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Opening Paths Toward Sustainable Development in Honduras

This summer, the Esade Alumni community once again demonstrated that teamwork and solidarity are powerful drivers of change.
Honduras

Three members of our community — Laia Pascual (BBA 20), Anna Pitarque (BBA 20) and Ángela Esteban (BBA 20) — took on a challenge launched by Designing Opportunities in collaboration with Esade Alumni Social and Ayuda en Acción: traveling to Honduras to help drive a social transformation project.

The goal was clear: to strengthen fishing communities along the Atlantic coast, in the MAMUGAH region, an area facing extreme poverty and severe environmental vulnerability.

MAMUGAH is made up of seven municipalities around the Bay of Trujillo, where more than 5,000 families depend on artisanal fishing as their main source of income. The situation is harsh: 73% of the population lives in poverty and 53% in extreme poverty. Pressure on marine resources, the lack of economic alternatives, and limited access to technology make this situation even worse.

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The Transformative Power of Esade Alumni Talent

Over three intense weeks, the three volunteers worked hand in hand with the Ayuda en Acción Honduras team and local stakeholders. Their work — driven by deep commitment — was essential in carrying out a participatory diagnosis and gathering key on-the-ground data.

With their knowledge and skills, our alumni contributed to a range of activities that laid the foundation for the project:

  • Technical assessment of fishing boats in more than 10 communities.

  • Support and facilitation in training processes to strengthen local capacities and foster the creation of microenterprises.

  • Assistance in promoting InnPESS technology, a solar-powered refrigeration solution that increases the value of fish catches.

  • Collection of socioeconomic and fisheries-related baseline data.

  • Presentation of sustainable business models in meetings with fishermen, authorities, and local institutions.

Their dedication — combined with the expertise of the local team — shows how the talent within our community can generate meaningful and lasting impact.

Honduras

 

A Together Project with a Long-Term Vision

The work carried out this summer is just the beginning. From this valuable experience emerges a three-year Together Project, strengthening the strategic alliance between Ayuda en Acción and Esade Alumni Social. This new project will continue with the involvement of Esade Alumni volunteers who already know the region.

The goal of the Together Project is clear: to contribute to the design, monitoring, and improvement of the initiatives to be implemented in MAMUGAH — including the scaling of the InnPESS technology and the creation of 24 new micro and small enterprises linked to fishing, tourism, and services.

These are some of the posts where Laia, Anna, and Ángela share firsthand their experience in Honduras. Their words reflect the commitment and emotion that define this transformative journey.

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Honduras
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