December Update: A Year of Growth, Joy, and Impact

Guided Opportunities
Dec 2, 2025
2 min read

As we wind down the end of the year, I’m excited to share just a few of the incredible moments and major successes we experienced in 2025. Thanks to your support, Guided Opportunities continued to provide education, nourishment, and opportunity to students in rural Honduras — and this year may have been our most impactful ever.

The Year in Numbers

In 2025, our program provided:

40 students with after-school and enrichment programs
760 gallons of clean water
3,035 meals provided
162 hands-on activities

These numbers tell an amazing story — but the real impact goes far beyond statistics.

Growing Minds, Growing Confidence

This year, our students learned more than ever thanks to our incredible on-the-ground team. Each day they delivered engaging, creative, and meaningful activities — from student elections, to traveling the world through geography lessons, to interactive science, art, and team-building challenges.

We also focused heavily on literacy, as many students were not meeting grade-level benchmarks for reading and writing. Through targeted activities and consistent support, we saw measurable growth in students’ confidence and skills — and we are excited to build on this progress in 2026.

Celebrations That Matter

We created unforgettable moments this year, highlighted by our end-of-year field trip to Cuevas de Talgua, where many students experienced a natural wonder for the very first time. These events remind us that childhood should be filled with fun, discovery, and magic — and that’s exactly what your support made possible.

Welcoming New Volunteers: Investing in Stronger Curriculum

One of the biggest successes of 2025 was welcoming two extraordinary volunteer curriculum developers who are helping elevate our program for years to come.

Salenah Cartier, M.Ed., PhD (Curriculum & Instruction)

Salenah brings strong expertise in learning design, urban education, and instructional technology. She is completing her PhD dissertation on AI applications in urban classrooms. She has been a tremendous asset in creating new and engaging activities for the students.

Ireana Walls (TESOL Educator & Curriculum Developer)

Ireana holds a B.A. in Creative Writing with an Applied Linguistics minor, an ESL certification, and TEFL certification. She is currently completing her M.S.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction (TESOL) at KU and has taught literacy and ESL to children and adults since 2022. Ireana consistently brings great ideas and energy which are reflected in the curriculum she is working on.

Thank you Salenah and Ireana all of your time and dedication!