Fray Lazaro, Honduras
Click on Programs to learn more about their work in this community
General Information
| Population* | 550 |
| Number of homes | 130 |
| Avg # of people per home | 4 |
| Primary Occupations | Agriculture, Shrimp and Sugarcane factories, Construction |
| Water System | Yes-most of the community |
| Community Bank | Yes |
| Electricity | Yes |
| Corresponding Health Center & Distance | In-community |
| Common Illnesses | Common cold, respiratory, diarrhea |
| School Access and Distance |
Primary School - In community Secondary School - Choluteca (45 minutes) |
| GPS |
N 13° 22' 7" W 87° 16' 27" |
| Municipality | Choluteca |
| Department | Choluteca |
| Distance from compounds | 45 minutes |
* Population does not reflect how many patients will be seen on medical
brigades as many people from surrounding communities come seeking
Medical Brigades medical attention.
Top Needs Expressed
Fray Lazaro and Global Brigades are proud to say that through holistic programming, the top health and economic needs of the community have been covered. Fray Lazaro also has proven strong leadership and capitalized funds in their community bank in order to address any needs that arise in the future.
Fray Lazaro is a large community located in the department of Choluteca in the southern part of Honduras. This area of the country is extremely hot with temperatures often soaring to well over 100°F.
Like most other rural communities, Fray Lazaro has a primary school offering kindergarten through sixth grade. Each grade is not taught separately, however, as the school only has four classrooms. Students who wish to continue their education beyond sixth grade may choose to attend a secondary school in either Choluteca or San Lorenzo. They are about 30 and 45 minutes away from Fray Lazaro, respectively.
In 1980, the Honduran government built a water system in Fray Lazaro and subsequently renovated it in 1999. Most of the community – the town center and the neighborhoods of Los Zimarros, El Cerro, and Los Mangos – benefit from the functional system. Los Zimarros, a neighborhood with eleven houses, has running water thanks to a Global Water Brigades project completed in 2014.
As a larger rural community, Fray Lazaro has a health center. It is not consistently staffed and doesn't have an adequate supply of medicine.
Thanks to the projects completed with the help of Public Health brigaders, almost 100% of the homes have adequate in-home infrastructure to prevent disease.
The majority of community members in Fray Lazaro grow corn for sustenance. Others work on nearby shrimp farms and sugarcane factories to earn money. This work is generally seasonal and does not provide steady employment. For their labor, community members earn roughly 3,500 Lempiras or $150 per month. Some members of the community do earn significantly more money, however, because they receive sizeable remittances from family members living abroad.
The community bank in Fray Lazaro was established in June 2013. It provides financial services such as loans and savings accounts to community members. One of its main tasks has been financing public health projects.
During the time that we have been working in Fray Lazaro, we have seen community members step up as leaders and take ownership of the projects that we help them to implement. Fray Lazaro is full of energetic people who are eager to stand on their own two feet and move forward with better health, sanitation, and economic stability.
Global Brigades has also played a role in the construction of the caja rural building, a building for a bakery, and a building for the Community Pharmacy. These projects are a meaningful investment in the economic well-being of the individuals of Fray Lazaro, who will benefit from new opportunities to generate income.
