Ambassador Kubiske: Improving Security is Everyone's Job

October 25, 2012

During her visit to San Pedro Sula, Ambassador Kubiske spoke about the importance of education, economic opportunities and social responsibility in creating a safe and secure future for Honduras. (State Dept. Photo)

SAN PEDRO SULA – During her two days of meetings in San Pedro Sula, October 23 and 24, 2012, Ambassador Lisa Kubiske emphasized the importance of education and economic opportunity in resolving Honduras' security situation.  While not every poor person gets involved in criminal activity, she said to all of her audiences, people, especially young people, are more easily tempted by gangs and narcotraffickers if they don't have other opportunities to earn a living.

In her meetings with U.S. and Honduran business owners, high school and university students, university administrators, the American Chamber of Commerce, U.S. citizens, and the media her message was consistent, "The future of Honduras is in the hands of Hondurans," she said. "The United States will help and is helping, but it is important that all sectors of Honduran society, the government, schools, private businesses and non governmental agencies work together to improve education, increase employment and eliminate corruption. No one entity can do this alone," she emphasized. "It's everyone's responsibility."

Corporate social responsibility plays an important role in the effort to improve both the economic and social situation in Honduras.  "Partnerships between private enterprise and organizations working with young people are critical to ensuring that funds are available for programs that help at-risk youth overcome social and economic barriers to become responsible citizens," she said.  "When these programs have the resources to be successful, everyone wins.  Businesses will have a better trained, more productive workforce in the future if they invest in young people today and Honduras will be a more stable, peaceful country."

A peaceful and stable and more prosperous Honduras is important to the United States, she said, as she described programs in areas such as education, health and security where the U.S. government is investing in millions of dollars.  Not only are successful Hondurans more likely to purchase U.S. products, which is good for the U.S. economy, they are less likely to emigrate illegally or participate in illegal activities which is dangerous for both countries.

As part of her trip to San Pedro Sula, and to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to entrepreneurship and education, the Ambassador attended the award ceremony for the 2012 Sueño Hondureño program, where she presented the first prize award of $ 2,500 to the students at Instituto Polivalente Dr. Jorge Fidel Duron for their micro-enterprise project to manufacture and sell organic fertilizer.  She also visited the 2010 winning school, Instituto Patria in La Lima.  Their project to raise and sell tilapia is still successfully earning money for the school.  Sueño Hondureño is a competition for student entrepreneurs that trains them to become future business leaders in support of Honduras' economic growth.