Helping people with disabilities get the resources they need in rural Honduras

The cool breeze of a warm afternoon envelops the home of brothers Oscar, Fidel, and Adilson. Surrounded by silence, they find peace. Yet their small, remote house atop a hill in Majada Verde, Talanga, Francisco Morazán, Honduras, presents significant challenges. Its isolation, coupled with the brothers’ disabilities, makes accessing food and water especially difficult.

Growing up, the brothers would rise at dawn to walk 30 minutes to school. After classes, they played football, with Oscar serving as the team’s goalkeeper.

They were raised by their mother, a loving, hardworking woman, midwife, and respected community leader. Their father left when they were young. Living far from the community meant constant economic struggles and limited access to food and health services. However, driven by love and resilience, they persevered through adversity.

Their daily routine of school and household chores continued without incident—until one pivotal day when Oscar was 12. He began experiencing difficulties in his legs, making it increasingly difficult to play football or climb the steep paths home. He gradually lost almost all the strength in his limbs.

Doctors ran various tests but found no clear explanation for his mysterious illness. “This is something unknown,” they told the family. “We don’t understand it.”

Tragically, the same fate awaited Oscar’s younger brothers, Fidel and Adilson. At age 12, they too developed similar symptoms, affecting their legs, arms, and hands. Unable to walk independently, they now rely on support canes to move around their small home.

Their struggles deepened in 2022 when their mother died from cardiac arrest, leaving them alone to face the harsh realities of their environment—especially the urgent need for water.

The brothers’ only water source was a small well shared with neighbors. To secure even a few buckets or bottles, they had to leave home by 2:00 a.m. Given their physical limitations and water scarcity, they often couldn’t store enough for cooking, washing, or bathing. At times, they had to rely on neighbors for help.

“Sometimes we would come home thirsty, wanting just a glass of water, but we couldn’t manage to bring any because of how far and high up we live,” Fidel recalled.

According to El Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), in 2019, 95.3% of urban households in Honduras had access to adequate water service, while only 79.4% of rural households could say the same.

For the brothers, the dream of having clean drinking water seemed impossible—until Cuso International arrived in Majada Verde with a program aimed at strengthening inclusion in disaster risk reduction at regional, national, and local levels.

The program promotes inclusive risk management by offering training on family and community emergency planning and advocating with national authorities to incorporate disability considerations into their protocols.

Before long, work began to bring drinking water directly to the Amador brothers’ home. Pipes, rods, and cement were sent by bus from Talanga, and within days, the installation was complete. Water finally flowed to their remote home.

“Thanks to God and Cuso International, who kept their promise, we now have water,” said Oscar. “Now I wash my face, wash my clothes,and bathe directly from the tap. I’m so grateful—you have no idea.”

“We’re happy because having water at home was a dream,” added Adilson.

Despite this achievement, the brothers still face significant challenges. Access to adequate food, improved living conditions, and essential facilities like a sturdy floor, sink, and latrine remain pressing needs. They hope these next obstacles can be overcome with the continued support of those committed to helping underserved communities.

Since 2021, Cuso International’s program, funded by BMZ, has supported 87 families in Majada Verde.