feeling the impact of my time in Honduras, working alongside CAPRODI (Centro de Atención Progreseño a la Discapacidad). This wasn’t just another international trip. It was life-stretching, confidence-boosting, and deeply grounding.

Traveling abroad always brings a little nervous energy (that’s just human 😊). Add blindness to the mix, and adaptability, creativity, and problem-solving become your closest travel companions. I’ve learned it’s okay to feel nervous, but allow preparation and a willingness to pivot turn challenges into opportunities.

On my way to Honduras, while navigating the Orlando airport, the meet-and-assist agent helping me to my gate struck up a conversation. When I shared I was feeling a bit nervous, he smiled and said:

“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and peace.”

— 2 Timothy 1:7

That felt like the perfect send-off.

🏠 When Plans Change (and Community Shows Up)

As often happens when traveling internationally, plans shifted. My original housing fell through at the last minute, and I ended up staying with a friend I met last year through a SHARE Foundation delegation. She did not just open her home—she became a translator, cultural bridge, and incredible guide throughout the week. Having lived in Honduras for many years, she provided rich context, local insight, and beautiful verbal descriptions that allowed me to truly experience each space we entered. And yes… I even squeezed in a pedicure 😊.

🦯 White Canes: Tools for Freedom & Safety

Thursday was a powerful turning point.

When we arrived at the event site, we learned that several people had come specifically to receive white canes—mobility tools that are difficult to access in Honduras and often dangerously short when people do have them. Everyone who showed up got a new white cane and training on how to use them properly and safely. Watching people move from hesitation to confidence was deeply moving. Cultural stigma around white cane use still exists, but confidence grows one step at a time.

We also had a volunteer, a teenage translator whose joy was absolutely contagious. After learning how to measure for canes, he eagerly volunteered to help each time someone new arrived. One of my favorite moments was hearing him exclaim, with total enthusiasm, “I’ll get the bag, Bill!” (the bag full of canes my teammate Bill brought from the U.S.).

🔡 Braille & Daily Living Skills: Independence in Action

The learning didn’t stop there.

Braille block keychains and alphabet flashcards became instant hits with participants, volunteers, and family members alike. There’s something powerful about watching curiosity turn into confidence, especially when people realize how accessible learning can be.

We also shared practical daily-living strategies using everyday household items—rubber bands, safety pins, simple labeling techniques. These small adaptations make a big difference.

💛 A Family, A Future, A Shift in Hope

One of the most meaningful moments of the trip was working with the parents of a nine-year-old boy who is completely blind. They arrived overwhelmed and emotional. We talked about confidence, mobility, safety, and independence—what their son can do now and what’s possible as he grows. By the end of our time together, the tears had turned into smiles, and they were full of hope.

I cannot wait to hear how his confidence continues to grow.

Confidence + opportunity = transformation.

🤝 Partnerships That Create Momentum

Another highlight was meeting with the municipality’s Office for Disabilities, which resulted in a commitment to partner with CAPRODI early next year for a week-long training and white cane distribution event.

Throughout the trip, one theme kept surfacing: collaboration. Translators, families, volunteers, staff, and government leaders—real change happens when people work together.

Reflections on Challenge, Resilience & Hope

We saw real challenges including poverty, limited access to resources, Ongoing stigma around disability, and yet, what stood out most was resilience. The people we met were hopeful, dignified, and deeply committed to community. In many ways, the challenges mirrored those we see in the United States—different context, same human needs.

🌊 Time for Joy (Yes, That Matters Too)

Our CAPRODI hosts made sure we also experienced joy and rest. We rode a trolley through town, spent a day at the beach, and one of my favorite moments sitting  in the surf collecting shells for my sensory bowl, soaking in the warmth of the ocean… in January.

I also learned to play Dominos. Because when you’re in Honduras, you play Dominos 😊.

📖 This Trip & My Ongoing Journey

Last year, I published my first book, Treading the Waters of Life, which includes the impact my first trip to Honduras had on me. This return trip deepened that impact, strengthened relationships, and reminded me why this work matters so much.

People everywhere are simply trying to tread the waters of their lives—with hope, dignity, and the resources available to them. If I can help provide a few more tools and a bit more confidence, I count that as a blessing.

Since returning home, I’ve begun translating my book into Spanish so it can be shared with the Honduran community and beyond. I don’t speak Spanish fluently (yet!), so this effort relies on both AI and human collaboration. If you’d like to be part of that process, I would love to hear from you.

🌍 Let’s Tread the Waters Together — Call to Action

This journey reinforced why Total Impact Partners exists: sustainable change happens through relationship, access, and collaboration.

If this story resonated with you, here’s how you can get involved:

• Partner with us to support disability inclusion initiatives

• Help fund future training and white cane distributions

• Assist with translation, resource development, or advocacy

• Invite this conversation into your organization or community

👉 Visit TotalImpactPartners.com to learn more, connect, and walk alongside us as we continue building access, dignity, and opportunity—one step at a time.

Because none of us tread these waters alone.Courage in motion: My Honduras Journey with CAPRODI & SHARE Foundation