Image / DiarioQuienOpina

By María Josefina Arce

One year has already passed since an initiative of the government of President Xiomara Castro aimed at supporting the most vulnerable people in Honduras, and providing them with opportunities to improve their living conditions, in the face of the neoliberal administrations' neglect.

When Xiomara Castro took office in January 2022, she found a country with 75% of its population living in poverty, 50% of them in absolute misery. Likewise, illiteracy affects 12% of Hondurans, especially in rural areas.

Thus, Red Solidaria was born, which is essentially a program of attention, prevention and support for families living in poverty to help them get out of this condition.

The program is a continuation of the strategy implemented by former President Manuel Zelaya before the 2009 coup d'état. At that time it benefited more than 1,000 villages, but 12 years of neoliberal governments have made it necessary to increase the number of communities to be reached by Red Solidaria.

Today there are more than 2000 villages in which this effort of the current executive is present and which involves the different institutions of the Central American nation.

The project is broad, ranging from improving housing, construction of schools, care for pregnant women and measures against malnutrition in children under five years of age.

Malnutrition is a major problem in Honduras. According to statistics, one out of every four children is a victim of malnutrition, which is why the government initiative carries out a comprehensive evaluation of the infants in order to provide them with the necessary care.

Red Solidaria also provides multiple opportunities for the poorest sectors.  For this reason, it seeks to train the inhabitants of these communities to form micro and small businesses that will allow them to increase their family income.

Likewise, the authorities will grant scholarships to students of academic excellence so that they can continue their studies and have other prospects in the future.

But for the current government, every citizen is important, which is why it has undertaken the literacy training of adults who have never received an education. It is an effort in which the Central American nation has the support of Cuba and the implementation of the "Yes, I can" method.

There were many problems and debts with the population in all areas that Xiomara Castro found upon her arrival to the presidency of Honduras. In just one year the government has had successes and advances, but is aware of the long road ahead, after 12 years of a neoliberal model that plunged the country into poverty.