Art Director
Our History
The dream develops
2010-2015
The Solidarity Project (TSP) was founded by five women from the United States, Jean Baumgardner, Carolyn Neuhaus, Chanel Marin, Lauren O'Neill, and Joanine Teravainen, all of whom met while living in Honduras as long-term volunteers in 2009-10. From 2009-2014 our founders helped establish and strengthen a partnership in The Comedor Infantil Talanga Honduras (CITH) and they also collaborated on other projects such as a girls' empowerment programming, youth leadership & scholarship programs, and children's nutrition and water & sanitation projects in the City of Talanga and other nearby communities.
TSP's founding & Growth
2015- 2019
In 2015, all of our founders were back living across the U.S. to pursue studies and careers in health, international development, and the nonprofit sectors. Their collective dream to continue working with the Honduran Community would soon become a reality. In late 2015, TSP was officially incorporated as 501(c)3 with the mission to support Honduran leaders who create positive social change for their communities by creating transformational, inclusive partnerships for impact between diverse, knowledgeable and results-driven allies.
From 2016-2017, TSP explored different partnership models and supported several partners working with rural youth leaders and education. In 2018, TSP piloted our now flagship community micro-granting program, Mesa Comunitaria, which has proved successful in catalyzing & supporting Honduran community leaders to steer their own communal development.
Since 2018, TSP has expanded this program to work with eight communities and with the development of new partners, TSP incorporated a Community Art Initiative to support local artists and a Community Leadership Intern Program to provide extra support to leaders in formation in our most remote partner communities. Learn more about our impact here.
5th Anniversary,
Covid-19,
& Hurricanes
Eta & Iota
2020
This year, TSP celebrates our 5th anniversary working in partnership with Honduran leaders and communities. Over the years, we have grown through support from our network of donors and by establishing new partnerships with foundations.
With the arrival of Covid-19 to Honduras, TSP suspended our micro-grant program while we consulted community partners to respond to their most pressing needs as economic shutdowns paralyzed the country and the virus spread. We began supporting new projects in the areas of emergency food response & sustainable agriculture, local health systems strengthening and we hope to pilot new work in economic development in 2021. Learn more details about our covid-19 response here. Next year, TSP will also reinstate a covid-19 conscious Mesa Comunitaria micro-grant model with our partners.
This November, Honduras was devastated by two major hurricanes, Eta & Iota, that hit the region within two weeks of one another. Many communities have been affected in our area with crop loss, water systems damage, landslides, and bridge collapse. We are currently working with our partner communities to respond to their needs to support rebuilding efforts by the end of this year. Learn about how to support this work here.
TSP Founders during their year of service in Honduras.
TSP Board meeting in Seattle in 2018.
