Dinora's story

Dinora, 19, is a fervent advocate of the belief that young people can become a dynamic influence in the future of Honduras.

A qualification in community health complements Dinora's five years of voluntary experience. Currently a co-ordinator on the YMCA's Civic empowerment project in Honduras, she has variously been involved in community promotion and the dissemination of a national youth law framework as well as several social work courses. “My experience has been a chance to interact with people from all walks of life, and also a chance to serve others,” she says.

Dinora strongly believes that a willingness to serve is a prerequisite of any young person who wants and expects change. “I have learnt how social inequality creates ostracised communities and about the ways in which we as young people can transform the situation. It has shown me how to act in fairness towards people, and know and demand my own rights.”

Passionate about the prejudice faced by the vast majority of people in Honduras, Dinora conceeds that she is one of the luckier ones. “If I hadn't got involved with the YMCA I would be just another person on the pile. I can see now that I can make a difference.”

Dinora feels that a proactive and participative approach is needed to give young people a vision for their country and the self-belief to foster action that can improve life for Hondurans as they know it. As Dinora puts it, “Young people are the present and the future and only by investing in us can the fundamental reality of life in our country be changed for the better.”